Tips to Control Acne

Be Gentle
The first thing to remember to control acne is to be gentle with your face. Don’t wash your face with hot or cold water. Use lukewarm water and a mild cleanser twice a day, and following any physical activity. When you do work out, avoid regular soap and similar products which are filled with harsh cleansers and detergents. Wash you face gently in circular motions, and rinse thoroughly. Pad you face dry and avoid scrubbing. Scrubbing could open thousands of invisible lesions in your skin which become an ideal breeding ground for bacterial formation.

Keep Your Hands Away from Your Skin
Although it is against your instincts, try to keep your hands away from pimples and other lesions. Avoid touching your face with your fingers or putting your face against objects which collect skin oil residue like the telephone receiver. Touching your face can spread the bacteria that cause pores to become inflamed and irritated. To control bacteria, wash your hands before applying anything to your face, such as makeup or treatment creams.


For the Guys
Before you shave, softening the whiskers is important. Washing your face with soap and water first will help, and you can leave a warm washcloth on your face for a few minutes prior to shaving, this will soften the hairs and open your pores making it easier to shave. I have actually started to shave in the shower with a mirror that sticks to the wall. This way, more water can run over your face after you shave so you can wash it better, reducing acne outbreaks.

For the Girls
Remove your makeup before going to sleep. When buying makeup, be sure you choose brands that say "non-comedogenic" or "non-acnegenic" on the label. Throw out makeup which smells or looks different from when you first bought it.

For Everyone
Keep your hair clean and out of your face to prevent additional dirt and oil from clogging your pores. Always protect your skin from the sun. You may think a tan masks your acne, however it's only temporary. Tanning can cause your body to produce extra sebum (oil), which will actually worsen your acne. Also, when you wear glasses or sunglasses, be sure you clean them frequently to keep oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.

Following these simple tips will help minimize the occurrence of acne, and reduce the need for alternative acne treatments.