Removal of Facial Blemishes

The right skin care products can help keep skin blemish free.

Acne and blemishes are extremely common skin conditions that affect approximately 40 to 50 million Americans, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. While blemishes are most common in teenagers, with 85 percent affected, blemishes can occur at any age. Blemishes and breakouts are most commonly caused by excess oil, clogged pores, bacteria and inflammation. There are many at home treatments to help remove blemishes from the face and help keep them from forming. Once blemishes are removed, it's important to keep up with a consistent skin care regimen to help keep skin clear and healthy.

Things You'll Need

• Facial cleanser
• Spot treatment
• Washcloth

Instructions

Skin Care Regimen

1. Wash face twice daily with a gentle cleanser that will not overdry or strip skin of essential emollients. Too frequent washing with harsh or abrasive cleansers can actually spread bacteria and make blemishes worse, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Look for cleansers that contain humectants such as glycerin to seal in moisture.

2. Rub face with a soft terry washcloth in a circular motion while cleanser is still on face one to two times per week to exfoliate skin. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells to help treatments penetrate deeper and effectively clear blemishes.

3. Soak a cotton pad with alcohol-free toner and sweep over face, avoiding the eye area. Toner helps remove any traces of dirt, oil, makeup and cleanser residue and ensure that skin is completely clean. Make sure the toner is alcohol-free and contains humectants to help moisturize and reduce the possibility of dryness and irritation.

4. Apply treatment containing 5 or 10 percent benzoyl peroxide or 2 percent salicylic acid to blemishes and blemish-prone areas of the face. Benzoyl peroxide helps kill acne-causing bacteria and clear dead skin cells, while salicylic acid helps unclog pores and prevent blemishes from forming. Benzoyl peroxide tends to cause dryness and irritation, so it's best to apply sparingly. Salicylic acid is gentler and usually well-tolerated when applied all over the face.

5. Use a light, oil-free moisturizer daily to help prevent the dryness and irritation that can be a side effect of blemish treatment products. Make sure the moisturizer states on the label that it is oil-free, noncomedogenic and non-acnegenic to ensure that the formula won't cause blemishes.

Tips & Warnings

• Benzoyl peroxide can be used on blemishes up to three times daily. For severe blemishes, start with one application daily and increase frequency if there are no signs of irritation.

• To further help unclog pores, use a cleanser containing 2 percent salicylic acid in place of regular cleanser 1 to 3 times per week.

• It's important to use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 daily when using products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid because they increase skin's sensitivity to the sun and can result in sunburn.

• Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness, dryness and irritation. If these side effects occur, reduce frequency of application.

References

• American Academy of Dermatology: Acne
• Skin Care Physicians: Acne Treatment Available Without a Prescription