In your fight against adult acne and what seems like the never-ending quest for the best acne treatments, you will come across a lot of skin-care products. That means through all your trials, it's important to keep in mind that there are many ingredients intended to combat other skin problems that can be unforeseen contributors to acne and breakouts. So be sure to read ingredient lists thoroughly and avoid these culprits:
AVOID Especially thick, occlusive, synthetic ingredients like lanolin, cocoa and shea butters, oleic acid, mineral oil, petroleum jelly and heavy moisturizers. All can clog your pores, even if they’re found in your hair-care and body products.
AVOID Using alcohol-based products since they can dry out your skin; if your sebaceous glands are dehydrated, they’ll go into overdrive and produce even more oil, which can lead to breakouts.
AVOID Over-exfoliating. When it comes to cleansing your skin, don’t overdo it. Over-exfoliation and products that dry out the skin can aggravate acne breakouts as they can also cause your skin to produce more oil.
Instead, when treating acne and breakouts, look for proven ingredients known to stop acne like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic and glycolic acids. And don't discount natural formulas either. Tea tree oil and aloe vera both help with acne-prone skin.
And if you tend to break out along your hairline and jawline, make sure to apply your hair products a half an inch off the scalp and slip on a cotton headband to keep your hair—and the ingredients in your hair-care products—off your face.
AVOID Especially thick, occlusive, synthetic ingredients like lanolin, cocoa and shea butters, oleic acid, mineral oil, petroleum jelly and heavy moisturizers. All can clog your pores, even if they’re found in your hair-care and body products.
AVOID Using alcohol-based products since they can dry out your skin; if your sebaceous glands are dehydrated, they’ll go into overdrive and produce even more oil, which can lead to breakouts.
AVOID Over-exfoliating. When it comes to cleansing your skin, don’t overdo it. Over-exfoliation and products that dry out the skin can aggravate acne breakouts as they can also cause your skin to produce more oil.
Instead, when treating acne and breakouts, look for proven ingredients known to stop acne like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic and glycolic acids. And don't discount natural formulas either. Tea tree oil and aloe vera both help with acne-prone skin.
And if you tend to break out along your hairline and jawline, make sure to apply your hair products a half an inch off the scalp and slip on a cotton headband to keep your hair—and the ingredients in your hair-care products—off your face.
