Five Reasons Why You Should Stop Scrubbing Your Acne

The pharmacy shelves are lined with abrasive cleansers that allow us to give in to the temptation we’ve all had to scrub, scrub, scrub away our acne.  Here are five reasons why you should never buy another scrub if you suffer from acne:

1.       Acne is not caused by a lack of personal hygiene, and blackheads are not dirt stuck in your pores.  Acne starts below the surface, so scrubbing away at the top layer of your skin will not treat the problem.  It can only make it worse.

2.       Scrubs are irritating to the skin.  They increase redness and peeling without reducing acne lesions. This worsens inflammation, which can be uncomfortable. Furthermore, your acne lesions will be more obvious to others and more difficult to camouflage with makeup. 

3.       Abrasive scrubs make other skin care products more irritating too!  Many beneficial acne-fighting agents can be better tolerated when you use them with gentle skin care products.  Case studies have suggested that reactions to ingredients like benzoyl peroxide can be induced or enhanced when abrasive scrubs are used.  It’s a shame to make fighting acne harder than it has to be.

4.       Physical exfoliants give inconsistent results.  This means that you won't get the same results every time you scrub.  Not only can you not predict the exfoliation you’re getting, but you’re unable to predict how any products you apply afterward will interact with your skin.  Inconsistent treatment is not good for acne.

5.       Rubbing and friction toughens the skin.  Thickening the skin will promote clogging and make your acne more difficult to treat.

Exfoliation is a critical part of any skin care regimen, but don’t be fooled into thinking that scrubs are your best or only option when it comes to increasing your cell turnover rate and treating your acne-prone skin.

This post reflects the views of the author and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.