How to Clear Acne on Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin reacts easily to ingredients and allergens that may be in detergents, skincare products, or makeup, rough textures, harsh temperatures, and pressure on the skin’s surface. Red, itchy, blotchy, dry, tight, acne prone, flaky, stinging, and burning skin are all symptoms of a sensitive skin reaction. These reactions aggravate and inflame any existing acne pimples and cause further acne breakouts by increasing oil production and clogging pores. To successfully clear acne on sensitive skin and prevent new blemishes, care should be taken to completely avoid skin irritants of any kind.
Instructions
Step 1
Choose gentle products labeled for sensitive skin that contain less irritants than products labeled for normal or oily skin. Skincare products should indicate that they are not scrubs, non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, dye and fragrance free, and hypoallergenic. Another good ingredient to look for in sensitive skin products is Aloe. Aloe has soothing and healing properties that will help to calm sensitive skin.
Step 2
Wash your face twice a day and no more. It is not good to wash too often. Excessive use of cleansers and water on your face can upset your skin’s PH balance and cause dryness and irritation, especially on extra sensitive skin. Do not use washcloths to wash your sensitive face. The texture of the washcloth will cause redness and irritation. Use your hands to gently apply the cleanser and splash off the cleanser. Make sure you remove all traces of cleanser. To clear acne and prevent more pimples from forming, you want clean skin with no cleanser residue. A good non-drying facial cleanser for sensitive skin is Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin.
Step 3
Moisturize twice daily to repair and calm sensitive skin and to replace moisture lost from cleansing or environmental exposure. Moisturizing will also reduce acne inflammation and change the texture of your skin. A heavier cream will moisturize much better than a light, thin lotion. A good moisturizer for sensitive skin is Olay Moisturizing Cream Sensitive Skin. To save money, choose the cream without spf. This will allow you to use the same jar of cream for both day and night. It is a cream, but it is very light and rubs in completely with no heaviness or stickiness.
Step 4
Never use acne medication with maximum strength acne medication, such as 2% salicylic acid or 10% benzoyl peroxide. These ingredients are too irritating and harsh for sensitive skin, causing redness, dryness, burning, and stinging. A good acne fighting medication is Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment Cream with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. It is just as effective as the 5% or 10% benzoyl peroxide at drying up existing pimples, exfoliating the skin’s surface, and keeping pores from becoming clogged, but without the irritation. Gently apply a thin layer of this twice a day after cleansing and before moisturizing to clear acne.
Step 5
Choose natural skincare products when possible. Natural products have not been altered in any way to contain harsh, allergy causing chemicals or synthetic fragrances. Witch Hazel is a good natural product to use as a skin toner and to remove any makeup left over from cleansing. It treats dry and itchy skin associated with sensitive skin and also dramatically reduces the size of pores, making them less likely to become clogged. Apply Witch Hazel with a cotton ball as often as needed to reduce oil, and leave skin feeling cool, clean, and refreshed.