Cleansing 101

Everything You Need to Know About Cleansing Your Skin

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Cleansing the face seems like such a simple thing, doesn't it? But it's normal to have questions about proper skin cleansing, especially if you are prone to acne breakouts. Get answers to some of the most common questions about cleansing the skin.

What Type of Cleanser Should I Use?

Cleanser choice is dependent on a number of factors. Do you have mostly non-inflammatory breakouts? Choose a salicylic acid cleanser, which is a beta hydroxy acid that speeds up cell turnover and clears blocked pores.

respond well to benzoyl peroxide cleansers, which can reduce bacteria responsible for acne.

If you are using any acne treatment medications, like Retin-A or BenzaClin, cleansing with medicated products isn't a good idea. Instead use a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil.

Whatever cleanser you choose, it should leave your skin clean but not too tight, dry, itchy, or red. Feeling overwhelmed? Ask your dermatologist or esthetician to recommend a few.

Are Bar Soaps OK?

Certain bar soaps can be used for cleansing the face. Dove and Neutrogena are two examples of bar soaps that are gentle and appropriate to use for cleansing your face. What you want to avoid are anti-bacterial, deodorant body bars. While they work well for cleansing tougher areas like your back or feet, these soap bars may be drying for the face.

More important is the pH of the soap. Cleansers with a very high pH (very alkaline) are going to be very drying and possibly irritating to the skin. Generally, you should choose a cleanser specifically formulated to be used on the face. These types of cleansers will give you a gentler cleansing than a bar of soap meant to be used on the body in the shower.

What About Washcloths and Scrubbing Pads?

These items aren't needed to get a good, thorough cleansing of the skin. It would seem that a good scrubbing would help cleanse out the pores, but if you have inflammatory acne scrubbing away at the skin can further irritation.

Instead, use just the pads of your fingers, massage your cleanser over the face thoroughly, and rinse very well. If your face feels exceptionally oily, or if you wear makeup, you can do a "double cleanse:" lather up, rinse, then repeat. You can also leave the cleanser on longer before washing it off.

If you just have to use a washcloth or cleansing pad, choose one that is soft and non-abrasive.

What Temperature Water Should I Use?

Room temperature water or just warmer is the best temperature to cleanse the face.

Many people swear by the "steaming hot water to open pores, icy cold to close them" cleansing routine. But this isn't necessary and may actually be detrimental to the skin. Water that is too hot can contribute to couperose (broken capillaries), and exacerbate inflammation.

And cold water isn't needed to "close" pores. Pores aren't like doors; they don't open and close. You can't change pore size with water.

If large pores are a concern, try an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) product. AHAs remove dead skin cells and hardened oil plugs, making pores appear smaller. Light chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and retinoids can also make the pores look smaller.

How Often Should I Cleanse?

No more than twice a day. Cleansing too often isn't going to help the skin. The skin needs some natural oil to be healthy (yes, oil can be a good thing). Cleansing too often can strip the skin of its natural oil, leading to over-dryness and irritation.

Cleansing once in the morning and again before bed is enough to remove dirt, excess oil, and makeup without stripping the skin.