Acne Home Therapy
Remember: proper skin care at home is the most basic and important factor in successful acne treatments!
During your medical visit with us, we will educate you about some adjunctive acne products that can be used in combination with your prescriptions for the most optimal level of improvement. We offer customized acne products for home use that may contain any of the following ingredients:
Alcohol and acetone
Salicylic acid
Sulfur and Resorcinol
Benzoyl peroxide
Aluminum chloride
Zinc
These types of products induce a continuous mild drying and peeling of the skin. This gentle treatment is a very acceptable option to start with and may provide fast and effective results for swollen and infected lesions.
Learn how you take care of your skin at home
Cleanser and Toner
Acne cannot be scrubbed away but it can be controlled by regular skin cleansing. Acne is caused by excess oil and an imbalance of normal skin bacteria. Proper skin cleansing includes washing your acne-prone area twice a day with Dr. Shafa’s recommended cleanser and warm water followed by the application of a toner- in addition to any other prescribed treatments.
Avoid adding oil to your skin
Avoid irritating your skin
Mechanical trauma can make acne worse by increasing skin inflammation and introducing bacteria into the skin. This can lead to permanent skin damage. Therefore, avoid picking at lesions. When comedone removal is needed, it should only be performed by an expert under sterile conditions.
Use the correct type of cosmetic products
Diet and Nutrition
Avoid stress
Dr. Shafa recognizes that increased anxiety worsens active acne, skin discoloration, and acne scars because patients with anxiety are more prone to pick at their faces.
Many patients find that participation in regular, relaxing exercise and sports alleviates anxiety and contributes to overall well being and health. If you find that you cannot keep your hands away from your skin, maybe because managing your anxiety is difficult, feel free to share these problems with Dr. Shafa. Her dual training in both medicine and dermatology enables her to provide expert advice and, if needed, medication to treat anxiety, depression, and related factors.