Professional cosmetics for acne

To get rid of pimples, blackheads and acne, which bring us enormous discomfort, you need to choose the right care product. It must meet the needs of the skin and eliminate a specific problem. However, there are no universal remedies for fighting acne; everyone must find their own remedy - these can be ointments, creams, gels and masks. Let's look at the best.

The main causes of acne

In order for acne treatment to bring maximum results, you need to eliminate the cause that provokes its formation. Skin rashes are caused by:

  1. emotional shocks, stress, nervous strain, worries;
  2. frequent contact with hands or phones that have germs on the surface;
  3. hormonal imbalance, thyroid diseases;
  4. heredity;
  5. use of corticosteroids, birth control pills;
  6. diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the intestines;
  7. unhealthy diet - content in the diet of fast food, fatty and fried foods, as well as sweets and baked goods;
  8. allergic reaction;
  9. bad habits - nicotine and alcohol provoke metabolic disorders;
  10. incorrect choice of cosmetics, use of too oily cosmetics.

A doctor will help determine the true cause of the rash. To do this, you can contact a gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, allergist, infectious disease specialist, dermatologist, hematologist. A nutritionist and cosmetologist will also help. By identifying the cause of the rash and eliminating it, you can expect that anti-acne products will be effective.

Popular acne remedies

Anti-acne cosmetics contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial components that help get rid of acne. Our review will help you choose the right skin care cosmetics for your face and body.

The rating of remedies for treating acne and pimples is topped by ointments. These are mainly pharmaceutical products. Let's look at the most effective ones:

  1. “Zinerit” is an ointment containing the antibiotic erythromycin, which destroys propionibacteria and streptococcus, as well as zinc, which dries the skin and reduces the intensity of secretion of the sebaceous glands. The product cleanses the surface of the skin, eliminates white pimples and blackheads, even if the area of ​​the rash is very large. People with dry and sensitive skin should use this ointment carefully. The course of treatment is 10-12 weeks.
    → Reviews of the cream “Zinerit” 1, 2
  2. Salicylic ointment is a medicine containing salicylic acid. Its concentration can reach 2%, 5%, or 10% and 60%. It has a pronounced antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. Cleanser for purulent acne. It also helps brighten post-acne skin. The maximum duration of continuous use is up to 3 weeks.
    → Reviews of Salicylic ointment 1
  3. "Levomekol" is a medicine intended for the treatment of ulcers, rashes, and promotes rapid healing of the skin. Suitable for teenagers who often develop painful pimples on the forehead and other areas of the face. The active components of the ointment are methyluracil and chloramphenicol. They have a powerful anti-inflammatory and also antimicrobial effect. You need to use the product for 2-4 weeks.
  4. Erythromycin ointment - used in combination with other medications. The active ingredient erythromycin ED effectively fights purulent acne. The ointment should be used continuously for a maximum of a month.
  5. Sulfur ointment – ​​contains precipitated sulfur, which has a drying and antimicrobial effect. As a result of its use, it is possible to quickly get rid of acne and rashes, since the product reduces the intensity of subcutaneous fat production. The product is effective against subcutaneous acne. The sulfides contained in the ointment promote wound healing, which helps even out the skin. You need to apply the product for 2-3 weeks.
  6. Ichthyol ointment is a powerful acne remedy containing ichthyol. Its use provides comprehensive treatment, since the ointment quickly relieves inflammatory processes and minimizes the pain that occurs when internal acne appears. This is a spot treatment that is gently applied to the surface of the pimple to speed up its maturation. Use once a day until the problem is resolved.
  7. Synthomycin ointment is a cleanser that quickly relieves inflammation. Effective against ulcers, acne, rashes, small spots. Contains an antibiotic that destroys germs that cause acne. The duration of treatment with this ointment is a maximum of 5 days. This is an inexpensive remedy.

All anti-acne ointments are applied 1-2 times a day to cleansed skin. They should not be used more often, because pharmaceutical products contain active ingredients. When using them, side effects such as an allergic reaction, redness, swelling are possible, but they occur rarely. Acne ointments fall into the category of inexpensive products.

Acne gels have a light texture and are quickly absorbed. There are cosmetics and medications sold in pharmacies. Let's look at the most effective acne gels:

  1. "Effezel" is an effective gel that helps cure acne and pimples even at the most advanced stage. Contains baziron and differin, which quickly remove rashes, acne, promote healing and smoothing of the skin. It has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, cleanses the skin surface well.
  2. "Dalacin" is a pharmaceutical anti-acne gel that contains the strong antibiotic clindamycin. This is a universal drug that copes with acne, pimples, blackheads, redness and other aesthetic defects. The effect of use appears after 2-4 weeks. The duration of the course of treatment is determined by the doctor, but it should not exceed 5 weeks, since the body gets used to the action of this drug.
  3. "Metrogil" is a gel for red acne and rashes that has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. The active ingredient is metronidazole. This gel, in combination with other drugs, can be used to treat skin defects, as well as prevent their occurrence. The product is used for 3-6 weeks.
    → Reviews about “Metrogil” 1
  4. “Oxygel” is a gel that is suitable for the treatment of acne and acne of mild or moderate severity. The active ingredient in this drug is benzoyl peroxide. The product should be used carefully by those with sensitive skin, because when the gel gets on its surface it can cause burning and irritation. The duration of the course of use is a maximum of 2 weeks.
  5. "Skinoren Gel" - its active ingredient azelaic acid provides a bactericidal and drying effect. This remedy normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands, helps get rid of acne, pimples, blackheads. The gel effectively copes with even the most advanced stage of rashes, but you can use it for a maximum of 14 days, since it dries out the skin too much.
    → Reviews of “Skinoren Gel” 1, 2, 3

The gel is applied to cleansed skin several times a day.

Creams

Creams are very popular in the fight against acne. Consider the list of the most effective:

  1. “Differin” is a good cream for the face and body, containing adapalene, which fights acne and comedones. It is used for the treatment and prevention of acne and pore contamination.
  2. "Baziron" is the best acne remedy for dry skin. It provides not only an antibacterial effect, but also regulates the process of sebum secretion and well moisturizes the epidermis. The cream is more effective against acne and rashes. Duration of use is 3-3.5 months.
    → Reviews about “Baziron” 1, 2
  3. “Clean Skin” from Garnier is a cosmetic product for daily use that fights blackheads and red spots. Suitable for those with oily skin as it dries it out greatly. Dry skin may begin to peel after using this product for several days.
    → Reviews “Clean skin” from Garnier 1
  4. "Boro Plus" - consists of plant components: sandalwood, turmeric, aloe and other components. Has a good antibacterial and antiseptic effect. Used for the appearance of ulcers and rashes, suitable for teenagers and adults. The cream must be applied three times a day until the aesthetic defect disappears.

There are many acne creams on the market designed for daily skin care. They can be applied continuously for 1.5-2 months, after which you should take a break and start using another cosmetic product. This will help avoid addiction. That is why it is advisable to look for several options at once so that you can alternate them - a review of acne creams for different skin types can be found here.

Other acne remedies

  1. Ducray Keraknil mask has a triple effect: absorbs excess sebum, cleanses pores and prevents them from getting dirty. Consists of clay, polyhydroxy acid, microparticles of wax. The mask is applied twice a week for 5 minutes. Its regular use eliminates acne and ulcers.
  2. Payot cleansing paste is intended for the treatment of subcutaneous acne. Contains lanolin. The product is applied to cleansed skin before bed. You need to attach a patch on top, and in the morning remove it and wash. 3-5 applications are enough for the subcutaneous pimple to disappear. The product may cause peeling of the skin.
    → Reviews of Payot 1 Cleansing Paste
  3. StopProblem healing and concealing corrector is an antibacterial agent containing salicylic acid, which dries out pimples. Flesh-colored concealer is applied over the pimple to disguise the breakout. At the same time, the active components of the drug promote the resorption of the abscess and cleansing of the pores. After 2-4 days of regular application, the pimple disappears.

If you list the most effective remedies for acne, the top 10 will definitely include Differin, salicylic ointment, Skinoren Gel, Baziron, Keraknil Ducray, ichthyol ointment, Zinerit, Boro Plus, StopProblem, "Oxygel".

How to choose the right product for you

To choose a good external remedy for cleansing skin from rashes, you need to consider a number of parameters. The main ones:

  1. Why do acne appear? If their formation is caused by excessive expansion of pores, you need products that narrow them. When the reason is the presence of certain bacteria on the skin, antibacterial creams and ointments will help.
  2. Skin type – it is important that the cosmetic product matches your skin type. Drying products are suitable for oily skin, but for dry skin they will be too aggressive. The use of skin care cosmetics that are not suitable for a specific skin type can aggravate aesthetic problems. You should especially carefully select products for sensitive skin types. They must certainly have a soft effect.
  3. If you have allergies, it is better to give preference to hypoallergenic products.
  4. Good creams do not contain petroleum products, as well as synthetic additives and artificial flavors. Their presence can further irritate the skin, causing new rashes to appear.

It is very important that anti-acne products do not clog pores, otherwise the skin will receive insufficient oxygen, and this worsens its condition, appearance, and contributes to the spread of rashes.

This effective remedy helps against acne because it acts comprehensively. It provides good cleansing, relieves inflammation, has an antibacterial and drying effect. The drugs also reduce sebum production and tighten pores, resulting in the removal of acne. The skin becomes healthy and well-groomed. The main thing is to choose a product that suits your skin type and switch to a balanced diet.

Using topical acne treatments provides only 50-60% of the results. Otherwise, the effectiveness of treatment is determined by the state of health and lifestyle.

I believe that I will not be opening America if I say that various rashes and inflammations on the skin are the constant scourge of most residents of big cities. As my editor reasonably noted: “Acne is the pain of all girls.” And, unfortunately, this is true.

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Times have changed. And the rhythm of our life, and the notorious ecology, and diet. Today everything is different. Therefore, it should not be surprising that the problem of acne, which previously existed mainly during puberty, in the modern world remains with most of us almost for the rest of our lives.

" What to do?" - you ask. Well, definitely don’t give up! And even if you can’t completely destroy the “enemy,” you will at least manage it, control it and minimize its consequences. You can believe me, I fought for the purity of my facial skin for a good 10 years! So, let's start with a few simple but mandatory rules:

You need to pull yourself together and stop squeezing your pimples.

I understand perfectly well that it is much easier said than done. The brain understands everything, but the hands still treacherously reach out to pick off the hated pimple. Therefore, I propose a radical solution - cut your nails short. Firstly, short nails are now back at the peak of popularity, and secondly, you simply won’t have anything to injure your skin with.

Organic cosmetics: 10 best products you must have

We exclude from food chips, carbonated drinks, everything spicy and heavily fried.

And instead of all these “goodies” we introduce whole grains, avocados, vegetable oils, and red fish into the diet. Believe me, not only your skin, but your entire body will thank you!

We begin to properly and regularly (this is important) take care of your facial skin.

The most common mistake when caring for problem skin is overdrying. It turns out to be a vicious circle: you want to get rid of inflammation with the help of alcohol-containing lotions and ointments, the skin dries from them and begins to protect itself, producing even more sebum. Because of this, the number of inflammations increases, and so on in a circle...

Now let's take a closer look at caring for problem skin, let's talk about what to do and what medications really work.

Firstly, skin with inflammation must be thoroughly cleansed. In this case, cleansing should be of two types:

  1. Daily soft. This can be a soft cleansing gel or foam, which gently removes all impurities from the skin without destroying its water-fat balance. My choice is Soothing Gel Cleanser from the Murad brand. It's not cheap, but the results are guaranteed.
  2. Deep cleansing (1 time every 5-6 days). A real salvation for all owners of problem skin - AHA and BHA acids. They very carefully dissolve dead cells, cleanse pores, renew the skin and moisturize it (unlike scrubs, whose abrasive particles only injure the skin and thereby provoke new rashes). My choice is Gentle Cream Exfoliant from the brand Dermalogica (one of the best acid exfoliators in the world, believe me!).

Secondly, problematic skin simply needs additional hydration. You may be surprised to learn that oily skin needs no less moisturizing than dry skin (only moisturizing should be lighter: not creams, but fluids). We should also have two types of moisturizing:

  1. Daily. I suggest using light fluids and lotions and not going overboard with the matte effect. My choice is Ant moisturizing gel (it doesn’t clog pores, perfectly moisturizes, heals wounds, reduces sebum production). I often combine it with the Revitalizing Mask from the same brand.
  2. Deep (once a week). Most moisturizing masks are perfect for deep cleansing. It is desirable that they also be gel-based. My choice is the Hydro Active Moisture Mask from Dr.Grandel.

Thirdly, areas with rashes need to be dried sometimes (just don’t overdo it!). For this we also use two options:

  1. A mask based on white clay (or kaolin). You need to apply it to problem areas for 5-7 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. We use such masks no more than 2 times a week. My choice is Sebum Clearing Masque from Dermalogica.
  2. Concentrated product for local use. Such products should be applied directly to the inflammation several times a day. My choice is the Beta Gel acne serum from the Medik8 brand.

You can learn more about my favorite care products for problem skin from special videos on my Youtube channel or on my Instagram page.

Pimples and blackheads are a common problem among teenagers, but can also affect older people. In an effort to get rid of inflammation and oily shine, they plague the skin with aggressive alcohol products, but its condition only worsens. Why this happens, what cosmetics will actually help, as well as a list of the best products, according to the editors of skin.ru, are in our article.

  1. What is problem skin
  2. Distinctive features
  3. What cosmetics do problem skin need?
  4. Features of the composition
  5. Rules of application
  6. Review of the best tools

What is problem skin

Oily or combination skin is usually classified as problematic. Cosmetics for such skin usually include products labeled “anti-greasy” and “anti-acne and blackheads.”

Most often, by the word “problematic,” experts mean oily skin with enlarged pores, prone to inflammation and comedones.

Oily skin is most often called problematic © iStock

Distinctive features

Skin is considered problematic if the following signs are present:

increased sebum secretion;

enlarged pores that become clogged quite quickly;

tendency to the appearance of comedones and acne.

Due to improper care, oily and combination skin can become dehydrated. Don't confuse dehydrated skin with dryness.

Dryness is a congenital feature of the skin,

in which the production of own fat is reduced, which means that the skin retains moisture less well. True, over the years, skin of any type becomes drier.

Dehydration is a temporary skin condition

caused by a lack of moisture or a temporary inability to retain it, which, fortunately, is quite easy to fix.

Any type of skin can suffer from dehydration, but oily skin begins to produce sebum more actively, and dry skin becomes prematurely covered with a network of wrinkles. Both types lose their shine.

Problem skin needs cleansing and moisturizing most of all © iStock

What cosmetics do problem skin need?

Beauty products for problem skin perform two basic functions - cleansing and moisturizing. Additional options:

exfoliation, which solves the problem of clogged pores;

targeted effect on inflammatory elements.

Hydration

This is the alpha and omega of skin care for any type. With a lack of moisture, metabolic processes in the skin slow down, its renewal and exfoliation of horn cells are inhibited. As a result, the pores become clogged and conditions are created for the proliferation of acne-causing bacteria.

Exfoliation

Features of the composition

Several groups of substances actively work in formulas for problem skin.

Antibacterial

Such components fight the causative agent of acne - the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. These include zinc and sulfur.

Products for problem skin should contain absorbent substances © iStock

Absorbent

These ingredients draw out dirt and sebum from the pores, allowing for deep cleansing of the skin and regulation of the sebaceous glands. Main absorbents:

several types of clay, for example, white clay kaolin and Moroccan gassoul;

Exfoliating

As a rule, these are acids. In addition to preventing comedones and blackheads, they help even out skin tone and texture.

Salicylic acid dissolves intercellular “glue”, exfoliating dead particles of the epidermis and cleansing pores.

Fruit (AHA) acids stimulate cell renewal.

Hygroscopic agents

Glycerin and hyaluronic acid attract and hold water molecules in skin cells.

When cleansing problem skin, pay special attention to makeup remover © iStock

Rules of application

The main rules for caring for problem skin: thorough cleansing and choosing gentle products.

Cleansing and makeup removal

For oily skin, cleanse your face twice a day using gentle formulas without harsh ingredients like alcohol. Pay special attention to makeup remover: the alkaline products that many people are used to strongly irritate the skin, so choose a way to remove makeup quickly, effectively, but without unnecessary friction. For example, using micellar water.

Exfoliation with products containing coarse abrasive particles is contraindicated for inflamed skin; acid-based products are more suitable for it. They stimulate the renewal of the epidermis and dissolve dead cells, which has a positive effect on the color and texture of the skin.

Skin of any type needs hydration, especially when using products with acids. If classic cream formulas clog your pores, try light gel or fluid textures.

Local action products with components that have antibacterial properties kill harmful bacteria that cause acne, thereby neutralizing inflammatory processes in the pores.

Review of the best tools

The best moisturizer for problem skin, according to the editors of Skin.ru.

Hydration

Lotion with herbs for problem skin Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion, Kiehl’s

Corrective cream-gel for problem skin with toning effect Effaclar Duo, La Roche-Posay

Product name Description Mode of application
A multifunctional product moisturizes and refreshes oily skin. Apply to previously cleansed facial skin twice a day.
A moisturizing complex based on hyaluronic acid, urea and trehalose intensively moisturizes the skin, and vitamin B5 promotes recovery. Apply to cleansed skin twice a day.
A cream containing salicylic acid and zinc corrects and prevents the appearance of post-acne, evens out skin tone and texture, and reduces sebum production. Use as a daytime moisturizer. Apply avoiding the area around the eyes.

The best tonics for problem skin, according to the editors of skin.ru.

Toning

Apply to previously cleansed facial skin using a cotton pad.

Does not require rinsing with water.

Apply with a cotton pad, avoiding the area around the eyes. Do not rinse off.

Use daily, apply with a cotton pad, avoiding the area around the eyes.

The best products for local use, according to the editors of skin.ru.

Point treatment products

Product name Description Mode of application
Cleansing components combined with lipohydroxy acids even out the surface of the skin and remove impurities from the pores.
Cleansing lotion, tightening pores, Normaderm, Vichy The combination of glycolic and salicylic acids regulates sebum production.
Cleansing toner against blackheads and oily shine “Clean Skin”, Garnier Salicylic acid is responsible for stimulating cell renewal and preventing blackheads, and zinc is responsible for regulating sebum production.
Product name Description Mode of application
Local corrective agent Effaclar A.I., La Roche-Posay Contains niacinamide and lipohydroxy acid to inhibit bacterial activity. Helps quickly reduce inflammation. After cleansing the skin and care products, apply locally to imperfections: in the evening - spot on, in the morning - in a thin layer under makeup.
Fast-acting targeted remedy against imperfections Normaderm Hyaluspot, Vichy The acid complex stimulates the exfoliation of the stratum corneum of the epidermis. Helps improve skin texture and tone, and prevent inflammatory elements. Apply locally using the applicator, morning and/or evening. Repeat if necessary.
Breakout Control Targeted Blemish Spot Treatment, Kiehl’s Sulfur in a high concentration of 10% fights bacteria that cause acne and regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands. Apply directly onto cleansed skin using gentle tapping movements.