Cleansers:

Did you know your skin is normally acidic (pH 5-5.5). Water has a pH of 7-7.5, so if you wash with water alone you will make your skin less acidic- this is a bad thing! (Soap is even worse! pH 8-9). Washing with water alone reduces the barrier function of your skin and also reduces the good fats/ lipids we need and increases the activity of harmful bacteria!

Do use a cleanser: with a gentle cleanser (oil free) morning and night. Don’t scrub! As it can make acne worse.

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CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

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Use in morning and evening, before moisturising or using prescription products.

Helps remove excess oil and debris without affecting the deeper layers of skin.

Much better than water alone. 

Helps improve skin barrier in acne prone skin and also

Cetaphil Pro Oil-Removing Foam Face Wash 

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Use in morning and evening, before moisturising or using prescription products.

Helps remove excess oil and debris without affecting the deeper layers of skin.

Much better than water alone. 

Helps improve skin barrier in acne prone skin and also

Moisturisers:

It is possible to have oily areas and areas of dry skin at the same time!

The type of excess oil produced by the glands in patients with acne is pro inflammatory. 

Some of the treatments I prescribe may cause dryness by reducing those oils. Therefore, we need to replace those oils with less inflammatory oils and that is why should use a moisturiser - *follow the rule above- it should be oil free!

CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion AM

This is for use in the morning and contains UV protection.

It is non comedogenic, so appropriate for acne prone skin.

You should use this alone, however if you find your skin is still dry you can also use the the 'PM' version at night- see below:

CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion PM

Use this moisturiser at night after cleansing. If you have been prescribed a retinoid, it doesn't really matter if you apply this before or after your retinoid.

Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturiser

Also contains UV protection so can be used in morning.