Acne is one of the most common cosmetic concerns and it can be incredibly frustrating to treat, especially if you have naturally oily skin. Many of us struggle with acne throughout our teenage years, and there are also individuals that continue to get acne into adulthood. Regardless of your age, you probably find acne embarrassing and irritating, especially because it’s not easy to treat.

Some people resort to using prescription medication to tackle their acne. Fortunately, this isn’t necessary for most people. Some over-the-counter acne treatments are incredibly effective, as well as easy to find. The effectiveness of your acne treatment depends mainly on the ingredients that it contains. There are some compounds and chemicals that are fantastic ingredients for treating acne. You just need to know what to look for. Here are some examples:

Benzoyl Peroxide

One of the most effective ingredients for acne treatment is benzoyl peroxide. Many over-the-counter drugs and creams contain some amount of benzoyl peroxide because it effectively kills certain bacteria that causes acne. If you haven’t yet tried a cream that contains benzoyl peroxide, this should be one of the first things you look for. It’s a common ingredient in many creams.

When using benzoyl peroxide, you may find that it is harsh on your skin, especially if your skin is sensitive. The amount of benzoyl peroxide in over-the-counter acne treatments varies somewhat, so you should first try a treatment with a lower concentration to allow your skin to adjust. If you use the cream for a while and find that it is not effective, then you can try an acne remedy with a higher dosage of benzoyl peroxide. However, you should discontinue using it if you find that you consistently experience side effects such as irritated or dry skin.

Salicylic Acid

A common cause of acne is clogged pores. If this is something that you have experienced, then salicylic acid is likely to help. Salicylic acid is another commonly used and highly effective ingredient for treating acne, and it works by unblocking your pores. One advantage of salicylic acid is that it is less likely to cause skin irritation or side effects (like the benzoyl peroxide), though you may find that it makes your skin sting slightly when you apply it.

You can generally find over-the-counter acne treatments that contain salicylic acid with a concentration between 0.5-5%. Again, it is recommended that you first try a product with a weaker concentration, as it is less likely to irritate your skin. You can then purchase a different product with a higher concentration of salicylic acid if you find that the weaker mixture is not sufficient.

Sulfur

Sulfur is not as common as some other ingredients for acne treatment, but it is often very effective. It is rare to find a product that only contains sulfur- many over-the-counter acne treatments contain a combination of sulfur and other ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

While sulfur does not often produce side effects, you may find that it makes your skin dry. Some people also find that sulfur has an unpleasant odor.

Where Should I Start My Acne Treatment?

If you don’t know what causes your acne, it can be challenging to know which treatment is right for you. Fortunately, many over-the-counter acne treatments contain a range of active ingredients which makes them more likely to be effective. If you aren’t sure where you should start, then it is generally recommended to try something with benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide has been proven to reduce acne, and most people do not experience any side effects when they use it.

In general, you should also start with a low dosage product to see if it works before trying something stronger. More diluted products are less likely to irritate your skin or cause side effects, and they may be strong enough to work for you anyway. Products with a lower concentration of ingredients for acne treatment generally are more affordable as well. If they don’t work, you can then try something more potent. However, it’s essential to be patient! These treatments can take some time before they work properly. You might need to use one treatment daily for a few months before it really works.

Are you looking at doing microdermabrasion at home? Thanks to advances in technology, fantastic devices have become readily available to the public, which allows people to take skincare into their own hands and do the procedures themselves. Some of these high-tech devices are specifically designed to treat damaged skin from the comfort of your home.

What Is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that renews overall skin texture and tone. Many people undergo microdermabrasion procedures to help limit the damaging effects of overexposure to UV rays, acne scars, age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, melasma, and other skin-related conditions and concerns.

How Does Microdermabrasion Work?

During the microdermabrasion procedure, a unique applicator designed with an abrasive surface is used to gently scrub away the thick outer layer of the skin. This process has an excellent effect on the skin and helps rejuvenate it.

