Best sensitive face wash for acne

[Ansumpasty]

I’m having a skin dilemma!

I have used proactiv, shipped from Canada for years. Typically, it’s run out and I can’t buy any more as the shops are shut.

I’m going to ask the GP for epiduo on Monday as that also has the benzoyl peroxide 2.5% in, but it means finding a cleanser I can safely use it it. The proactiv comes with a cleaner.

Any recommendations? I’ve tried cataphil in the past and it gave me lots of spots.

Thanks!

Most acne or spot cleansers are foaming and contain alcohol denat, both of which make the problem worse!

The treatments you use afterwards should contain the spot fighting ingredients (or are you mixing it with the cleanser - does that make it ineffective?)

www.superdrug.com/search?text=Simple+refreshing+wash

It just needs to be extremely gentle and non irritating. I checked out the ingredients of simple and all of them have things that are not so great for acne prone skin (according to COSDNA).

I love Glossier milky jelly wash. Non foaming, really gentle.

I don't often repeat buy products but this one I definitely do.

Dd sees a dermatologist for acne - their recommendation is Cerave oil free wash - very gentle. Epiduo was too strong for her skin so she now uses Differin.

Are you on antibiotics for it?

Thanks!

@Bouncingbomb I can’t find oil free was- is it the foaming cleanser? I’ve taken antibiotics over the years. I took them a year ago after getting microneedling done for my scars and reacted so badly to the antibiotics that I’m never taking them again. Literally took me almost a year to recover.

Hmm I was going to recommend Cetaphil but you said that doesn’t work for you...

Maybe REN’s evercalm cleanser, or Farmacy’s clean bee cleanser?

Someone mentioned glossier’s milk jelly wash - never tried it but really want to!

I have sensitive skin and use sebamed - best one I’ve found. You can get it from amazon. It lasts ages so is great value for money.

I’ve been using Cetaphil too & I find it doesn’t work either!

I’m following this too as I struggle finding a wash that works.

Thanks!

The cerave hydrating cleanser checks out really badly on its ingredients on the COSDNA website:

www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_3183346169.html

The cerave foaming cleanser looks a lot less irritating?

www.cosdna.com/eng/review_1488237581.html

I was wondering about the carbon theory charcoal soap, but not sure if the tea tree would be too much before the benzoyl peroxide/Adapalene

@HotDogGuy

Which seba med cleanser?

This is the one I use
Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam 150ml www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0015XGOYW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qRgGEb15F3VKA?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Thanks!

Antibiotics almost always make acne and spots worse, I can't believe they are still being prescribed for that!

High street wise (web) BareMinerals is great and v gentle.

Don't use a foaming cleanser, it just strips your skin. It doesn't make it cleaner.

"To get foam you need to use a surfactant – and a surfactant in general can push your skin into the alkaline ph. Bacteria prefers an alkaline skin. The irony being that so many cleansers pushed on to acne/combination skins are foaming."

This is the one DD has - it’s different to Antinorini’s as its for normal to oily skin.

Obviously not in the middle of all this but I would recommend asking for a referral to an acne clinic- they have been absolutely fantastic with DD. Everything is dealt with with such kindness and sensitivity and the improvement in her skin is incredible.

She had some sort of laser/water treatment last summer which removed 100s of whiteheads that would have become spots.

This is DD’s dermatologist, the expert who thinks a foaming cleanser is ok.

La Roche posay. Both DD (12) and I have sensitive skin & acne. I love LRP, keeps our skin clear. Cereve also lovely. Cetaphil gave me breakouts.

LRP was much to harsh on DDs skin - it looked burnt after a couple of weeks but their tourmaline moisturiser was ok on the burned bits. We also tried Avene - everyone is different I guess - unfortunately it is an expensive trial and error process isn’t it.

Very pleased we get our Fanta dermatologist and prescriptions on the NHS - a tube of differin is something like £30 alone.

I use the Carbon Theory range which you can get in Boots or online. The soap especially has been a game changer for me. I suffered with acne after having DS and this is the only thing that has ever touched it and kept it away. I'd tried pretty much everything before I found this.

@Antinori86 what else have you used with it that cleared your skin?

@Bouncingbomb

I’ve been referred a few times and they haven’t been helpful, unfortunately. I was seen by normal dermatology and all they’ve ever done is suggest different creams/pills. No ‘treatment’ like that. My doctor referred me for scaring and they said no to that, too