Acne
The Ingredients Your Acne Skincare Routine Needs
An important first step for getting acne under control is a proper skincare regimen. Yet with so many products and ingredients to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Here, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain explains the basics, including which ingredients can help improve acne and soothe the skin, as well as why sun protection is so important.
Overview
Controlling acne requires an effective skincare routine, but many people think “more is more” when battling blemishes. The fact is, using too many products can make matters worse, and a simple routine with the right products and ingredients can actually yield better results. Among the ingredients to look for are niacinamide for skin-soothing benefits, and retinol to help improve the appearance of post-acne marks and discoloration. Finally, although everyone should be using sunscreen daily rain or shine, acne blemishes and the treatments used to help clear them make the skin more sensitive to UV rays, which is why those with acne-prone skin need to be especially diligent about sun protection.
Must-know info from Dr. Lain
- Avoid using too many products
- Keep it simple and choose the right products
- Encapsulated retinol helps resurface skin
- Niacinamide helps soothe the skin
- Acne-prone skin needs sun protection, as it is more sensitive to the sun
Hi, everyone. This is Dr. Ted Lain. I’m a board-certified dermatologist and I’m here with CeraVe to answer some of your most important acne ingredient questions.
“Is there anything I should avoid in my acne regimen?”
Dr. Lain: I think what this question is asking is Why do certain acne regimens fail? So one of the reasons is patients are using too many products. The other issue can be, they’re using products with the wrong ingredients. And finally, they’re using products in the wrong order. Keep it simple and use the right products.
“Which ingredients should I look for to clear marks or discoloration caused by acne?”
Dr. Lain: I often recommend CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum. It contains microencapsulated retinol, which is a tried-and-true ingredient to help reduce the appearance of discoloration.
“What’s the difference between encapsulated retinol and regular retinol?”
Dr. Lain: Retinol can be irritating to the skin, so we have to find ways to make it easier, and that’s what the encapsulated retinol does. If you’re able to tolerate the retinol better, you’ll use it more frequently and frequent use leads to better outcomes and better success.
“Which ingredients soothe the skin?”
Dr. Lain: Niacinamide is an ingredient used for decades in acne products to help soothe the skin. CeraVe’s Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser and Resurfacing Retinol Serum both contain niacinamide, or vitamin B3.
“How does sunscreen protect acne-prone skin?”
Dr. Lain: Acne-prone skin is inherently more sensitive to the sun because of the acne blemishes, and the post-acne marks and discoloration. In addition, many of the products that we use to treat acne can make the skin more sensitive to the sun.