Salicylic > Benzoyl Peroxide

There are two primary ingredients we use in skin care to get rid of acne - Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid. In some cases you may have encountered products that use both however many people do not know the benefits of Salicylic Acid or the drawbacks of Benzoyl Peroxide.

The truth about Benzoyl Peroxide is that is dries out your skin. And if you're fighting acne this may sound like a good thing but it leads to irritation. When your skin becomes overly dry it produces more oil to compensate for the dryness and when combined with the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin it can clog pores and actually create more breakouts! An additional issue with Benzoyl Peroxide is that it can cause skin irritations that then increase redness and flaking on your skin and a number of studies have actually linked BP with the creation of free radicals and increased instances of sun damage.

Many skin care professionals believe that the best acne products use Salicylic Acid instead of Benzoyl Peroxide. Acne is not just caused by oil that needs to be dried up on your skin it is also caused by the build up of dead skin cells on the skin's surface - Those dead skin cells then combine with surface oil to clog pores and cause the bacteria that creates acne to multiply.  Instead of treating acne by drying your skin up Salicylic Acid helps to shed the dead skin cells from within the pores themselves before dead skin cells can clog pores ensuring that you have clear pores that can’t be clogged.

Salicylic Acid can take up to four weeks to purge and cleanse your pores so you will want to be patient with the results however in the long term it will keep your skin clear without over drying, irritating and ultimately leading to signs of premature aging.

Over-Exfoliation

How much is too much exfoliation?

Exfoliation delivers a tighter, firmer, smoother look and feel of the skin and can reduce breakouts and pore size, but because the results are so noticeable many of us will easily fall into the trap of over-exfoliation.  This over zealous approach can actually reduce your skin's vitality and make it more susceptible to damage from UV light as well as lines and wrinkles. Over-exfoliation can lead to a compromised lipid barrier that increases skin sensitivity and accelerates premature aging.

If your skin is noticeably dehydrated or has patchy areas of dryness, is overly taught, itchy or red, if you have increased sensitivity or inflamed acne or irritation you may be over-exfoliating. In most cases a calming cleanser and toner and a protective moisturizer will start the recovery process for skin healing from over-exfoliation. And as usual sun protection is a must!

After your skin has recovered you can begin exfoliating again with a gentle exfoliant designed for daily use or a more intense non-abrasive chemical exfoliant like Salicylic Acid or Lactic Acid - To enjoy smoother skin without without the undesirable side effects pair a more gentle regimen with professional exfoliation treatments from your professional skin care therapist.

If you're suffering from over-exfoliation and need product help or are interested in booking a series of exfoliating microderm-abrasion treatments or peels please give us a call to schedule your next appointment with one of our highly trained skincare professionals (310) 577-2211.