How Should People with Acne Care for Their Skin?

A few simple skin-care tips and some common sense will go a long way in helping you control your acne.

Careful Cleansing

• Gently wash your skin with a mild soap once or twice daily. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Be sure to remove all dirt or make-up.
• Do not scrub your skin or rub it dry as the abrasion can irritate your skin further, worsening your acne.
• It's a good idea to wash after exercising or sweating a lot, but avoid excessive or repeated skin washing.
• Astringents are not recommended unless your skin is very oily. If you need to use an astringent, only apply it to the oily spots.

Products

• Always follow your healthcare providers instructions.
• Use products and sunscreens that are labeled oil-free, water-based, noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic. These products will not clog your pores.
• Avoid heavy foundation makeup and select powder blushes and powder eye shadow over cream products, as they are less irritating and noncomedogenic. Your moisturizer should be oil free.

Hair Care

• Shampoo your hair regularly, daily if it is oily. Keep your hair out of your face and avoid tight headbands.
• Try to keep hair sprays and gels away from your face because they can also clog pores.

Resist Temptation

• Avoid touching your face with your hands or fingers as they have oil and bacteria on them and these can make your acne worse.
• Leave your pimples alone. Do not scratch, pick or squeeze them. Doing so increases the risk of infection and scarring as well as the chances for a new breakout from the spillage of broken comedones.

Always Use Sunscreen (noncomedogenic, of course)

• Avoid suntan or sunburn. Many acne medications may make a person more prone to sunburn.
• Sunbathing dries your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. In addition, sun exposed skin sloughs old cells more frequently. You already know that's the formula for clogged pores and acne.
• In addition to an exacerbated case of acne, there are the known risks of rapid skin aging and more seriously, of skin cancer.
• Be sure to use noncomedogenic sunscreens with at least an SPF 15 protection level anytime you're going to be outside.

Shave Carefully

• Test both electric and safety razors to see which is more comfortable.
• Men who use a safety razor for their beards should use a sharp blade and soften the beard with soap and water before applying shaving cream. Avoid nicking blemishes by shaving lightly and only when necessary.