How Your Acne Can Worsen

Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. It is caused by the inflammation of the sebaceous glands, causing the formation of pimples. Acne is unsightly not only can it ravage the skin when left unchecked, but it can also take a toll on the mental and emotional health of those who suffer from it. It’s important to get acne treated, whether it be at-home or with a dermatologist. The worst thing one can do is nothing, or engage in further behavior that can exacerbate it. Here are four things that can make your acne even worse:

• Aggressive Exfoliating – When you’re breaking out with acne, it’s better to opt for a milder exfoliator to mitigate the inflammation and irritation done to your skin. Instead of exfoliating for the usual amount of time – twice a week, go down to just once a week to give your skin a rest. Avoid using exfoliators that contain abrasive beads, or tools. Instead, use a chemical one that acts a milder skin peel. Alternatively, you can go to your dermatologist for a skin peel treatment.
• Not Cleaning – To be specific, not cleaning the things that often come into contact with your face. This means your phone, your pillow cases, your blankets, and face towels. There can be a lot of bacteria and dirt found on the surfaces of these that can worsen your acne. Use a disinfecting wipe on your phone screen, and wash your sheets often.
• Popping Your Pimples – This is one of the worst things you can do when you have an acne breakout. Popping your pimples further causes damage to your skin, prolongs the inflammation and can potentially leave you with varying degrees of scarring.
• Skipping Out on Sunscreen – Regardless of the weather or the season, you should always be using sunscreen. This becomes even more important when you have conditions like acne that make your skin a lot more vulnerable to sun damage.