Overview

If you have a bad case of acne, you might think the treatment gels or ointments you place directly on your pimples represent your best line of defense against the skin condition. But the truth is, the face wash product you use also plays a huge role in your acne treatment. You should take pains to choose a face wash that also treats your acne.

Causes

Hormonal surges lead to acne, especially in teenagers, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Your sebaceous glands, which produce the oil for your skin, respond to those surges in hormones by pumping out more oil. Excess oil can clog your pores and invite bacterial infection. The combination of these factors, left unchecked, often leads to acne.

Significance

To interrupt the cycle that creates pimples, you need a complete face care routine that includes careful cleansing, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. That's where an acne treatment face wash comes in. Many skin care product manufacturers produce acne treatment face wash products as part of their overall acne treatments.

Function

To be effective as an acne treatment, a face wash product needs to have an active ingredient that fights acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In most cases, manufacturers use salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in their face wash products. Salicylic acid works by causing your skin's outer layer to shed, removing pore blockages in the process. Benzoyl peroxide, on the other hand, kills bacteria and also assists in removing oil from your skin.

Side Effects

Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can cause skin irritation and other side effects in users. Some people experience itching, burning, reddening, peeling and chapping from over-the-counter acne face wash treatments containing one of those two ingredients.

Considerations

It's critical to follow directions exactly when you use an acne face wash treatment, since overuse of these products can cause excessive irritation, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Always treat your skin gently, massaging the product into your face and don't scrub hard because that can spread bacteria and further irritate your skin.