The combo of acne and sensitive skin makes it daunting to find acne treatments that will get rid of those bad boys without wreaking havoc on your skin. Hence, you need to pick your skincare products carefully. In this post, I will share the best ingredients for sensitive acne-prone skin. If this is something you would like, then…
Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or something…and let’s dive in
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Table of Contents
Best Ingredients for Sensitive Acne Prone Skin
Skin sensitivity is a sign your skin’s moisture barrier is damaged. This concern can be experienced by any and everyone. Harmful skincare practices like jumping on skincare trends that tell you to apply several layers of exfoliating products in the same routine is a common offender. Other factors include age, weather conditions, and inflammatory skin conditions.
The skin serves a protective role, preventing harmful substances from getting into the skin and minimizing fluid loss through the skin (TEWL). When the barrier is compromised, products that are usually well-tolerated begin to cause skin irritations.
Read More: 7 Signs of skin sensitivity you should know about
When your skin is sensitive and acne-prone, the go-to acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and adapalene may be too irritating to deal with. Opting for rinse-off formulations and low concentrations of these treatments may do the trick. But for those whose skin can barely take these skin actives, below are minimally irritating ingredients you could consider incorporating into your sensitive acne-prone skincare routine.
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Sulfur
Sulfur is hands down the best ingredient for sensitive acne-prone skin, it works best for mild acne but can treat inflammatory acne when combined with sodium sulfacetamide. It has antifungal, antibacterial, and keratolytic properties. It rids the skin of excess sebum without causing undue dryness to the skin.
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Azelaic acid
Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring topical acne treatment found in barley, rye, and wheat. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and bactericidal properties. It treats acne by inhibiting protein synthesis in the acne-forming bacteria and is effective against antibiotic-resistant strains. It also fights post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in two ways: firstly, by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase needed for melanogenesis, and secondly, by inhibiting DNA synthesis in hyperactive melanocytes. It can be found both in prescription and over-the-counter formulations.
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Niacinamide
Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is vitamin B3. It is a multifunctional ingredient. It is an antioxidant. It regulates sebum production, which is one pathway leading to acne formation. It also helps in clearing the dark marks left behind. It plays a key role in the synthesis of ceramides, which play a central role in the skin barrier function.
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Centella Asiatica
Centella Asiatica Extract has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-carcinogenic properties. It’s been used for centuries to calm inflammation and promote wound healing. A study carried out on a group of 25 people showed that the application of emulsions or hydrogels containing Centella Asiatica markedly improved the skin without causing skin irritation and allergic reaction and increased hydration levels in the skin by binding to water on the skin and reducing transepidermal water loss. Sensitive skin, known for its finicky skin barrier, will benefit largely from this ingredient.
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Retinyl Palmitate
Retinyl palmitate or retinol palmitate is a retinoid, a term used to describe members of the vitamin A family. It is an ester of retinol and palmitic acid. Tretinoin or retinoic acid is the gold standard retinoid and has been used for many years in skin care to reverse signs of premature aging and treat acne and blemishes. Tretinoin, however, is known to be significantly drying, and this has led to many people not staying compliant enough with it to see results. This has necessitated the use of milder alternatives. These, though less potent than the real deal, have shown tremendous results, albeit slowly, without sensitizing the skin. Retinol palmitate is the mildest of the retinoids and is a good one to start with if you are sensitive and acne-prone.
Read More: How to pick the right retinoid for your skin concerns
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Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide plays a protective role on the skin. It is widely used in the treatment of irritant dermatitis to calm irritated skin and aid in wound healing. It can be used as a spot treatment as a safe way to dry out your pimples without causing too much irritation. Zinc oxide is also the sunblock of choice for sensitive skin, and it serves as a physical block against the damaging rays of the sun. So be on the lookout for zinc oxide when you are out shopping for sunscreen next.
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For more on sensitive acne-prone skin, see the related posts below
I hope this post helps you on your acne journey to clearer skin. See you at the next one.
I’m Dr Janet, a medical doctor, blogger, Youtuber and a mother to two awesome kids. I help women achieve their natural hair, skincare and health goals.
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