Acne creams can do wonders for your skin. But they have to be used correctly to get your desired result. Many leave their cream on overnight. Is this safe? Do you leave acne cream on overnight?
Leaving acne cream on overnight is fine provided that the formulation is not harsh, and you follow a multi-step regimen to ensure that the desired effects are achieved. The steps vary but generally include the following: 1. Wash face, 2. Pat dry, 3. Apply cream, 4. Moisturize.
Having good skin is certainly at the top of most people’s agenda. This becomes an even greater priority when you want to address skin issues like acne.
While it is not unusual to reach out for a topical product to address a skin concern, it’s important to be extra careful when using products intended to address acne. As well, you should follow the right evening routine to apply the acne cream.
Read on to learn more about leaving an acne cream on overnight, including which acne creams work best and how to apply them.
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Do You Leave Acne Cream on Overnight?
Leaving acne cream on overnight can be an effective way to heal existing pimples for as long as you know the best way to use it. This is why the first thing you should do is to research what is out in the market. You also need to inform yourself of which products are best suited to address your concern.
So first, choose a gentle acne cream that won’t hurt your face overnight or cause greater damage.
Then follow the right nighttime skincare regime, for example:
- Wash your face with a cleanser that doesn’t strip the natural oils and moisture from your face.
- Pat (don’t rub) your facial skin dry with a soft, non-abrasive towel.
- Using clean hands, apply a small spot of acne cream right on the affected area and allow the product a few minutes to settle in and become absorbed.
- Follow up with a night moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and to help further facilitate skin repair.
Choosing the Right Acne Cream to Leave on Overnight
Compared to other beauty and facial skin products, acne creams have ingredients that work to kill pimple bacteria and dry it out. Follow the below tips when choosing the right acne cream to use as an overnight treatment:
- Choose the right percentage of active ingredients. Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoic acid are common ingredients that target bacteria from acne and blemishes. The percentage of these ingredients in acne creams will vary from as low as 2% to as high up as 10 or even 15%. Between two different acne creams, play it safe by choosing the one that has a smaller percentage of active ingredients. Milder formulations will be less likely to dry out your skin, as very potent acne creams tend to do.
- Consult with a dermatologist to be on the safe side. If you have access to a dermatologist, you’re in luck. This kind of doctor will be in the best position to assess the severity of your acne and recommend the right acne cream treatment. If your acne tends to be on the severe side, you might also need a dermatologist’s prescription to gain access to a more potent acne cream. These formulations are for users who do not see improvement with over-the-counter acne creams that tend to be milder.
- Check for any contraindications. The effectiveness of acne creams also depend on what else you apply on your face. Check if there are active ingredients or products that you shouldn’t use with the acne cream you are eyeing. If you are breastfeeding or pregnant, you also want to be extra vigilant about this. Try to look for acne creams or spot treatment creams that won’t harm a developing fetus or a nursing baby.
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Some Consequences of Using Harsh Acne Cream Overnight
Do you leave acne cream on overnight? Yes, but if you use a harsh acne cream or don’t apply it correctly, there can be problems. Sometimes, acne creams that are left on your skin overnight can result in some undesirable consequences. While this will depend on how your skin responds to certain types of formulations, it is important to be aware of what might possibly happen.
First, you may discover that your skin has become less hydrated. Because acne creams dry out pimples by removing excess oil, your skin might be stripped of too much oil if you apply too much. This can also happen if you use a formulation that is stronger than what your skin care concern really needs.
Second, you might experience dry and flaky skin. This is also a consequence of too much dryness. Because your skin lacks hydration, it can flake off in the areas where you applied the acne cream. This can also lead to a less than stellar makeup application, which can look patchy and uneven on the affected areas.
Preventing the Consequences of Too-harsh Acne Cream
If you want to avoid having skin that is worse off as a result of using harsh acne cream, the following tips are recommended:
- Stop your overnight acne cream or switch to a milder formulation. If your skin is inflamed and irritated following the use of an overnight acne cream, suspend its use for the time being. Your focus is on healing your skin first. Alternatively, you might also want to use an acne cream with a smaller percentage of active ingredients. This will continue the acne healing process while tempering the side effects of having dry or flaky skin.
- Apply the acne cream directly on the blemish. The tiniest dab of product right on the problem area should be enough to address it. Avoid the surrounding area that doesn’t need medication.
- Use a moisturizer after the acne cream application to deliver extra hydration. To counteract your acne cream’s drying effect, applying a thin layer of moisturizer on your face is recommended. Be sure to apply this once the acne cream has been absorbed to avoid spreading the product on other parts of your space and diluting its potency.
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Helpful Reminders for Better Skin Results Overnight
Dabbing acne cream on your problem spots is not enough to keep your pimple problems from happening. There are other things that you should do to ensure optimum results in the soonest possible time:
- Always apply acne cream with clean hands. This includes clean fingernails! Before going to bed. always wash your hands before you dab acne cream on your blemishes. If you use dirty hands, you are just going to exacerbate the problem by introducing additional bacteria to your problem spot.
- Don’t sleep on a dirty pillowcase. A dirty pillowcase collects oils and dirt from your face. If you use it, you will simply reintroduce the dirt back to your face. It will become a repeating problem, and you might wonder why your acne cream is not clearing your face at all.
- Never pop or touch your pimples. Sometimes it takes more than one night for your acne cream to do its job. You might find your pimples becoming “riper”, as the pus and bacteria are further drawn to the surface. Resist the temptation to pop it simply because it’s very visible. Doing so can create a bigger problem of spreading more germs and worse, creating a permanent or prolonged scar on the area. Simply apply the acne cream faithfully until the pimple is fully dried out on its own.
- Avoid foods that aggravate your acne. Candy, chocolates, and peanuts are known zit triggers, so if you notice that your acne is aggravated when you eat too much of these, avoid them at all costs.
- Sleep early. If you’ve been sleeping or working late, you might notice that this results in blemishes. Stressed-out skin tends to be drier and more prone to breakouts. Sleep is a time for the body to repair, and this includes your facial skin!
- Keep your hands and dirty hair off your face. Do you have pimples on your forehead, the sides of your face, or on your chin and jaw? Chances are, you either have dirty hair that is constantly in contact with these parts of your face or you are always resting your face on your hands. Avoid touching your face and always keep your hair tied up, especially if it has not been washed.
Basically, you should always make sure that anything that touches your face (if at all) is clean. As you address your acne concerns, you will want to avoid exposing it to anything that will prolong or worsen the problem. No amount of acne cream in the world will compensate for the lack of healthy habits on your part!
Conclusion: Do You Leave Acne Cream on Overnight?
So do you leave acne cream on overnight? Generally, leaving acne cream on overnight is not a bad idea – provided that you follow these shared tips and steps. It does not deliver the desired results in isolation, so don’t think that slapping it on will make your zit problems disappear.
Rather, it is just one component in a complete skin care routine designed to address acne.
The right choice of acne cream along with a recommended skin care routine and healthy skin practices will work together to tackle your blemish problem without any or too many consequences.
If you can, seek out the advice of a dermatologist to find out which particular acne cream will help solve your acne woes. The advice and recommendation of a certified medical professional is the best way to start, along with good skincare practices and habits!
