How do I Choose the Best Acne Wash?

For people who suffer from acne, dealing with the condition may seem like a confusing blur of concealers, treatments, and even medication. Key to most acne treatment systems is a comprehensive skin care regime that helps keep pores clear, reduces oil, and keeps skin properly moisturized. An acne wash is usually the first step in any acne treatment program, but may prove a confusing choice. With so many available products on the market, choosing the best acne wash may be a lengthy practice of trial and error.

Acne washes, as the first step of treating and preventing blemishes, attempt to cleanse the skin and prepare it for further treatment. A good acne wash will remove traces of makeup, dirt, and surface oil, to allow treatment products clearer access to troubled skin. Cleansers must be carefully balanced to prevent skin irritation, which is common in people with sensitive, acne-prone skin. Any cleansing or wash product that causes itchiness, drying, or lasting redness, is probably not the best choice.

Many acne washes contain active ingredients that help reduce the bacteria which causes zits and breakouts, as well as healing blemishes already on the skin. Common ingredients that may be used include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. It is important to look at ingredients carefully and note the strength of solution used in the acne wash. Higher strength solutions may be more likely to cause drying and irritation, and some studies suggest they are not much more effective, if at all.

Products that stress natural ingredients may substitute active ingredients with sulfur, tea tree oil, or other cleansing herbs and compounds. Skincare lines with these products may be an excellent choice for people who have developed sensitivity or seen few results with more commonly used acne washes. People with sensitive skin should still be wary, however, and try to test the product on skin before working it into a skincare regime; even some natural compounds can contain allergens and irritations.

If an acne wash is working, a person should see fewer breakouts and experience no excess drying, itching or redness. There is unfortunately no surefire way to determine if a product will work until it is used for a few days. Some cosmetic stores and brands allow customers to return products for full refunds if they experience an adverse reaction or simply don't like the product. Taking advantage of return offers can speed up the experimentation process without wasting money on products that do not work.