For ongoing skin care and prevention of acne, follow a few simple guidelines:
- Clean skin gently – Use a mild skin cleanser twice a day, and pat skin dry. Harsh cleansers and astringents can actually worsen acne.
- Do not pop, squeeze, or pick at acne lesions, as this can promote inflammation and infection.
- Keep hands away from your face and other acne-prone parts of the skin.
- Limit sun exposure – Tanning only masks acne at best. At worst, sun exposure can lead to skin damage, especially if you are using an acne treatment that makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight and UV rays (this includes tanning booths).
- Choose cosmetics with care – choose non-greasy skin products, and look for words like “non-comedogenic,” “oil-free,” and “water-based.” Some facial products contain active acne-fighting ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, to help keep mild acne at bay. Most cover creams contain plugging agents which aggravate acne. Water-based products are recommended such as Jane Iredale mineral makeup, Prescriptive Oil-Free, Clinique Pore Minimizer or Stay True or Eliz Arden Oil Free. Some products are called “tested” and “oil-free/non-comedogenic” and yet DO cause acne.
Acne and Diet
One-half of teenagers have heard that foods can worsen acne, but results of previous medical studies have led physicians to say that there is no link between diet and acne. More recent studies suggest that there may be a connection. However, the relationship is not clear, and changing one’s diet is not going to “cure” acne.
Some dermatologists believe that a diet high in refined, processed foods, such as breads, cereals, pastas, candy, etc., creates an environment in our bodies that causes a cascade of adverse effects on our hormonal system. These types of foods are thought stimulate a surge in one’s blood sugar level (a high glycemic index). To compensate, the pancreas pours out insulin to “neutralize” the sugar. The elevated insulin triggers the body to secrete androgens (male hormones), which are known to activate the oil producing glands in the skin.
Cutting out these refined and processed foods may go a long way in keeping you blemish free. For further improvement, some dermatologists recommend avoiding artificial sweeteners (Xylitol or Stevia are okay), refined vegetable oils (they also produce inflammation), and dairy products (they are believed to add to imbalances in the hormone system).
Acne Myths
- Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene – If you believe this myth and wash your skin hard and frequently, you can actually make your acne worse.
- Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet.
- Myth #3: Acne is caused by stress.
- Myth #4: Acne is just a cosmetic disease.
- Myth #5: You just have to let acne run its course.
Acne Medicine Tips
- Help yourself remember. Keep your acne medication where you will see it, such as next to your toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Use your acne medicine as directed. Be consistent.
- Gently wash your face before applying your medicine.
- Apply the medicine to the whole area (not just the spots).
- Protect your skin from UV light. Stay our of the sun as much as possible. If you cannot avoid being exposed to sunlight, then try to avoid peak hours of sunlight, use sunscreen, and wear protective hats, sunglasses, long sleeve shirts, and full-length pants.
- Be patient with your treatment. Find out how much time it should take for your acne treatment to work (generally 6-8 weeks) and then stick with it. Stopping treatment early may prevent you from seeing good results or even cause a relapse of symptoms. You may notice your acne getting worse before it gets better. During the early phases of treatment, blocked pores that were previously invisible may start to appear on the surface of the skin. These will clear up.
- For dry skin, apply non-comedogenic moisturizers before make-up or over your acne medication.
- For irritated skin, some skin peeling is expected with some acne medications especially after Differin, Tazorac, and Retin A, or other topical retinoids, and glycolic acid. Consider using the medication every other day until a tolerance is developed.
- For itch, use your acne medication sparingly. A pea-size amount is effective. More is not necessarly better and using too much medicine can lead to itching.
