Beauty - Acne Treatments And Ethnic Skin Types: What You Need To Know

Acne Treatments And Ethnic Skin Types: What You Need To Know

Ethnic skin is prone to all the same skin conditions as all other skin types, and acne is no exception. The causes of acne are usually stress, hormones, medications, and bad cosmetic choices. There are many treatments on the market for acne, but many of these treatments react differently with ethnic skin and also there is a lot of incorrect information about how to treat acne and the causes of acne on ethnic skin. Most of the active ingredients in acne medications (topical) are very drying (the most commonly used topical acne medications are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.) The main mistake that people with ethnic skin make is to use harsh drying products with out using moisturizer. This leads to a harsh cycle because when the skin is extremely dry from the use of harsh products the oil glands begin to work overtime in order to repair the skins protective layer. When the protective layer of natural oils have been stripped away the skin feels tight and itchy, and it looks dull. Also when the protective layer of natural oil is gone the skin loses moisture and is more prone to injury and infection. The best way to care for acne prone ethnic skin is:

*To wash daily with a non-comedogenic, fragrance free cleanser made for sensitive skin (a great one is Cetaphil.)

*Always apply an acne treatment after you cleanse and give it a few minutes to soak in.

*Always! MOISTUREIZE. Never skip moisturizer unless you are having an extra severe outbreak and begin to moisturize as soon as the outbreak begins to clear up. Moisturizing will help keep the skin comfortable, looking soft and supple, healing well, and moisturizing will help balance the amount of oil the skin produces.
*Always remember to use non-comedogenic moisturizer, never use petroleum products or thing such as cocoa and Shea butter, these things clog pores and make acne worse.

*The last step in any skin care regimen should be applying sunscreen (non-comedogenic.) Many acne products make the skin very sensitive to UV light especially ethnic skin, to avoid discoloration and damage always apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher)