Facials For Acne
Acne Face Mask Options

FACIALS FOR ACNE

A facial acne treatment is certainly a viable addition to just about anyone's acne arsenal. However, to expect an acne face mask to be the end-all is unrealistic. In fact, masks are actually a poor choice for the elimination of blemishes. The reason being is that the bacteria that causes the breakouts in the first place, must be dealt with--killed--on a daily basis. Therefore, do not expect a professional acne facial to rectify an ongoing problem. Incorporating regular facials for acne is a great addition, but certainly not a great solution.

Clay Mask

A clay mask purifies the skin by drawing out the impurities. It cleanses deep into the pores and eliminates the dead skin cells, along with any dirt and debris. It shouldn't be used more than 2-3 times a week. Over use can cause your skin to become a bit inflamed and sensitive. If you opt to use the volcano clay from the health food store, you can create your own concoctions. For example, you could add a little lemon juice which is a great natural ingredient for acne.

Sulfur Mask

Care must be taken when using a sulfur mask, as it can irritate the skin. The benefits that might be derived with this mask are the ability of it to exfoliate the skin, along with having some healing and drying up of the blemishes. Sulfur also has some disinfectant benefits for breakouts.

Plexion SCT Mask

This is a mask that can only be obtained via a prescription. It contains sulfacetamide, which will reduce inflammation.


FACIALS FOR ACNE WITH CERTAIN SKIN TYPES

People who have oily skin generally do best with clay or mud-based masks. The clay masks will remove the excess oil and tighten up the pores.

Dry skin tends to experience flaking, peeling, and red patches. When you add acne to the mix, a mask for this skin type should provide both cleansing and moisturizing ingredients. A good choice would be a mask containing glycerin.

For combination skin, which usually consists of dry skin on the cheeks and oily skin in the t-zone, a person would want to both exfoliate and moisturize the skin. A good combination of ingredients for this skin type are sulfacetamide to reduce the redness and sulfur to cleanse the skin of its impurities and dead skin cells, both of which can exacerbate acne.


FACIAL ACNE TREATMENT INGREDIENTS THAT ARE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

When selecting products for home facials for acne, you want to be sure that the ingredients won't exacerbate the problem. The following ingredients are all good anti-inflammatory choices:

• Aloe vera
• Chamomile
• Colloidal oatmeal
• Cucumber
• D-Panthenol (Dexpanthenol), which is pro-vitamin B5
• Epilobium angustifolium, which is willow bark
• Evening primrose oil
• Feverfew
• Green tea
• Licochalone
• Perilla leaf extract
• Pycnogenol, which is a pine bark extract
• Red algae
• Thyme
• Trifolium pretense, which is red clover
• Zinc

FACIAL ACNE TREATMENT INGREDIENTS--RUN FAST, RUN FAR, RUN HARD

Certain ingredients will only make acne worse, intensify redness, draw out more oil--just what you need. Therefore, when considering the purchase of any facials for acne or home care products, steer clear of the following ingredients:

• Butyl stearate
• Cinnamon oil
• Cocoa butter
• Coconut oil
• Decyl oleate
• Isocetyl stearate
• Isopropyl isostearate
• Isopropyl myristate
• Isopropyl neopentanoate
• Isostearyl palmitate
• Lanolin
• Myristyl myristate
• Myristyl propionate
• Octyl palmitate
• Octyl stearate
• Peppermint oil
• Propylene glycol-2, which is known as PPG-2

If under an acne prescription like Accutane or Retin-A, be sure to consult your dermatologist before scheduling a facial. Most likely, suspension of facials will have to occur. For example, having a facial while taking Accutane is generally a big "No-No". Extractions and exfoliation should definitely not be done. After the treatment course is completed, when your dermatologist releases you to have a facial, it will probably be a very soothing and hydrating one, minus any extractions and exfoliation.


ADDITIONAL READING - OPTIONS FOR ACNE FACE MASKS

If you're interested in reading some additional articles relating to your various options for acne facials, I've set up some pages to address this issue. All you have to do is click on the links below to visit the page of your choice.

Acne Face Mask
Acne Facials
Aspirin Mask
Aspirin Face Mask
Face Mask For Acne
Homemade Acne Facials
Professional Facial For Acne