Acne Do's and Don'ts

Have you ever experienced waking up in the morning to a painful red pimple on your face? Chances are very high according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. It affects up to 50 million Americans annually and 85% of that are between the ages of 12 - 24 years of age. It usually starts when your child is going through puberty.

We all know what a pimple is but do you know how they develop? They form when the pores of your skin become clogged from increased oil production and thickening of skin cells of hair. The acne bacteria thrive within the clogged pores of the skin which causes redness and inflammation. Some other factors that can influence acne are genetics, hormones that cause an increase in oil gland production which clogs skin pores, environmental factors (cosmetic products, climate, sun exposure), and diet.

Some ways you can help acne:

• Proper hydration of face prevents over-drying and over-production of oils to compensate for dryness.
• Wash face twice daily and any time after an activity that may cause you to sweat.
• Apply a thin layer of the acne medication evenly over your acne-prone skin. Let it absorb for 10 minutes. Be sure to use moisturizer made for acne-prone skin.
• Mix a small amount of emollient with non-oily, non-comedogenic moisturizers (i.e. Cerave, Cetaphil, Neutrogena). Mixing them together thickens the products and leads to better penetration of skin.

Habits to break:

• Acne does take time to resolve. Sometimes a few several months. Trying a new acne treatment every week can actually do more harm than good. It can cause more skin irritation. Give the suggested acne treatment a try for about 6 – 8 weeks before changing to a new one.
• Attempting to squeeze or pop pimples will probably result in you pushing all the bad in that pimple deeper into your skin tissue which can cause more inflammation and acne scarring.
• Exfoliating your pimples can also result in further irritation to the pimples which can be painful.
• Going out to do outdoor activity without proper sun protection. Some acne medications do make your skin very sensitive to ultraviolet rays from the sun.
• Make up etiquette – Avoid using make ups that contain oil or other ingredients that can cause acne breakouts, sharing make up products and tools, and sleeping with your make up on.

When to see a dermatologist

Many people can control their acne by following these skin care tips and using acne treatment that they can buy without a prescription. If you continue to see acne after giving these tips a chance to work, a dermatologist can help. Some people need prescription-strength acne treatment.

Resource: https://www.aad.org ; https://www.dermatologistnewyork.org/blog/the-different-types-of-acne