For its suggested uses, rubbing alcohol can be very effective at fighting dirt or bacteria. As you use the best alcohol wipes to clean the skin in these situations, it seems to logically follow that it’s good to get facial skin clean.
The issue is that unlike products specifically formulated to cleanse your skin, rubbing alcohol wipes have very high alcohol, usually at least 70%. Though wiping your face with it can feel relaxed and refreshing, rubbing alcohol can be harsh in that it strips your skin’s barrier of the natural oils it wants to say hydrated.
As you use acne treatment typically at least daily, you’ll likely dry out your skin if you use rubbing alcohol wipes for this purpose. However, the taming oil may be the goal of your acne-fighting efforts, considerably altering the natural oils’ balance can induce a breakout.
Constant exposure to isopropyl alcohol “defats” your skin, meaning that it strips it of the natural oil, known as sebum. It removes a critical protective bacterial barrier and robs the moisture’s skin it needs to stay hydrated.
When used to heal a popped pimple, even the best alcohol wipes rubbing can leave the skin tight, dry, and peeling and make redness worse. If you use topical acne medication such as benzoyl peroxide, rubbing alcohol can irritate and dry the skin out even faster. Worse yet, it can even promote scarring.
Acne is Not About Dirty Skin
However, poor skin hygiene can contribute to acne. It stems from a complicated process in which the overproduction of hormones. It overstimulates the skin’s oil-producing glands. It can block pores, inspire bacterial growth, and cause the inflamed pustules, more commonly raised to as pimples or zits.
While rubbing alcohol wipes can kill bacteria, they will do so at the expense of the skin’s overall health. Furthermore, good acne treatment targets all of the factors that trigger an acne outbreak and not just the ones on the skin’s surface.
Substitutions to Rubbing Alcohol
Leave the rubbing alcohol for a paper cut or skinned knee. You’re much better off using a facial wash or cleansing soap to clean your skin for acne. For toning skin, opt for an astringent, which can help remove the excess bacteria, dirt, and oil.
Moreover, such products include additional ingredients to hydrate and relax your skin, especially if designed for sensitive skin. Some skin cleaning commercial products even contain acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid.
Witch hazel is a natural alternative to rubbing alcohol, derived from flowering plants in the Hamamelidaceae family. It is an effective astringent and even reduces inflamed skin swelling and irritation. Moreover, it can prevent dehydration. It is comparatively inexpensive, costing just a few dollars for a large bottle. It is the matter of your skin, the most sensitive part of your body. Always opt for the best alcohol wipes manufacturer; otherwise, the local brand can damage your skin. You should keep your skin clean for healthy, smooth, and shiny skin.
