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Tips for managing your acne – AAD.org

You can reduce your acne by following these skin care tips from dermatologists.

  1. Wash twice a day and after sweating. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, can make acne worse, so wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.
  2. Use your fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge or anything else can irritate the skin.
  3. Be gentle with your skin. Use gentle products, such as those that are alcohol-free. Do not use products that irritate your skin, which may include astringents, toners and exfoliants. Dry, red skin makes acne appear worse.
  4. Scrubbing your skin can make acne worse. Avoid the temptation to scrub your skin.
  5. Rinse with lukewarm water.
  6. Shampoo regularly. If you have oily hair, shampoo daily.
  7. Let your skin heal naturally. If you pick, pop or squeeze your acne, your skin will take longer to clear and you increase the risk of getting acne scars.
  8. Keep your hands off your face. Touching your skin throughout the day can cause flare-ups.
  9. Stay out of the sun and tanning beds. Tanning damages you skin. In addition, some acne medications make the skin very sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light, which you get from both the sun and indoor tanning devices. Using tanning beds increases your risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent.
  10. Consult a dermatologist if:
    1. Your acne makes you shy or embarrassed.
    2. The products you’ve tried have not worked.
    3. Your acne is leaving scars or darkening your skin.

Today, virtually every case of acne can be successfully treated. Dermatologists can help treat existing acne, prevent new breakouts and reduce your chance of developing scars. If you have questions or concerns about caring for your skin, you should make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
For more tips, be sure to visit the American Academy of Dermatology’s website, AcneNet, to see what can help clear acne.
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Related resources:

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation
Do you have acne in your armpits, on your groin, or under your breasts that just won’t clear? Or does it clear and then return?
A skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can look like everyday acne. In fact, another name for HS is “acne inversa.” HS is not the everyday acne that we know. It is a long-term skin disease, which often goes undiagnosed. The earlier HS is diagnosed, the better the outcome. HS can be disabling without treatment.
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