Anyone who’s ever had it will know that acne can be frustratingly persistent, damaging your skin and your confidence. However, it’s not a problem without a solution. Benzoyl peroxide a powerful ingredient known for acne-fighting abilities and a chemical you’ll almost certainly have heard of if you’ve researched how to get rid of acne online.
There’s a distinct process involved in clearing your skin with products like these that pervade deep into the skin, cleaning out your pores to leave you with healthy, even-toned skin.
How to Get Rid of Acne? It Takes Just Eight Steps
The good news for anyone who wants to know how to get rid of acne, the process is a straightforward and methodical one. So, let’s see what’s involved.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Strength of Product
Perhaps the most important job at the outset is to find the right strength of benzoyl peroxide (BP) that’s going to be suitable for your acne severity and skin type. The highest concentrations of BP available are 10%, which are meant for severe cases, so if that doesn’t sound like you, you might want to try a lower concentration, such as 4%.
Step 2: Start With a Gentle Cleanser (if you wear makeup)
If you wear makeup, it might be a good idea to do a pre-cleanse before using a benzoyl peroxide foaming wash. A gentle, non-comedogenic product should be fine, which will allow the benzoyl peroxide to penetrate deeper into your skin and clear out your pores. If not, you can skip this step, as BP wash is already a cleanser.
Step 3: Use Your BP Wash
Next, you’ll be using your BP wash and you should put a small amount of it into your hands which you work into a lather. Then, gently apply the foam to the area being treated and massage it in a circular motion. Be sure to avoid a scrubbing motion, as benzoyl peroxide can be drying, and vigorous application can lead to irritation. Also, be careful around sensitive areas like the eyes and mouth.
Step 4: Leave It On for a Short Time Initially
How long should you leave the lather in place? Well, if it’s the first time you’re using it, you should leave it on for about 1-2 minutes. Once you’ve become more used to it, you can increase the duration to 3-5 minutes, which will allow the product to penetrate deeply.
Step 5: Rinse Thoroughly
Once you’ve let the benzoyl peroxide foaming wash sit, rinse it off thoroughly with lukewarm water. Make sure to rinse every bit of it off your face, as it can cause irritation if left on, and then pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Again, avoid rubbing, as it will cause damage.
Step 6: Use a Hydrating Moisturizer
As we’ve mentioned, benzoyl peroxide can be drying, so it’s a really good idea to follow things up with a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer. Look for a product with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to replenish moisture without clogging pores.
Step 7: Be Consistent but Monitor for Irritation
Consistency is always key with any acne treatment, so you must be patient enough to allow the product to work. It must be used methodically and consistently if you want the best results and during this time, you should be listening to what your skin is telling you. Excessive redness and/or dryness could point towards your need to be gentler, whereas no reaction might suggest you need to go up in concentration.
Millions Have Already Learned How to Get Rid of Acne With BP Washes
Using a benzoyl peroxide foaming wash is a route that millions of people around the world have taken successfully in dealing with persistent acne. When used correctly, BP washes are perhaps the most effective way of dealing with the problem, but due to their potentially harsh nature, it’s wise to start slowly with the product and carry out a patch test before fully committing.
Also, remember that it can be a long process that you might need to tweak along the way so that you can balance any dryness out. Do all that and you’ll be well on your way to clearer, healthier skin.
