I was plagued by acne as a teenager and now that I am in my late thirties, I still have flare-ups occasionally. I especially have these in the summer when it is hot and humid. Unfortunately, my daughter is now a tween and she is experiencing breakouts and is extremely distressed by her acne. We have been searching for products to help her cope with her acne and I am teaching her the steps she should take every day to help her prevent and treat her acne – – steps that now as an adult I still take to prevent acne breakouts.
1. You must wash your face each evening to remove dirt and oil that has accumulated during the day and will clog pores. However, as I have explained to my daughter over washing her face can cause her breakouts to be worse because it will over dry her skin and irritate existing acne. Using a good acne cleanser such as Mentholatum Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Gel Facial Wash or pHisoderm Anti-Blemish Gel Facial Wash once or twice a day is essential in preventing acne. We have tried both of these with great results. Do not scrub skin when washing it because this will only aggravate the acne and make skin red and irritated. It is natural to think that if you rub hard that you will remove more dirt and oil that cause acne but you are only making your skin more prone to an acne breakout.
2. It is also essential to use a good toner after washing. Cleansing skin will upset the natural balance of your skin because it removes oil but using a good toner will return the natural pH balance of your skin to what is should be and help prevent breakouts. We use Murad Clarifying Toner because it also controls shine and minimizes pores (acne prone skin tends to have larger pores).
3. Keeping your pillowcase clean will help you to reduce acne breakouts. Pillowcases can harbor germs and bacteria that will make acne worse. Always use clean towels and washcloths when bathing and bathe immediately after exercising or outdoor activities. In the summer, keeping your hair pulled back from your face will also help to reduce acne breakouts.
4. If you are prone to severe acne, summer months can be more difficult. Consider using Pure Skin Clarifying Dietary Supplement by Murad to reduce acne breakouts. I use these supplements and now so does my daughter to ensure that we are getting the minerals and vitamins that are essential for good skin care that we may be missing in our diets.
5. For acne breakouts you need a good acne medication to treat and heal acne before it scars. I have used several acne medications through the years and now I am passing my favorites to my daughter. Each person’s skin is different and will respond differently to acne medication but most of the acne medications contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which appears to treat the majority of acne breakouts with success. I have tried both and found that they work well for me and dry up the acne. My favorites are Clearasil, Persa-Gel and Neutrogena. Over-the-counter medications are good for breakouts but do not completely prevent acne.
If your acne is severe or does not respond to over-the-counter acne products, you should seek the advice of a dermatologist. I was treated by a dermatologist in my teens with success. A dermatologist is now seeing my daughter and I am amazed at the advances that have occurred with the treatment and prevention of acne.
