Acne Skin Care Guidelines

Acne prone skin needs good daily care. And for that you must understand what type of acne you have and follow a good skin care regime along with seeking treatment as soon as possible to avoid scarring. A good acne skin care regimen helps remove excess oil, keeps pores clear, and speeds healing of breakouts.

Things Needed:

* A gentle cleanser
* Toner or astringent
* Topical acne medications or creams
* Moisturizing lotion or gel
* Cotton balls or cotton pads

# Keep your skin clean by gentle washing your face daily with products that will not make your acne worse (mild cleanser). Use only your fingertips thoroughly to cleanse the face, including your jaw line, neck, and in front of and behind the ears. Pat dry your skin with soft towel. If you have oily skin than avoid cream-based cleansers. They may make your skin even oilier.

# Apply toner or astringent on a cotton ball or pad and gently pat on your face including neck to remove dust, extra oil and make up traces. If your skin seems to be overly dry then choose an alcohol-free toner. But if you think your skin is over-dry from use of toner or astringent, don’t use them.

# Use an oil-free moisturizer or gel. If your skin is very oily, you might want to skip this step. If using a moisturizer, choose one that is labeled "non-acnegenic" or "non-comedogenic." Many acne medications over-dry the skin, leaving the skin thirsty for moisture. To reduce the chance of dry and peeling skin, apply a light moisturizer twice daily. Moisturizing gels and lotions are generally lighter than creams.

# Most of the over-the-counter topical (skin-applied) treatments for acne contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, zinc, or sulfur. Treatments are available in gels, solutions, creams, lotions, or pads. After doctors approval or suggestion you can apply any acne medications or creams, only after toner is dried completely.

# Eat well and drink enough water. A good diet is low in saturated fats and sugars and high in fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables. Also, drink enough water and not too much coffee or sugary drinks.