Acne Treatments Without Benzoyl Peroxide
Many acne products contain benzoyl peroxide, a strong acne fighter that can cause redness, irritation, peeling, and itching. Luckily, there are a few products that can fight acne that do not contain benzoyl peroxide. These products are just as effective as benzoyl peroxide creams but do not cause unwanted side effects, such as redness or irritation.
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Gentle Soap
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Many acne soaps contain chemicals that can rob the skin of its natural oils and can dry out the skin. These harsh ingredients, including benzoyl peroxide, can be found even in soaps that claim to treat acne. Although it may seem logical to use these soaps for your skin, it can actually harm the skin and can exacerbate acne. Instead, use a soap that is extremely gentle and formulated for sensitive skin types. This type of soap will clean the skin thoroughly without damaging or irritating the skin. Be extra careful not to rub the skin too hard when washing. Simply lather the skin gently and rinse it clean with water.
Tea Tree Oil Salve
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The most common acne treatment cream contains benzoyl peroxide, but using benzoyl peroxide on the skin continually will irritate and inflame the skin, causing peeling, redness, and even mild chemical burns. One effective alternative is to use a tea tree oil salve. Tea tree oil has be shown in studies to eliminate and prevent acne breakouts as well as benzoyl peroxide cream, but without the unwanted side effects. Using a salve that contains tea tree oil will allow you to use the tea tree oil in a similar way that you would use the benzoyl peroxide cream. It will go on the skin in the same way, and will already be diluted, eliminating the need to dilute the oil first. Massage the tea tree oil salve onto the skin twice per day after washing.
Oil-Free Moisturizer
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Many times, acne can become worse from the skin drying out from cleansers, weather, toners, or chemicals that are in contact with the skin. Using an oil-free lotion after treating the skin with the tea tree oil salve will allow the skin to stay hydrated, which will alleviate the skin from needing to overproduce skin oils to compensate for dry skin. Selecting an oil-free lotion is important so that it does not clog the pores while keeping the skin soft. Avoid lotions or moisturizers that contain oils or ingredients that prevent wrinkle or fine line. Many times, these types of creams contain pore-clogging substances.
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