There is another method that’s used to perform a microdermabrasion procedure. This method uses fine particles of sodium bicarbonate that are sprayed around the face with a vacuum or suction device. Choosing to do this procedure gives you the same outcome as undergoing the method that uses abrasion.

Our skin is made up of two main layers. The outer layer is called the epidermis, and the inner layer is called the dermis. The epidermis is the layer of skin that we can see with the naked eye. The epidermis can be divided into two sub-layers. The one layer is made up of dead skin cells, while the layer underneath it is made up of maturing cells. The layer that is made up of dead skin cells is called the stratum corneum, and this is where we’re able to see the benefits of the microdermabrasion procedure.

The purpose of the stratum corneum’s is to protect the skin underneath from bacteria, dust, sun damage, physical damage, and more. This environmental abuse results in the formation of age spots, blemishes, acne scars, and sunburns appearing on the epidermis. During microdermabrasion treatments, the damaged outer layer of the epidermis is removed through manual exfoliation.

As a result of the exfoliation, the stratum corneum, with the help of collagen and elastin produced by the body, can rebuild itself and achieve a healthier form. The treatment is recommended for all skin types, but is not recommended for individuals with sensitive skin since the professional microdermagrasion device can be too aggressive.

Does Microdermabrasion At Home Work?

As skincare methods are becoming more widely appreciated and practiced, Microdermabrasion home kits are increasingly gaining popularity. Microdermabrasion in home settings is said to be more cost-effective. It can help those who can’t afford to get the treatment professionally done, while providing them all of the benefits of the procedure.

However, microabrasion at home is a lot different from a professional treatment. At home microdermabrasion kits are similar to facial scrubs. The difference is that aluminum oxide crystals are used in the facial and allow for mild exfoliation.

At home microdermabrasion products contain a lower concentration of active ingredients than those used by professionals. That’s why at home microdermabrasion isn’t as long-lasting and dramatic as treatments offered by professionals. Also, these procedures don’t include the tools that are used for professional treatments, which is another reason why microdermabrasion isn’t able to deliver the best results. However, it’s still able to help remove the damaged outer layer of the skin.

What Is The Best Microdermabrasion At Home?

There are many companies that claim to have the best at home microdermabrasion products. We have researched this topic and found many products on the market. One example is the PMD Personal Microderm Pro. This is a microdermabrasion machine that is specifically designed to perform at home microdermabrasion treatments.
PMD uses patented Spinning Discs that are mainly designed to exfoliate the dead, dull cells off your skin. This device is specifically designed for home microdermabrasion treatments.

The PMD’s device is designed with vacuum suction that’s perfectly calibrated to increase blood circulation and ignite the body’s natural healing process. This boosts your collagen and elastin production and leaves your skin fresh, radiant, and firm.

How Often Should You Do Microdermabrasion?

The recommended number of sessions for the best at home microdermabrasion results depends entirely on the condition of your skin. It would be best for those with moderately severe skin conditions to use their microdermabrasion machine once a month. This frequency provides the necessary attention to specific skin problems and is also recommended since the skin regenerates every 30 days.

Is Microdermabrasion Good For Your Skin?

We previously stated that professional microdermabrasion treatments shouldn’t be used on sensitive skin. There is an exception- home microdermabrasion treatments. Due to the fact that these treatments are mild and natural, people with sensitive skin are able to use a home microdermabrasion machine and enjoy the benefits of removing the damaged outer layer skin from their face without going to a professional.

The microdermabrasion system has very low risk while delivering rapid recovery rates. There is no need for anesthetics or needles as it’s painless. The process is natural and uses tiny crystals or diamond tip devices to gently remove the damaged skin.

Having a microdermabrasion treatment can help improve your skin’s appearance. It helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage (at early stages), and acne marks that are mild and shallow. Microdermabrasion is unable to drastically reduce the appearance of deep acne scars.

Following treatment, your skin is left feeling smoother, even after one treatment, and it is able to absorb moisturizer better. This helps your skin maintain, and sometimes improve hydration and reduce oiliness.

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