Best Skin Care Routine For Acne Prone Skin

A daily skin care routine is important for everyone, but especially so when you’re prone to acne. 

But, how exactly do you build a skin care routine for acne prone skin? What causes acne in the first place? What products are safe to use? 

In this article, we discuss everything you need to know to properly take care of acne prone skin.  

Acne: Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors 

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with dead skin cells and oil. It causes pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it can affect people of all ages. 

There are effective acne treatments available, but acne can be persistent. The bumps and pimples heal slowly, and when one starts to go away, others seem to take its place. Also, depending on its severity, acne can cause skin scarring and emotional distress. The better you take care of your skin – and the earlier you start treatment – the lower your risk of such problems. 

Symptoms. Acne signs and symptoms can vary depending on the severity of your condition. Some of the common symptoms of acne include:

• Pimples
• Whiteheads
• Blackheads
• Small red, tender bumps (papules)
• Large, solid, and painful lumps under the skin 
• Painful, puss-filled lumps under the skin 

Typically, acne appears on the face, forehead, upper back, shoulders, and chest. 

Causes. There are different causes of acne. The 4 main factors that cause acne are: excess oil production, hair follicles clogged by dead skin cells and oil, inflammation, and bacteria. 

Typically, acne appears on the face, forehead, upper back, shoulders, and chest. This is because these areas of skin have the most sebaceous (oil) glands – hair follicles are connected to these glands. 

The follicle wall may bulge and produce a whitehead. Or, the plug may be open to the surface and darken, resulting in a blackhead. A blackhead may look like dirt stuck in your pores, but actually, the pore is congested with oil and bacteria, which turns brown when it is exposed to air. 

When blocked hair follicles become infected with bacteria or inflamed, it results in pimples – raised red spots with a white center. Inflammation and blockages deep inside hair follicle produce cyst-like lumps beneath the surface of your skin. 

Certain factors can trigger or worsen acne:

• Stress. Stress doesn’t cause acne, but if you already have acne, stress may aggravate it.

• Diet. Studies reveal that eating certain foods – including carbohydrate-rich foods like chips, bagels, and bread – may worsen acne. 

• Hormonal changes. Androgens are hormones that increase in girls and boys during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. Hormonal changes during midlife, especially in women, can result in breakouts too. 

• Certain medications. Certain medications, such as those containing lithium, testosterone, or corticosteroids can trigger or worsen acne. 

Risk Factors. Risk factors for acne include: 

• Age. People of all ages can get acne, but it’s most common among teenagers.

• Family history. Genetics play a role in acne – if both of your parents had acne, you’re likely to develop it too. 

• Hormonal changes. Such changes are common during puberty, pregnancy, and in midlife. 

• Pressure or friction on your skin. This can be caused by items like helmets, backpacks, telephones, and cellphones.

• Oily or greasy substances. You may develop acne where your skin comes into contact with oil or oily creams and lotions. 

Skin Care Routine for Acne Prone Skin

One of the secrets of getting rid of acne and fighting stubborn breakouts is consistency. Adopting a consistent skin care routine for acne prone skin – and sticking to it day and night – will help reduce breakouts and improve the appearance of your skin. 

Below, we provide a step-by-step guide to help you manage your acne prone skin.

1. Cleansing. The backbone of any skin care routine starts with good cleansing. Thorough cleansing keeps the skin free of excess oil, sweat, makeup, and dirt, which leaves a clean base for your acne treatment products. However, good cleansing goes beyond just plain soap and water. First, you have to choose the right cleanser for your skin type – choose one that isn’t too drying or harsh. For most people, cleansing twice daily is ideal. Don’t forget to wash your face before going to bed. 

2. Exfoliation. To fight acne, you need to fight it at its core – in the pore. Regular exfoliation helps to keep your pores free of excess oil and skin cells. Further, exfoliation reduces the formation of comedones, removes dead skin cell buildup, and helps soften and smoothen the skin. When you think of exfoliators, you might immediately think of grainy facial and body scrubs – but they may not be the best exfoliators for acne prone skin. If you’re not using them gently, scrubs can irritate your skin. However, you might not even need a separate exfoliating product – some acne treatment products already have exfoliating properties.

3. Toning. Toners and astringents are used after cleansing, leaving your skin feeling fresh. Astringents are designed to remove excess oil from the skin. Some also contain blemish-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid. However, toners and astringents aren’t a necessary part of your daily skin care routine. Deciding whether to use an astringent or not depends on several factors. For instance, if your skin is dry, sensitive, or irritated from your acne treatments, toners and astringents may do more harm than good.  

4. Moisturizing. People with oily skin often avoid moisturizers; however, moisturizing is a good thing – even if you have acne prone skin. A quality, oil-free moisturizer won’t trigger breakouts. Instead, it can help ease flakiness, peeling, and dryness. Acne treatments can completely dry out your skin and you will want to moisturize it. The trick is choosing the right moisturizer for your acne prone skin – choose one that’s labeled oil-free and noncomedogenic. 

5. Sunscreen. You need to protect your skin from the sun, which makes applying sunscreen daily an absolute must. Sunscreen prevents more than just sunburn, it also reduces your chance of developing premature wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and skin cancer. Today, there are numerous sunscreens out in the market that aren’t greasy or heavy, and won’t clog your pores and make your acne worse. And since many acne medications can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, wearing sunscreen every day is extra important for good skin health. 

6. Acne Medication. Skin care for acne prone skin doesn’t have to take a lot of time, just a few minutes twice a day is enough. But to really clear up acne though, good skin care is just one facet of your regimen. Controlling acne relies on a dual approach – a consistent skin care routine plus effective acne treatment medications. Acne medications can help clear up existing acne breakouts while keeping new blemishes from developing. Over-the-counter acne treatments can help with mild forms of acne; however, stubborn cases may require prescription acne medication. A dermatologist can help you get the right acne treatment for your skin, and help you create the right skin care regimen suitable for your condition. 

Best Ingredients for Acne Prone Skin

Depending on the severity of your condition, controlling acne can be challenging – but it’s not completely impossible. With a good skin care routine plus the right medications, you can control your breakouts. 

But, with numerous acne treatments and medications out there today, how do you choose the best one? Below, we list down some of the ingredients that you should look for in acne treatments and medications. These ingredients can help you achieve your acne-free skin care goals. 

• Salicylic Acid. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid, meaning it’s a chemical exfoliator. Salicylic acid exfoliates the outer layer of the skin and penetrates into pores to remove sebum. This helps prevent pores from being clogged, and can help remove clogs that have already formed. It dissolves the bonds that hold dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, so the skin will gently shed resulting in brighter and smoother skin.

• Benzoyl Peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is helpful for treating acne, not only because it kills bacteria that contribute to acne, but also because it helps clear out and prevent clogged pores. Experts recommend looking for micronized formulas because they cause less irritation and have a longer shelf life. 

The Bottom Line

A daily skin care routine is important for everyone, but especially so when you’re prone to acne. 

The 4 main factors that cause acne are: excess oil production, hair follicles clogged by dead skin cells and oil, inflammation, and bacteria. 

One of the secrets of getting rid of acne and fighting stubborn breakouts is consistency. Adopting a consistent skin care routine for acne prone skin – and sticking to it day and night – will help reduce breakouts and improve the appearance of your skin. 

Skin care routine for acne prone skin should involve cleansing, exfoliation, toning, moisturizing, applying sunscreen, and acne medication. Controlling acne relies on a dual approach – a consistent skin care routine plus effective acne treatment medications.