Just when we thought the haze was going away, it seems to be getting worse again! The sky was bright and clear earlier yesterday, but come noon, visibility became drastically poorer, and the smell of smoke was stronger than before! Yikes!
As explained earlier in our previous post, acne is a skin condition manifested by pimples, blemishes, blackheads etc.
Understandably, if you have existing acne problems, the haze has probably irritated your skin further since your skin is breathing in the polluted toxic air.
So, what specific ingredients should you look for in products to manage and treat your acne? Below are some of active ingredients which are commonly found in acne-fighting products. I guess you can say they are all anti-acne Don’t be daunted by their long scientific name. I’m sure you’ve seen some of these names, and after a few product label readings, these names will be familiar to you!
Benzoyl Peroxide
This is an acne bacteria killing agent. It also acts to exfoliate dead skin cells and remove excess sebum preventing them from clogging pores which can eventually cause acne.
Salicylic acid
This is probably the most commonly seen name in most skincare products! It promises to dissolve and melt away the dirt that is clogging your pores! How good does that sound? So promising! However, look for products with just 2% of it, (unless prescribed by doctors of course) as excessive use can lead to side effects. While it is also antibacterial and may help treat cystic acne, it is advised that it is most effective for blackheads and whiteheads acne.
Tea Tree Oil
Another very famous ingredient and also natural! It is anti-inflammatory which helps to calm acne, and also antibacterial which helps to hinder acne development.
Green tea
Great for green tea fans! Not only it is anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, it is also antimicrobial! This means that it kills and prevents the growth of microorganisms. Therefore, it is able to hinder the development of acne since it will fight off germs or at least slows down their growth! It also smells good!
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)
I bet this name is familiar due to it trending in the beauty skincare market this year. It mainly functions to exfoliate and peel away dead skin cells, preventing clogged pores, similar to Benzoyl Peroxide.
While all these may work for some and not for others, it’s worth knowing what to look for, right? You can also speak to skin experts for advice. For example, at SkinValet and Narqes Medispa, there are doctors who can help to identify what your skin needs and the kind of treatments you can try to treat your skin condition. Give them a ring or pay a visit to the outlet nearest to you!
