Have trouble with acne breakouts? Most of us have been through a phase where acne seemed like our worst enemy. Acne occurs when your skin pores are blocked, but the exact cause for the acne breakout varies from person to person What is truly the best skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

A good skincare routine is the first step in combating stubborn acne. Your skincare routine will help you to unclog your pores, remove oil buildup in your skin, and reduce blemishes from existing acne. Your skincare routine doesn’t need to be complex or time-consuming. Let’s dive in to find out the causes of acne, and the best skin skincare routine that will help you get clear, acne-free skin.

What is acne? 

Acne is basically a hair follicle in your skin which is trapped by excess oil and dirt. Puberty, hormonal changes, medications, stress, dietary changes, etc are all factors that contribute to excess production of oil in your body, consequently leading to acne. 

Know Your Acne Type

Acne is not the same for everyone. The first step to fighting acne is knowing what exactly is causing your acne in the first place.

• Hormonal acne

Do acne’s trouble you a few days before your period every month? If the answer is yes, chances are that you have hormonal acne. Your body’s hormonal changes lead to an overproduction of oil every month. This oil lodges in your skin cells and causes acne. Similarly, hormonal acne is non-inflammatory, and are mostly found around the chin or jawline.

• Whiteheads

Whiteheads are non-inflammatory acne caused mainly by dead skin cells. Above all, the best way to identify them is that these bumps appear on your skin with a white tip in the centre. Whiteheads trap sebum(oil) and dead cells inside them. 

• Papules 

Papules are tiny pimples on your face. These are red, swollen, and often painful. Papules are the result of bacteria trapped in your skin cells. This inflammatory acne must not be popped. 

• Pustules

The Pustules are red zits on your skin filled with white or yellow pus. Similarly, pustules are caused by bacterial growth on your skin and are inflammatory in nature.

• Cystic Acne

Cystic acne is characterized by multiple big red pimples. This is an infection that occurs due to hormonal changes or genetic conditions. This acne is deep-rooted and requires intensive treatment care.

• Blackheads

These are small black zits found most often on your nose. Blackheads are a result of clogged pores due to a buildup of excess oil and dead cells and bacteria in your skin.

Step 1 – Cleanse away the impurities with a cleanser.

Cleansing is the most important step for acne treatment. Use a cleanser twice a day, once right in the morning and once at night to clear up the dirt buildup of the entire day. Use a soft cloth and gently clean your skin using your fingertips. You don’t need to scrub hard, but you need to cover every surface. Look for cleansers that have salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

Step 2- Tone and rehydrate your skin.

Use a toner to get rid of excess oils, blackheads, and to rehydrate your skin. Apply a small amount of toner on a cotton ball and gently scrub to remove any makeup, dirt, cleanser residue, etc. If you have dry skin or pimples that have ruptured, you should go for an alcohol-free toner. Also, you can find special hydrating toners for dry skin types. This is an important part of the skincare routine for Acne-Prone skin.

Step 3- Moisturize with an oil-free moisturizer. 

Your acne treating products will often rehydrate your skin and leave it dry. Use a light, oil-free moisturizing lotion to rehydrate your skin at least twice daily. If you have oily skin, you can still choose a moisturizer that specifically treats acne in oily skin. You can also go for a moisturizing gel.

Step 4- SPF is essential in the morning.

An SPF is essential to your morning skincare routine. Your regular makeup and acne treatments might make your skin photosensitive, which means that you need that extra protection from the sun rays. Choose an SPF product designed to combat oily skin. Alternatively, you can choose a moisturizer that has SPF, so you won’t need a separate sunscreen.

Step 5- Skincare routine at night

Your night skincare routine will resemble your morning routine for the most part. Start with a gentle cleanser, followed by a toner and a moisturizer. You don’t need SPF at night. However, your night routine would include over-the-counter medications and creams to treat your acne. These might be the ones prescribed by your doctor. Most acne treatments are applied after toning and before moisturizing. You might be required to give time for the acne treatments to be absorbed by your skin.

Conclusion