Acne Prevention Tips to Stop Blackheads, Pimples, Flare-Ups and Zits

Acne Prevention

How do you prevent acne? It may not be possible to prevent completely acne. However, there are a number of things that you can do that may help reduce acne or even prevent acne flare-ups.

Clean Skin Gently

If you have acne, you should gently wash your face with a mild cleanser twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, as well as after heavy exercise. Wash your face from under the jaw to the hairline and be sure to rinse your skin thoroughly.

Ask your doctor or another health professional for advice on the best type of cleanser to use.

Using strong soaps or rough scrub pads is not the best idea and can actually make the problem worse. Astringents are not usually recommended unless the skin is very oily, and then they should be used only on oily spots.

It is also important to shampoo your hair regularly. If you have oily hair, you may want to wash it every day.

Avoid Frequent Handling of the Skin

Keep your hands away from acne. Avoid rubbing and touching skin lesions. Squeezing, pinching or picking blemishes can lead to the development of scars or dark blotches.

Shave Carefully

Men who shave and who have acne should test both electric and blade razors to see which is more comfortable. When using a razor, make sure the blade is sharp and soften your beard thoroughly with soap and water before applying shaving cream. Shave gently and only when necessary to reduce the risk of nicking blemishes.

Avoid a Sunburn or Suntan

Many of the medicines used to treat acne can make you more prone to sunburn. A sunburn that reddens the skin or suntan that darkens the skin may make blemishes less visible and make the skin feel drier. However, these benefits are only temporary, and there are known risks of excessive sun exposure, such as more rapid skin aging and a risk of developing skin cancer. Read more in our HealthyU Article on Sun Protection.

Cosmetics for Acne

While undergoing acne treatment, you may need to change some of the cosmetics you use. All cosmetics, such as foundation, blush, eye shadow, moisturizers and hair-care products should be oil free. Choose products labeled noncomedogenic (meaning they don't promote the formation of closed pores). In some people, however, even these products may make acne worse.

For the first few weeks of treatment, applying foundation evenly may be difficult because the skin may be red or scaly, particularly with the use of topical tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide.

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:

verify here.

Updated June 2009

© | All rights reserved.