Is saline effective for treating acne?
Normal sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride) has many properties and is safe for use on any part of the body, from wound, eye, and contact lens care, to nasal irrigation and hydration, to facial cleansing after acne treatment. As this type of solution has been sterilized with high heat and has a 0.9% sodium chloride concentration (0.9 gram to 100ml of water), same as the body’s cellular fluids (isotonic), it will not cause any irritation or burning to the skin. Proper use of saline for acne treatment consists of the following steps:
- Use twice a day, morning and evening, after gentle cleansing.
- Before moisturizing, apply saline solution all over the face or only on affected areas.
- Apply medicated ointments, if any, before proceeding with your normal skincare routine.
The use of sterile saline solution on the face in conjunction with acne treatment helps improve general facial hygiene and reduce the risk of acne reinfection.