ACNE 101

All About Acne

WHAT EXACTLY IS ACNE?

Acne is a general term for a chronic skin condition caused by oil and dead skin cells clogging up your pores. Acne usually shows up as pimples, whiteheads, or blackheads, most often on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest. Often, an acne treatment with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can help clear it up.

WHAT CAUSES ACNE?

The most common type of acne is the one that starts during your teen years, when changes in hormones (especially testosterone) cause your glands to produce more oil. That oil is supposed to help protect your skin. But if it mixes with dead skin cells and clogs your pores, you’ve got the start of acne. Mix in some bacteria, and you can get swelling, redness, and puss.

Your acne can be made worse by using skin or hair care products that use a lot of oil, or if you wear tight-fitting things that rub on your skin, like a hairband or the chinstrap of a football helmet.

Acne can also be a potential side effect if you take certain medications, including steroids and anticonvulsants.

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Treating & Preventing Acne

HOW DO I GET RID OF ACNE?

If you have an acne breakout, don’t panic! An over the counter treatment featuring benzoyl peroxide—which kills acne-causing bacteria — can often clear up your skin faster than you may think. For especially quick results, try a “leave on” option such as OXY® Maximum Strength Rapid Spot Treatment.

OXY® Maximum Strength 3-in-1 Acne Pads unclog pores with the exfoliating help of salicylic acid. And you’ll want to make sure that you’re keeping your face clean using a gentle soap or skin cleanser (just don’t wash so much that your skin becomes irritated).

Of course, if your acne won’t go away, you have a severe case of acne, or your blemishes become infected, you should see your doctor.

HOW CAN I PREVENT ACNE?

The best way to deal with acne is to avoid it entirely. And there are several steps you can take to do just that. Clear, healthy skin starts with a healthy you, so make sure you’re getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet.

Skin care products that use salicylic acid can help keep your pores free from clogs so acne doesn’t get a chance to start. OXY® has a range of products featuring salicylic acid, including cleansing pads you can use virtually anywhere, a blackhead removing scrub, and fantastic skin clearing facial cleansers you can wash with every day.

There are also a few things you should avoid if you want to keep your skin acne-free. Don’t use skin care products that are excessively greasy. Don’t wash your skin so much that it becomes irritated. And, as much as possible, avoid wearing things that are tight on your skin or that rub against it, such as headbands or helmet chinstraps—especially if you sweat while doing so.

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How OXY® Works

WHAT IS BENZOYL PEROXIDE AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

To help attack your acne breakout, many OXY® acne treatment products feature benzoyl peroxide, an acne medicine that’s been clinically proven to kill the bacteria that cause acne breakouts. It also helps remove the dead skin cells that can plug pores and cause acne.

WHAT IS SALICYLIC ACID AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Salicylic acid belongs to the same class of drugs as aspirin. The salicylic acid in OXY® products does a bunch of things to treat acne and keep your skin clear: it helps you shed dead skin cells more easily; it opens up and clears clogged pores, allowing oxygen in to help fight the bacteria they may contain; and it helps tighten up those pores, leaving your skin looking smooth and healthy.

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Sensitive Skin & Allergies

CAN I USE OXY® IF I HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?


We actually make a product specially formulated for people with your type of skin. Try OXY® Maximum Action Rapid Treatment Sensitive Skin Face Wash, which contains less benzoyl peroxide to minimize irritation. It’s also a good idea to start with one application a day, and then increase up to three times a day if needed.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I CAN USE ACNE TREATMENTS?

If you’ve never used an acne treatment with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid before, we recommend that you test a small, affected area of your skin first and watch it for three days. If you have an allergic reaction (see below), make sure you don’t use the product again. However, if you don’t have any allergic symptoms, you can go ahead and continue using it. Just be sure and follow the instructions on the label.

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