Jeloel`s Asking About Acne:
Which is better: washing oily face with washcloth or without? Many people say that a washcloth is a better exfoliator for oily skin… I don’t have very good results AT ALL with any face washes, even ProActive. I don’t use a washcloth, because in the past I saw no results. What should I do?
The Left Brain`s Reply:
First, washcloths do provide more exfoliation than just washing with your hands. But than can be good or bad depending on the state of your acne. A washcloth or scrubbing cloth can help keep your pores from clogging and prevent blemishes from forming.
But if you already have a full blown zit, the washcloth may be too rough for it. You might actually be making it worse! In that case you`re better off using an acne medication. OTC products like Proactive contain proven acne fighting ingredients like Salicylic Acid. If that`s not working for you, you might try a post-facial wash cream with Benzoyl Peroxide.
However, despite your best efforts, zits can persist. Consult a dermatologist to find out if you need to take antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria that can cause acne.
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I have best results with cleansers that instruct you to use a cotton ball to clean your face after wetting it, like Cetaphil, or L’Oreal Pure Zone. I never had good results with my hands (doesn’t get my face clean enough) or with a washcloth or soft facial sponge (too rough). The cotton ball seems like the perfect compromise.
Baby wash cloths are the best, much more gentle yet very effective for exfoliating the skin.
I’ve tried soooooooo many things to get rid of acne, from low carbs, to raw food, to benzoyl peroxide (which burned my skin and left me so depressed), tea tree, scrubs, gels, lotions and what I’m trying, quite successfully, is using products for dry skin. I read a dermatological report that acne patients have a higher rates of transepidermal water loss of the stratum cornea owing to a deficiency in the ceramide and sphingolipid concentration in sebum leading to impaired water barrier function. You could try a ceramide cream but I’ve found that using rich creams as opposed to sticky, watery gels/lotions has really helped.
I find it’s especially good to buy bundles of white washcloths at costco/sam’s club. That way every night you get a new wash cloth, and at the end of the week you can bleach them all to make sure they’re bacteria free. The bleach tends to wear out the towels quicker if you buy too cheap of ones, but I find the ones at my local costco last several years with weekly bleachings.
This is also a good method to use with bath towels. That way you never have to wonder who used the towel last and if the washer got it clean enough. Besides, it’s just like getting fresh hotel towels from your own cupboard.
Julia, sounds like a complete unnecessary waste of water. Sorry!
Julia, there was a study recently done that showed bleach is not the best thing to kill bacteria. You might be better off washing the bath towels in the dishwasher or putting them in the microwave.
Study about killing microbes
Try Gamila’s Secret Lemon Grass! I am 45 and still suffering from oily skin and outbreaks. When using Gamila’s I’m spotless! And I have really found the acne to worsen when not using the “soap”! In the evening, I first take my off makeup with some quality) cleanser, and after that, I massage my moist skin with Gamila’s Secret and leave it on for 1 minute. In the morning, I only repeat the second step. It’s easy, it smells lovely, it’s not expensive as one soap takes you a long long way, you could even wash your hair with it, plus: it works!!!!