Rubbing Alcohol for Acne?
Most of us share some disturbing memories of getting our knee scraped and having the misfortune of getting it treated with rubbing alcohol. We all know that rubbing alcohol is the tool of choice for eliminating bacteria. Our mothers knew to bring the big guns out when necessary. Since bacteria is involved in the development of acne, it would appear that alcohol would be a sensible solution. However, as some have learned, this is not the case.
Everyone points the blame to oily skin when it comes to acne. They think that oily skin automatically translates to breakouts. However, this is not usually the case. Other factors need to be accounted for. The same goes for people with dry skin. Dry skin is not entirely to blame, but it is a risk factor for the condition. People falling between either extreme will face an increased risk of breakouts.
If there is one thing we know about rubbing alcohol, is that its extremely drying. This drying effect can spur irritation, which ultimately increases our susceptibility to acne. The anti-bacterial effect doesn't seem so lucrative when you take the entire picture in. It should be obvious that alcohol is not the key to clear skin. Many acne products contain some trace of this ingredient in them, and for the reasons outlined above they are not recommended. Always read product labels carefully to ensure you're not being conned into a subpar product.
If despite the irritation you are set on using this in your treatment, please use moisturizer. It will help do away with the irritation and you will still get that anti-bacterial effect. If your goal with rubbing alcohol is to reduce the oil on your face, there are better alternatives that are far less irritating.
Blotting sheets and special mattifying products are always good choices. They won't damage your skin like the alcohol can. Please spread the word around about the damaging effects of rubbing alcohol to your friends. You don't want them to lose their battle with acne because of an oversight.