How to treat acne/acne scars for sensitive skin?

[_skyscraper_]

I have the worst skin type... I can't use proactive everyday because it dries my skin out, or any acne wash for that matter. I have little red scars all over my cheeks, and small bumps on my forehead. I exfoliate everyday and moisturize daily, but I can only use those acne washes once or twice a week. Can anyone understand my issue? Offer some good products for skin that dries out easily...?

[King-Matt]

I had acne when I was younger and I butchered my face as a result. Luckily I never got any scars though! But I got really paranoid about it and as a result spent many, many hours researching it.

1. Don't use the powerful soaps and products. Use a mild soap. Don't scrub

2. If you exfoliate only do it once a week

3. Only wash your face once a day (morning)

4. Easy on the skin cream and once you start using it don't stop.

5. Sweating is good if you exercise but try shower and rinse the sweat off within 30 min

6. Squeeze a pimple only when it has a white / black head, preferably after a shower. Use a cotton pad to clear the area after.

7. Make sure your hands are clean before squeezing.

8. Don't pick / scratch, ever.

I'll explain the reasons in detail:

1. The reason you don't want to use powerful skin products that boast how effectively they work is simple. Your body produces natural oils to protect your skin. These idiots punt their products to clear your skin, by doing so it destroys the natural oils your skin produces. Therefore your body produces extra oil to compensate, causing zits. Not to mention different products work for different skin types. Most of them will dry your skin out horribly though.

2. Exfoliation is great for removing dead skin cells that would otherwise clog up your pores, however if you do it too often you will wear away the skin which makes the skin sensitive and prone to infection causing pimples. Not to mention remove the natural oils I spoke about above.

3. This is for the exact same reason as above. If you wash your hair every day you will find it will get oily very fast. if you wash your hair every 2nd day, it will take longer for your hair to look oily. Your body is designed to protect itself. Your skin and hair secretes natural oils for a reason.

4. Don't lay the cream on thick, it will clog your pores causing more zits. When you start using cream you will find that you get a few more zits to begin with, once you are used to it then it should calm down. I hardly ever get zits but if I applied cream tomorrow I'd prob end up with a couple in the next week, after that my skin will get used to it and they will disappear.

5. Sweating is great for your skin, it removes a lot of toxins from your body, not to mention exercise in general will make you a lot healthier. Don't let the sweat dry or it will just clog your pores.

6. After a shower your skin will be softer, you won't do as much damage when you squeeze. Gently dab anything left away so that the bacteria does not spread resulting in another zit.

7. Dirty fingers / nails will only add more bacteria to the wound.

8. Picking and scratching will spread bacteria resulting in more pimples.

Acne is a vicious cycle, bacteria creates it, popping them and scratching clogs pores and spreads more bacteria, if you can break the cycle and allow your skin to regenerate naturally you will break the cycle. It will take a few of weeks but I cured myself this way

[_skyscraper_]

thank you! I've been exfoliating every single morning for about a month now, maybe that's a key factor...i also use a lot of moisturizer at night. I wash my face every morning, and night. I HAVE to wash it at night to take my make-up off.

[King-Matt]

No problem :).Yeah don't worry I did the exact same thing at one point. Funny that sometimes the things we do to avoid a problem directly because them. Not a big deal with washing morning and evening, just use a mild soap, none of the extra potent chemical stuff. The idea is to leave a bit of natural oil behind remove dirt and not clog your pores with soap. Just do your best to avoid scratching any itches during your skins recovery. Once recovered scratching the odd itch won't do any harm.

[_skyscraper_]

Yeah, I have a major problem with keeping my hands off my face. I'm going to try gently removing my make-up at night, and cleansing in the morning. I'll try to use less moisturizer too. & only exfoliate once a week. Thank you for your help!

[toolt00l]

I used proactive and it dried my skin out too.

I use Cetaphil Gentle face cleanser and it works wonders for me. My face feels so comfortable and my acne has gone away a significant amount. I also use the lotion from proactive and the combination works great.

Use this link and a facial moisturizer and see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Rose Hip Oil,is organic and it helps with dry skin,skin tone,dermatitis,fine lines and wrinkles,acne scarring,burns...It really does work if you use it regularly,I'd reccommend a few products but I'm not sure where you're from,so they might not be available..But if you google rose hip oil you should be able to find a brand that's from where you live..

[cookiemonster12]

i had the same problem. Use clinique products, they work the best with aveeno moisturizure

[_skyscraper_]

thank you!

[Anonymous]

Go to dermatologist its called retin a 0.05% they will prescribe it for you. It basically strips your skin and causes first degree burns and your face will be worse before it gets better and you have to avoid the sun so no tanning. I used it for a month caused skin to peel and was red then my face began healing and month or two later was free of the scars. Its powerful stuff and like I said the burning feeling and itchiness it causes is well worth having a scar free face.