A suitable care routine alone can considerably improve the condition of acne-prone skin. On the other hand, poorly chosen products and habits can cause spots and blackheads to multiply. Here are some basic recommendations for the gentle cleansing, care and hydration of acne-prone skin. You will also find advice about specific treatments for blackheads and will learn the right way to use a scrub.
Be sure to use non-aggressive cleansing products that do not strip the skin or alter the lipids in the hydrolipidic film or horny layer. You can use scrubs, but not more often than once a week, and only if you are not using an associated medicated treatment, which generally already exfoliates skin.
Micellar waters are very good at cleansing acne-prone skin.
Removing make-up or cleansing skin each evening is essential, even if you don’t wear make-up. The aim is to remove dirt, particulate pollutants and all kinds of other residues that have settled on the skin throughout the day.
Once or twice a day, delicately apply a targeted treatment to your blemishes, using a product from a dermo-cosmetic range created for oily, blemish-prone skin. If you are using a medicated product, apply it regularly according to your doctor’s instructions.
If you are taking a topical or oral dermatological treatment that dries out your skin, you should apply a complementary moisturising treatment tailored to combination or oily skin on a daily basis in order to moisturise your skin and lips. Non-comedogenic concealers, BB creams and foundations can also help you cover up your blemishes.
The first stage of acne, blackheads generally affect oily acne-prone skin and especially the T-zone of the face, i.e. the nose, chin and forehead.
Blackheads are whiteheads whose lipids have become oxidised in contact with air. They should be monitored and treated since they can become inflamed and give way to red spots and whiteheads that then risk progressing to deep nodules or cysts.
Directly related to sebum secretion, they therefore require proper cleansing to eliminate excess sebum. But be careful not to focus on them too much – touching them, popping them or using outrageous tools to get rid of them will often make the problem worse.
Keratolytic treatments are indicated to smooth the skin and effectively eliminate blackheads.
For people with acne-prone skin, scrubs should be used sparingly, since they irritate the skin and can aggravate red spots, papules and pustules.
From time to time, exfoliation can help eliminate scales and dead cells, provided that a scrub specifically formulated for oily acne-prone skin is chosen. For example, bead-free – i.e. less abrasive – scrubs containing enzymes or salicylic acid are recommended.
In the summer, scrubs should be avoided or at least used less frequently since the skin has to defend itself from UV radiation. This also applies for people undergoing treatments with drying or keratolytic action, which therefore already exfoliate the skin: in this case, scrubs should be used in moderation.
