SCRUBS TO PREVENT ACNE? CHOOSE WISELY

By Sheetal Kabra

Life offers us a new day and a new challenge each day. One such challenge is having an acne or blemish free skin! Isn’t it?

How many of us stand in front of the mirror first thing in the morning, just to check if our facial skin is clear from any acne or blemishes? And how many of us get filled with worry, anxiety or “my world has come to an end” kind of emotion at the sight of an acne or pimple? This obsession for a crystal clear & flawless skin makes us try innumerable products (natural or chemical based) and countless home remedies, only to trigger more breakouts or damage to our skin.

While acne/blemishes on our skin is a reflection of our emotional state, hormonal balance, nutritional insufficiency and overall health, it can also be a result of certain external ill-informed actions by us. Natural products or home remedies if unsuitable to the skin type or used excessively can trigger acne/ blemishes and damage your skin as well.

So to achieve an acne/blemish free skin, we not only need to make diet & lifestyle changes, we also need to adopt a right skincare routine.  A right skincare routine is one which is minimalistic, suitable to your skin type and has a right balance of cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliation.

Exfoliation & scrubs

Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a granular substance or a tool. A scrub is a skincare product that helps in exfoliating the skin. Scrubs are an amazing skincare product, which if used correctly can, help the skin in many ways.

Scrubs can be physical or mechanical and chemical. While natural substances or brushes like sugar, salt, powdered rice, powdered apricot/walnut shell, pumice stone, grounded coffee, loofah, etc. are forms of physical / mechanical scrubs, acids and peels are forms of chemical scrubs/ exfoliation.

A scrub helps in

• Removal of dead skin cells & flaky skin – dead skin cells not only make our skin look dull they can also clog the skin pores resulting in acne. Scrubbing helps in removing the dead skin cells.
• Unclogging skin pores – Our body produces a natural oil called sebum to keep the skin moisturized. But at times when the production of sebum becomes excessive, the extra oil gets stored in the skin pores, resulting in clogged pores and acne breakouts. Scrubbing helps in cleaning the excess sebum and unclogging the skin pores.
• Prevents hair ingrowth – hair ingrowth can result in infected pores and acne/pimple breakouts. Scrubs help in preventing hair ingrowth.
• Aids in skin rejuvenation & better skin texture – skin is said to regenerate itself every 30 days or so. Scrubs aid in the skin renewal process and thereby improve skin texture.

Though scrubs can help in preventing acne by removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores, if not selected or used correctly, it can damage your skin. So, to benefit from this amazing skincare product let us understand how to choose and use scrubs.

1. Identify your skin type – the choice of scrubs varies with the skin type.
   • People with oily skin should choose scrubs with ingredients that not only exfoliate dead skin and unclog pores but also aid in cleaning excess oil. Cream based scrubs should be avoided as it would make the skin oilier and possibly cause pimples/acne.
   • Those with dry skin, should opt for scrubs which are moisturizing as well. Thus cream or any fat based scrubs are ideal.
   • People with sensitive skin need to exercise extreme caution in their choice of scrubs to avoid skin inflammation or adverse reaction. They should avoid abrasive scrubs and opt for finely powdered scrubs.

2. Skin area – Facial skin is more delicate and sensitive compared to body skin. Thus facial scrubs should be mildly abrasive. One can opt for little more abrasive scrubs for the other parts of the body.

3. Skin with acne/pimples/cuts etc. – Scrubs should never be used on skin with acne/pimple or any breakouts. Using scrubs on pimples/acne or wounds can lead to injury, inflammation, infection and scars. It is pertinent to understand that scrubs need to be used on skin which is free from any form of breakouts. For a skin with acne or breakouts, one should opt for masks rather than scrubs to soothe the skin, absorb excess oil, and reduce inflammation. On skin with wounds or burns, one should wait for them to heal completely before using scrubs.

4. Frequency of using scrubs – Scrubs should be used not more than twice a week. If used very frequently, it can irritate and damage the skin rather than benefitting it.

5. Right way to apply scrubs –
   • The scrub should be gently massaged on to the skin. Its application should not be harsh or vigorous else it can be damaging.
   • The skin should not be scrubbed for more than 30-40 seconds. Scrubbing for too long can irritate the skin.
   • Scrubs should not be applied after steaming.  

Incorporating scrubs into our skincare routine is an effective way to remove dead skin cells, extra sebum, prevent acne and have a smooth skin. However, one should choose and use scrubs wisely to benefit from it and avoid any adverse side effects.