Effective cleansers can make all the difference.
Marisa Garshick, board-certified dermatologist and e-commerce expert, stresses that finding an acne prevention face wash that really works doesn’t require spending an arm and a leg.
Neutrogena offers this cost-effective product to address both oil and blemishes with its combination of 2% salicylic acid and exfoliating phytic acid, along with blue tansy to soothe inflammation and redness – making it an excellent solution for sensitive skin types.
1. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is an oil-soluble chemical compound that penetrates deeply into pores to remove excess sebum, helping prevent blackheads, whiteheads, small red pimples and other forms of superficial acne. Furthermore, salicylic acid slows the rate of skin cell production within pores by slowing their speed of reproduction before gradually shedding them – keeping follicles clear from clogs and keeping pores unclogged.
You can find this ingredient in OTC cleansers with concentrations up to 2%; for more severe conditions or larger areas, however, prescription strength might be required. Salicylic acid can also be found in products like toners and medicated pads containing 2% salicylic acid that you swipe onto your face after cleansing for 15-20 minutes before wiping it off with warm water.
Combining it with other exfoliators such as glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids and skincare ingredients that calm skin (Canadian willow herb, sodium PCA etc) works best. Retinoids also work very effectively at unclogging pores and killing bacteria.
2. Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid (AHA) is a water soluble alpha hydroxy acid found naturally in plants and fruit. This makes it easily absorbed into skin to unglue dead skin cells and dissolve excess oil, as well as treating active acne breakouts as well as helping prevent future ones. Glycolic acid can be very useful at treating active breakouts while simultaneously helping prevent blackheads and whiteheads.
Glycolic acid offers more than exfoliating abilities; it also has anti-inflammatory benefits which help to reduce redness and swelling caused by hormonal acne, improving skin tone and texture for brighter and more radiant-looking skin.
Since glycolic acid can be an irritant, it’s wise to perform a patch test on any products containing it before applying them directly to your face. Apply a small amount on the inner forearm first and watch out for signs of dryness or redness; if your skin tolerates it well then gradually increase usage frequency over time. Always follow up using glycolic acid with an anti-ageing moisturizer afterward in order to hydrate and protect it properly.
3. Benzoyl Peroxide
This over-the-counter treatment helps loosen goop that clogs pores and causes pimples. Additionally, it kills bacteria to prevent further acne formation. To achieve maximum effectiveness it should be used alone as a cleanser, or with products containing salicylic acid or retinol for best results.
Benzoyl peroxide, according to Florida-based board-certified dermatologist Matthew Elias, is an oxygen compound with “oxidizing activity” that kills bacteria. Like hydrogen peroxide (the clear liquid you may already have in your medicine cabinet for treating cuts and scrapes), but less powerful and corrosive, benzoyl peroxide works similarly as an effective means of eliminating infection from your skin.
Cream, gel, foam and face wash products typically used once or twice a day can irritate sensitive skin; in such instances it should be discontinued immediately and left for several minutes to allow your skin to relax before trying it again. It’s essential that all instructions and labels of any product be strictly observed for maximum efficacy.
4. Sulfur
Sulfur may smell strongly, but this natural element packs an immense punch when it comes to treating acne and unclogging pores. Sulfur’s powerful properties include controlling Propionibacterium Acnes and Cutibacterium Acnes strains responsible for acne lesions – leading to unclogged pores, reduced inflammation, and soothed breakouts.
Cream also absorbs excess oil–the kind that mixes with dead skin cells to form whiteheads and blackheads–to create mattified complexions, starving the bacteria that cause breakouts, while acting as an anti-inflammatory to soothe any irritated tissues. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties help soothe any sore spots or discomforts in tissues.
Sulfur can be especially effective at managing mild breakouts that take the form of whiteheads or blackheads, though its effectiveness for more moderate or severe acne (i.e. papules and pustules, which are inflammatory conditions) may require stronger treatments under medical supervision. Sulfur may still be included as part of your skincare routine to help prevent future breakouts once your condition has been resolved.
