Though commonly thought of as a problem for teenagers, blemishes don’t always disappear when you get older. Adults can have blemishes too. Whatever your age, it’s wise to be careful what you put on your skin since it will be absorbed into your body.

Be Gentle To Your Face.

It’s a really bad idea to scrub your face if you’re prone to acne. In fact it does the opposite. If you rub your skin too roughly, it’s more likely to stir up more blemishes and aggravate ones you already have. It’s important to clean your face gently.

Gently washing your face helps to avoid irritation that will make acne worse. It’s better to not even use a washcloth. It’s better to just splash some water on your face, then lather up your hands with the mild cleansing wash or mild soap. 

Once you’ve washed your face, use a clean washcloth to gently pat the water off the skin until it’s dry.

Benzoyl Peroxide.

After you’re sure your skin is completely dry, then use an over-the-counter medication with benzoyl peroxide. This is definitely the best non-prescription medication you can use to control blemishes. Benzoyl peroxide is a mild drying agent, and peroxide has long been used to cleanse skin.

Use 2.5% benzoyl peroxide as it has been shown to be just as effective as 5% or 10%, and is much less irritating. It’s not very helpful to irritate your skin and make acne worse instead of better.

It’s very important to start with a SMALL amount of medication. Since this medication is a drying agent and can cause redness and itchiness, so don’t slather on a bunch right from the beginning. The first time, use just enough medication to very lightly cover your skin the first time, then gradually increase the amount you’re using. Within a couple of weeks you should be giving your skin a good coating of medication.

Be certain to stay away from the tender skin under your eyes. For one thing, the skin there isn’t prone to break-outs anyway. Also, It is thinner and more easier irritated that the rest of the skin on your face.

The Importance of Moisturizer.

Due to the fact benzoyl peroxide dries out your skin, it’s important to apply moisturizer. Wait until the medicine has soaked in and your skin is completely dry, then lightly apply moisturizer to your face. Wait a while for the moisturizer to dry, and if you skin still appears dry or flaky, add some more.

Right from the start, be sure to apply the moisturizer after using the benzoyl peroxide. This will keep your skin from drying out too much.

Will A Good Diet Help?

The scientific community can’t make up its collective mind as to whether diet has any effect on acne. Too much iodine is known to aggravate blemishes, so don’t go overboard with the salt shaker if you’re using iodized salt, or eat too many iodine rich foods like clams, crabs or other shellfish.

If you notice that your skin tends to break out more after eating certain foods, however, ditch the scientific theory of the moment, and avoid those foods. So many factors come into play with body chemistry and the effects of foods and other substances on our body, that scientists don’t always have the answer. (How many drugs have been okayed as safe, only to discover at a later date they have bad side effects?)

Quick Tips.

When you have a blemish and need help quick, try one of the following:

• If you run out of benzoyl peroxide and have a blemish, try using a little calamine lotion. This zaps the zit by soaking up the excess oil.
• Once you’ve washed your face, use an ice cube for 60 seconds on any blemishes. The ice helps reduce the inflammation and make them less noticeable.
• Don’t squeeze! Though it might actually help the original blemish to heal more quickly, it will irritate the surrounding skin and may cause more blemishes.
• Keep away from oil based make-up. Especially bad for blemish prone skin is any kind of oil based make-up. Look for fragrance-free types of makeup if you wish to wear, the kind meant for people with sensitive skin.

Everyone Wants Acne Free Skin.

Blemishes are an unwanted problem, but a good skin care regimen can usually help or totally eradicate the problem. 

Clear skin is the clear goal.