Best Acne Treatments for Sensitive Skin

While often thought to be a skin problem strictly for teenagers, acne can affect people of all ages. Many commercial acne treatments rely on harsh, caustic chemicals to treat these blemishes. This can pose a problem for individuals with sensitive skin. Learn how to treat acne without resorting to harsh chemicals. Having sensitive skin does not mean you have to give up on treating acne. There are treatments that can get rid of acne without irritating your sensitive skin.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Avoid over-the-counter acne remedies that depend on large amounts of benzoyl peroxide, alpha-hydroxy-acid (AHA) and beta-hydroxy-acid (BHA). These three chemicals are often used in high percentages in many commercial acne treatments and work by using acids to increase exfoliation in the skin. Individuals with sensitive skin may react to high amounts of these chemicals with redness, tingling and a burning sensation. This may actually aggravate acne in some individuals.

2. Avoid skin cleansers with physical exfoliates such as peach pits or sand. These will simply irritate your sensitive skin and make your acne more red.

3. Use a soothing, gentle cleanser made with castille soap. Castille soaps are made using pure vegetable oils, are slightly moisturizing, and are gentle enough for sensitive skin.

4. Wash your face just twice a day (morning and evening). Washing more often than this may dry out your skin and irritate your sensitive skin while increasing your skin's oil output, thereby potentially increasing your acne. If your face feels greasy between washes, use a tissue to blot oil and rinse your face with water.

5. Treat acne using an acne treatment that is based on salicylic acid. This is one of the more gentle chemicals that can be used in a low enough percentage to not aggravate sensitive skin. Find a salicylic acid-based treatment that is combined with a moisturizer or lotion to help sooth sensitive skin and protect your skin from becoming dry (a common side effect of acne treatments).

6. Supplement a salicylic acid treatment with a natural acne treatment. Many individuals find that natural acne remedies help sooth sensitive skin and increase the effectiveness of salicylic acid. Commonly used ingredients include witch hazel (as a soothing skin toner) and aloe vera (to help heal acne scars).

Tips & Warnings

• Supplement your commercial acne treatment with natural skin supplements to sooth and moisturize irritated, sensitive skin.

• Commonly used acne treatment chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide, alpha-hydroxy-acid (AHA) and beta-hydroxy-acid (BHA), are too harsh for sensitive skin.