Today, we're finding out the answer to our burning question, what are the skincare ingredients to avoid if you have acne-prone skin? Read on to find out great suggestions if you or anyone you know want to better the health of your skin.
1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Palmitate While it’s great for flaunting advertisement-worthy lather , but SLS in your cleanser can cause irritation to those with sensitive skin. It can cause skin barrier disruption and make active breakouts worse. Fortunately, there are many sulfate-free cleansers available in the market that perform just as well as sulfate-ridden ones. Secondly, Palmitate is a penetration enhancer. Simply put, it increases the absorption of active ingredients into the skin. Even though this ingredient doesn’t have inflammatory qualities, it leads to clogged pores and non-inflamed closed 'comedones', which can show up like tiny bumps on the face.
2. Essential Oils Essential oils are extremely concentrated and can irritate the skin if applied directly to the skin. So, dilute them in a carrier oil before application. Now, you need to pick your carrier oil carefully as some can clog your pores and cause acne which is exactly the opposite of what we want here.
3. :Alcohols (SD Alcohol 40, Denatured Alcohol, Ethanol, and Isopropyl Alcohol) We have always heard people talking about avoiding products with alcohol in them. Well, they’re not completely wrong. Alcohol can irritate and dry up your skin and cause inflammation. Although there is an exception to this. Alcohol can do wonders for spot treatments. By drying out the spot/scar, it can help it go away faster. So, speak to your dermatologist about this.
4. Parabens They are used as preservatives in skincare formulas. They prevent the growth of fungi, bacteria, yeast that can impact the shelf life of the product. Increasingly parabens have got a bad rep, and they are considered especially troublesome for acne-prone skin. New research says that "they may not directly aggravate your acne but they stimulate oestrogen in the body, which in turns can contribute to breakouts,"
5. Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances are a major source of skin allergies and can lead to inflammation and irritation. This makes treating acne even more difficult than it already is. Therefore, avoid using products with synthetic fragrances.
Disclaimer: Indeed, these are guideline and not hard and fast rules, so those with serious skin conditions should consult a dermatologist before obeying any of the pointers above.
(With valuable inputs from Dr Sushma Yadav, Dermatologist, Cosmetologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon and Founder of Skinology Centre)
