Non-medicated cleansers
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
Washing your face with non-medicated cleansers should only be done 2 times a day. Excessive washing may irritate the skin and damage the protective layers, resulting in worsening of acne1.
Traditional soaps may cause skin irritation as they increase the skin’s pH, promoting dryness2. Non-medicated cleansers containing surfactants, emollients and/or humectants moisturize the skin, while not altering skin pH resulting in less skin irritation2,3. Furthermore, the ability of surfactants to remove dirt and oil off the skin’s surface may play a role in cleaning the skin allowing for topical medication to penetrate the skin surface3.
Non-medicated cleansers do not prevent or treat acne and should not be used as monotherapy1. Appropriate use would be adjunctive therapy to reduce risk of infection and to provide a clean surface for medication to penetrate3.
References:
1. Sibbald D. Acne. In Patient Self-Care: Helping Your Patients Make Therapeutic Choices. 2nd ed. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacist Association: 2010: 576 -598.
2. Decker A. and Graber E. Over-the-counter Acne Treatments A Review. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2012: 5(5); 32-40.
3. Humphrey S. Adjunctive Skin Care for Acne. Skin Therapy Letter (Pharmacist Edition). 2013: 7 (1): 1-4.
Washing your face with non-medicated cleansers should only be done 2 times a day. Excessive washing may irritate the skin and damage the protective layers, resulting in worsening of acne1.
Traditional soaps may cause skin irritation as they increase the skin’s pH, promoting dryness2. Non-medicated cleansers containing surfactants, emollients and/or humectants moisturize the skin, while not altering skin pH resulting in less skin irritation2,3. Furthermore, the ability of surfactants to remove dirt and oil off the skin’s surface may play a role in cleaning the skin allowing for topical medication to penetrate the skin surface3.
Non-medicated cleansers do not prevent or treat acne and should not be used as monotherapy1. Appropriate use would be adjunctive therapy to reduce risk of infection and to provide a clean surface for medication to penetrate3.
References:
1. Sibbald D. Acne. In Patient Self-Care: Helping Your Patients Make Therapeutic Choices. 2nd ed. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacist Association: 2010: 576 -598.
2. Decker A. and Graber E. Over-the-counter Acne Treatments A Review. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2012: 5(5); 32-40.
3. Humphrey S. Adjunctive Skin Care for Acne. Skin Therapy Letter (Pharmacist Edition). 2013: 7 (1): 1-4.