Acne Care and Acne Cleansing

Acne care generally focuses on the removal of elements that cause acne - excess oil or any material on the skin’s surface that can clog the skin's pores. Acne care normally consists of regular cleansing.

Some acne cleansers act as an astringent - they remove excess oil, heal skin inflammation and sometimes contract the tissues, decreasing the secretion of oils. Acne products that are astringents also facilitate the removal of unwanted substances from the skin’s pores. Women with acne should use acne cleanser treatments every night to remove their make-up. Men who work in highly polluted areas should also use an astringent after returning home from work.

What acne care products or substances are astringents? You may be surprised to find that some astringents can be found around the house and can been used in an acne skin care regimen. When applied to the skin, apple cider vinegar acts as an astringent. Egg whites also clean the skin of unwanted chemicals and debris.

Not every acne cleanser is found in the drugstore or hygiene aisles. Some selected natural acne treatments can also be used as an acne cleanser. For example, an acne sufferer might get rid of his or her acne by applying a mixture of green beans and chamomile flowers to his or her skin.

Although astringents are great for cleansing the skin and treating acne, most astringents leave the skin feeling rough and dry. Other natural acne treatments and substances, such as Aloe, can be used after an astringent to help make the skin feel smooth and cool. Aloe can also cover-up the unpleasant smell left by some cleansing treatments. Raw garlic, another natural product used as an acne home remedy, will obviously leave an odour on the skin. Aloe can help get rid of the odour and help make the skin feel smooth.

Still, no amount of cleansing can promise complete acne care. Clogged skin pores often serve as an inviting environment for bacteria. Therefore, removal of those bacteria should be included in any planned acne skin care treatment.

As with infections, removal of bacteria from skin’s pores requires the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics hamper the growth and/or reproduction process of unwanted bacteria. There are many types of antibiotics, but not all antibiotics have the ability to hinder the growth of the bacteria that cause acne.

When someone with acne asks his or her physician for an antibiotic to fight the bacteria in his or her clogged skin pores, the physician usually recommends an acne cleanser that contains isotretinoin. Antibiotics with isotretinoin block a critical step in the biochemical pathways of acne-causing bacteria, thereby killing the bacteria and reducing acne. With regular cleansing and removal of skin pore bacteria as an acne solution, anyone can transform their acne into smooth, healthy looking skin.