Hygiene Info
Acne
It is caused by blocked oil secretions intended to lubricate hair along the follicle from deep under the skin. So the key to prevention is washing with an exfoliant such as salicylic acid 1% or 2% and a mild soap, such as a diluted Castile soap, to clear the path for the oil to the surface. The key to treatment once the blockage becomes infected is an antibacterial wash such as benzoyl peroxide 10% cream or bar soap and an anti-bacterial lotion, such as benzoyl peroxide 2.5% cream at night. Some also profit from skin lotions with sulfur, which help dry out pimples and oily skin. For immediate treatment, soak in a bath or in the sink and use a hot-water-soaked wash cloth to bring healing blood to the area and to drain the infection fast. Another key to prevention is to avoid food that promotes acne by overstimulating your oil glands. Foods react variously with various people. Learn by your own experience. Some profit by drinking more water and avoiding milk products, candy, and sugar; others, by avoiding fried foods, nuts, cookies, and cooking oils. If you cannot control your acne with diet, exfoliating, and benzoyl peroxide or sulfur, see a dermatologist, who may prescribe prescription medicines, such as clindamycin phosphate 1% swabs, oral antibiotics, Retin-A, or Accutane.
The following over-the-counter products have proven to be effective against acne based on the first-hand experiences of real people:
Dial white bar soap, antibacterial
Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Almond Pure-Castile soap (dilute it in sink or in shower) (gentle & effective)
Neutrogena Oil-free Acne wash (2% salicylic acid) (rinse heavily or wash off with soap)
Burt’s Bees Acne Solutions purifying gel cleanser (1% salicylic acid)
Clean & Clear advantage 3-in-1 exfoliating cleanser lotion (5% benzoyl peroxide)
CVS Health Acne Cleansing Bar (10% benzoyl peroxide)
Clean & Clear persa-gel 10 (10% benzoyl peroxide) face cream
Acne.org Treatment (2.5% benzoyl peroxide) face cream (nightly) (great product)
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion (sulfur)
Adult Acnomel tinted cream (sulfur)
Dandruff
It’s a condition in which your scalp skin itches and flakes off in clumps. Excess skin oils react with water and bacteria & fungi to create it. You can fight the fungi chemically with (1) ketoconazole (2) selenium sulfide (3) pyrithione zinc. You may also have some success with coal tar, because it exfoliates skin cells and slows the growth of new skin cells, so they won’t shed so fast, which happens with dandruff. Coal tar shampoo can also combat acne for similar reasons. And an acne wash with salicylic acid can also fight dandruff, because of its exfoliating abilities. Since scalp fungi grow more easily on wet, oily, and poorly-ventilated hair, avoid that. Also, wash your pillowcases, hats, and hoodies often, since scalp fungi may transfer to them easily. These shampoos have proven effective against dandruff:
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (ketoconazole 1%) [best overall]
Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo (pyrithione zinc 1%) (targets malassezia fungi)
Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo (selenium sulfide 1%)
Neutrogena T/Gel (0.5% coal tar)
If, after three days, none of these shampoos work for you, see a dermatologist to see if your dandruff is caused by tinea capitis, eczema, ringworm, or psoriasis, which have separate treatments.
Athlete’s foot
It’s a common, fungal infection of the foot skin. It often starts as a red, itchy rash between the toes, where water is trapped and air is scarce, so fungi grow. It can also infect the toenails. The fungus, tinea pedis, is contagious and may exist in showers or on wet floors in gyms, dormitories, jails, or army barracks. Many wear sandals in those areas to protect their feet from it. The fungi grow faster in wet socks and shoes, so avoid those. Prefer synthetic, sweat-wicking socks to cotton or wool. Wash them in the hottest water you can. Go barefoot in dry grass and sand to give your feet fresh air. At the first sign of symptoms, fight the fungus, before it spreads and cracks your skin, with these proven antifungal agents:
miconazole nitrate 2%
clotrimazole 1%
butenafine hydrochloride 1%
tolnaftate 1%
If you are suspect of antifungal chemicals, you may, like some, try natural remedies that contain apple cider vinegar, bitter orange peel, or tea tree oil. Such products are available online and have the approval of many users in the reviews. The following drugstore products have been proven to cure athlete’s foot in those who had it:
Tinactin tolnaftate antifungal cream (tolnaftate 1%)
Lotrimin AF cream (clotrimazole 1%)
Globe Clotrimazole antifungal cream (clotrimazole 1%)
Lotrimin Ultra 1 week athlete’s foot treatment (butenafine hydrochloride 1%)
Globe Miconazole Nitrate 2% antifungal cream
Desenex Antifungal Powder (miconazole nitrate 2%)
Continue treatment for two weeks after symptoms vanish, to be certain. If your skin doesn’t improve, or if you have diabetes, an aggravating factor, see a dermatologist to obtain more powerful antifungals and to confirm the diagnosis -- and to rule out eczema.