Perfect Cleanser for Acne

Any worthwhile acne treatment needs to incorporate a cleansing phase. During this stage, you aid your skin in sloughing off dead skin cells and remove and dirt any grime which could be lingering on its surface. While cleansing does sound straightforward and rather simple, technique is not all that comes into play. You need the right product to ensure that your acne-prone skin remains un-irritated. All to often people elect to use cleaners that contain harsh ingredients such as alcohol and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which strip oils off the skin leaving it dry and irritated. This in return creates even more acne breakouts. If you continue suffering from breakouts despite having tried multiple treatments, your cleaner may be at fault. Below, we will examine what you should look for in cleanser to ensure it won't conflict in your journey for clear skin.


Sodium lauryl sulfate is a chemical found in numerous household cleaning products that is just starting to see widespread attention. This additive is incorporated in products such as soap to induce a lather without soft water. Most homes in the United States are supplied with hard water, which combines with soap to from soap scum as opposed to a lather. Although SLS has not been officially labeled as dangerous, it is considered a pesticide. Farther, many industrial cleaning products also contain SLS. It should be evident that SLS is a harsh ingredient. Lab tests have shown that SLS acts as an irritant when it comes into contact with skin. Irritation and acne do not mix well, and the result is usually more breakouts. So, if you are looking for a cleanser, avoid those that contain SLS. A quick glanced at the product label should reveal of a cleanser contains this harmful ingredient.


It is a mystery why most people believe cleanser is designed to remove oils from the skin, leaving it tight and uncomfortable. Despite popular belief, cleanser is actually designed to remove contaminants off your skin without drastically affecting skin moisture levels. Removing oils from your skin can prove immensely troublesome, leaving it dry and irritated. This often translates to more acne. Some studies have also suggested that the skin may overcompensate for lost oil, by producing more, causing an oily complexion. If you want to avoid such problems, it is best to avoid cleansers with astringents such as alcohol. If your current cleanser gives you that tight feeling after washing, you should switch to another, more suitable product.


Our skin is most healthy when it falls into a certain pH range. This range happens to be in 4-5, slightly acidic area. Many soaps and cleansers are highly basic, or alkaline, with a pH over 7. When we apply these products to our skin, the acidity is disrupted and our skin becomes vulnerable to a countless number of threats. For the outer layer of the skin effectively to protect us from the outside world, it needs to maintain that slightly acidic characteristic. Fortunately, there are products available which claim to be pH balanced. These often have a pH of 7, causing a minimal disruption in acidity, and thus allowing our skin to combat acne bacteria, alongside many other threats.


Finding the right cleanser isn't necessarily a hard feat. When you finally do find the right one, you will immediately notice a difference in the health of your skin. Acne could be a difficult disorder to combat, however, with the right products anything is possible. Use gentle products on your skin and acne should be a concern of the past