Editing Acne (section)

===Skin care===
In general, it is recommended that people with acne do not wash affected skin more than twice daily.<ref name="Zaenglein2018"/> The application of a fragrance-free [[moisturizer]] to sensitive and acne-prone skin may reduce irritation. Skin irritation from acne medications typically peaks at two weeks after onset of use and tends to improve with continued use.<ref name="Zaenglein2018"/> Dermatologists recommend using cosmetic products that specifically say non-comedogenic, oil-free, and will not clog pores.<ref name="Zaenglein2018"/>

Acne vulgaris patients, even those with oily skin,<ref name="Lynde et al 2014">{{cite journal |last1=Lynde |first1=Chuck W. |last2=Andriessen |first2=Anneke |last3=Barankin |first3=Benjamin |last4=Gannes |first4=Gillian De |last5=Gulliver |first5=Wayne |last6=Haber |first6=Richard |last7=Mccuaig |first7=Catherine |last8=Rajan |first8=Poonam |last9=Skotnicki |first9=Sandra P. |last10=Thomas |first10=Richard |last11=Toole |first11=Jack |last12=Vender |first12=Ron |title=Moisturizers and Ceramide-containing Moisturizers May Offer Concomitant Therapy with Benefits |journal=The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology |date=March 2014 |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=18–26 |pmid=24688622 |pmc=3970828 }}</ref> should moisturize in order to support the skin's moisture barrier since skin barrier dysfunction may contribute to acne.<ref name="Lynde et al 2014"/> Moisturizers, especially [[ceramide]]-containing moisturizers, as an adjunct therapy are particularly helpful for the dry skin and irritation that commonly results from topical acne treatment. Studies show that ceramide-containing moisturizers are important for optimal skin care; they enhance acne therapy adherence and complement existing acne therapies.<ref name="Lynde et al 2014"/> In a study where acne patients used 1.2% clindamycin phosphate / 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel in the morning and applied a micronized 0.05% tretinoin gel in the evening the overwhelming majority of patients experienced no cutaneous adverse events throughout the study. It was concluded that using ceramide cleanser and ceramide moisturizing cream caused the favorable tolerability, did not interfere with the treatment efficacy, and improved adherence to the regimen.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zeichner |first1=Joshua A. |last2=Del Rosso |first2=James Q. |title=Multivesicular Emulsion Ceramide-containing Moisturizers: An Evaluation of Their Role in the Management of Common Skin Disorders |journal=The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology |date=December 2016 |volume=9 |issue=12 |pages=26–32 |pmid=28210396 |pmc=5300724 }}</ref> The importance of preserving the acidic mantle and its barrier functions is widely accepted in the scientific community. Thus, maintaining a pH in the range 4.5 – 5.5 is essential in order to keep the skin surface in its optimal, healthy conditions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ali |first1=Saba M. |last2=Yosipovitch |first2=Gil |title=Skin pH: From Basic SciencE to Basic Skin Care |journal=Acta Dermato-Venereologica |date=2013 |volume=93 |issue=3 |pages=261–267 |doi=10.2340/00015555-1531 |pmid=23322028 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Prakash |first1=Chaitra |last2=Bhargava |first2=Puneet |last3=Tiwari |first3=Siddhi |last4=Majumdar |first4=Banashree |last5=Bhargava |first5=Rishi Kumar |title=Skin Surface pH in Acne Vulgaris: Insights from an Observational Study and Review of the Literature |journal=The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology |date=July 2017 |volume=10 |issue=7 |pages=33–39 |pmid=29104722 |pmc=5605222 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schmid-Wendtner |first1=M.-H. |last2=Korting |first2=H.C. |title=The pH of the Skin Surface and Its Impact on the Barrier Function |journal=Skin Pharmacology and Physiology |date=2006 |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=296–302 |doi=10.1159/000094670 |pmid=16864974 |s2cid=9077120 |url=https://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/16348/ |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419115437/https://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/16348/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lambers |first1=H. |last2=Piessens |first2=S. |last3=Bloem |first3=A. |last4=Pronk |first4=H. |last5=Finkel |first5=P. |title=Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora |journal=International Journal of Cosmetic Science |date=October 2006 |volume=28 |issue=5 |pages=359–370 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00344.x |pmid=18489300 |s2cid=25191984 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Proksch |first1=Ehrhardt |title=pH in nature, humans and skin |journal=The Journal of Dermatology |date=September 2018 |volume=45 |issue=9 |pages=1044–1052 |doi=10.1111/1346-8138.14489 |pmid=29863755 |s2cid=44158118 |doi-access=free }}</ref>