Acne Tips

Don't Scrub

You can't scrub your acne away. In fact abrasive or frequent washing can lead to dry skin and irritated acne. Your skin will respond best to kind attention. Gently wash your face no more than twice a day with a mild cleanser and pat your skin dry with a clean towel. If you exercise hard and sweat a lot you may want to wash your face afterwards.

Don't Pop Pimples

The temptation to scratch, pick, squeeze or pop a pimple can be intense, but the consequences just are not worth it. You run the risk of pushing the bacteria from the pimple further into the skin and causing more breakouts.

Popping a pimple may also cause brown or red scars to appear that can last for months. In severe acne cases popping pimples may cause dents and pits that can last forever.

Here's the Rub

Headbands and hats can aggravate your acne as they rub against your forehead. Try to avoid these things when possible.

Don't Touch Your Face

It's amazing how often we touch our faces during an average day. Our hands have oil on them and of course bacteria too, both of which can make acne worse. So avoid touching your face or leaning your chin on your hand. Be sure that other objects that come in contact with your face like cell phones, telephone receivers, eye glasses, etc are clean.

Wash Your Hair Frequently

If your hair is long enough to touch your face, you'll want to wash it as often as necessary to keep the oils away. If you can't avoid hair sprays or gels altogether, try to keep them and your hair away from your face because they can clog pores.

Review Your Environment

Pollution, airborne grease (such as in a fast food restaurant), irritating clothing - all these can aggravate your acne. It isn't always possible to avoid all the various irritants that may contribute to your acne. You can, however, make educated decisions that may help to minimize their impact. Loosen tight, irritating clothing or find fabrics that breathe better and don't aggravate your acne.