Healing Masks for Blemishes

Facial masks generally are not a good idea for daily skin care. While a clay or silicone or vegetable mask can feel good, most masks can irritate the skin. Sometimes, however, a facial mask is just the thing to heal blemishes. And the good news is, you can make them for just pennies.

In the old days, mothers and grandmothers treated their offspring's' blemishes with masks made from sulfur and mud. There's no doubt that sulfur, yellow and stinky as it is, disinfects acne-prone skin. The problem is, various reactions between sulfur and water and mud can create a very mild solution of sulfuric acid. The acid also disinfects the skin, but it takes more than just dead skin cells and sebum along with it when you peel off the mask.

And even if you make mask that does not irritate your skin, masks just are not the best choice for treating blemishes. Acne has be treated once or twice every day. Very few of us have time for two facials a day, and not too commercial masks never irritate the skin.

Another old favorite, however, is completely safe for the skin. Milk of magnesia makes a mask that actually heals blemishes. It's alkaline, rather than acidic, and the magnesium provides acts as a potent antioxidant directly in the pores of the skin. Milk of magnesia is anti-inflammatory, and, gram for gram, absorbs far more sebum than any clay.

Clay is OK. Just remember that there are cheaper alternatives, and be sure that any mask you use for blemishes does not irritate your skin. Remember, if a product causes your skin to break out, it's not your fault. Don't hesitate to ask for refunds for products that do not work. Your returning the product gives the manufacturer valuable information that can be used to make future products better.