I recently cured a long-standing struggle with acne.  And by long-standing I mean "Most people have been acne free for at least 20 years by the time they're my age."

This isn't a message you're going to hear in acne commercials.  Because commercials exist to sell you things.  Corporate America has yet to find a way to charge money for you to not use something, but I'm sure they will if they figure it out.  

It turns out that a lot of people (myself included) are sensitive to two particular ingredients in cosmetics.  These are SLS and SLES - sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate.  SLS is found in pretty much everything that can be applied above the neckline, from toothpaste to shampoo and conditioner.  

SLS and SLES are surfactants, which means that they make things foam nicely.  We, the buying public, demand foam.  We want our toothpaste to foam up nicely in our mouth, and we expect our shampoo to form big beautiful suds.  These surfactants are also great at removing grease, which is why SLS is a common ingredient in engine degreasers.

SLS and SLES are definitely known to be irritating.  Even the manufacturers using it are open about that.  This is, after all, why you're supposed to rinse shampoo and keep it out of your eyes.  The warning not to swallow too much toothpaste is partly due to the SLS.

But what many people don't realize is that this "irritation" can come in the form of acne.  When we think "irritation" most of us probably think of a red, itchy rash.  We think of acne and dandruff as stand-alone problems.  Problems which can be solved with the topical application of cosmetics containing… SLS!

In fact, many acne medications and soaps contain SLS.  When someone tipped me off, I checked my cabinets and found that everything I had that went on my face contained SLS.  Clearasil Gel Wash?  SLS.  Clean & Clear face wash?  SLS.  

The same goes for dandruff shampoos.  Guess what dandruff is?  That's right: irritation.  Head and Shoulders?  SLS.  Selsun Blue contains Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, SLS's just-as-irritating cousin.

The same goes for a lot of products that are ostensibly "for sensitive skin."  Cetaphil?  SLS.  Phisoderm Gentle Cleanser?  SLS.  

Is every case of acne caused by SLS irritation?  Probably not.  Is our nation's acne being exacerbated by products containing SLS?  Maybe!  Is your acne caused by an SLS sensitivity?  There's only one way to find out!  

Fortunately it won't take long for you to find your answer.  In my case, within 24 hours of cutting all SLS out of my daily regime I could see an improvement.  And things just kept getting better.  After only 72 hours, I couldn't believe the difference!

If you suffer from acne, you owe it to yourself to give this a try.  Take a break on the weekend if you feel self-conscious about changing up your routine during the work week.  Scrutinize the labels on your cosmetics, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and hair care products, and set aside anything with the Sulfate Sisters.  If it doesn't work, you're not out anything - and if it does work, you'll be looking great by Monday!

Creative Commons-licensed image courtesy of Flickr user Sparktography