Control Acne

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — By Annette McDermott and Lacey Muinos — Updated on June 13, 2022

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Anyone with persistent acne knows how much of a challenge it can be to try to heal your skin. But even as you work to soothe the pimples you have, you can also take steps to prevent new ones from forming, breaking a breakout cycle that often seems relentless.

While there’s no failsafe way to rid your skin of acne forever, you can reduce your breakouts and help keep your skin as healthy as possible.

Pimples can appear anywhere on the skin, but they most often occur on the face. While the skin microbiome is complex, scientists have identified a bacteria called

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That can cause acne breakouts. This bacteria causes inflammation when it turns sebum, the oil found naturally on skin, into fatty acids.

Removing excess oil, dirt, and sweat daily can help prevent pimples — but washing your face too much may make acne worse.

“When we strip our skin of its natural sebum with excess washing, it actually causes the skin to produce even more oil in order to rebalance your skin, ” says board certified dermatologist Anar Mikailove, MD. “Thus, washing your face excessively can indeed make acne worse, as does using cleansers or astringents that dry out the skin too much.”

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Mikailove suggests using cleansers that are sulfate-free, fragrance-free, and gentle enough for twice-daily use. Skip the harsh physical scrubs or drying foaming cleansers.

Knowing your skin type can help you determine which products to use and avoid. You can use the following parameters to identify your skin type, but you can also consult a dermatologist for help if you’re still unsure:

In general, people with oily skin are more prone to acne, Mikailove says, but anyone can get pimples. Having your skin type information on hand can make it easier to choose an acne regimen that helps your skin clear up.

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According to Mikailove, if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, too many products with active ingredients — like a salicylic acid wash, a salicylic acid exfoliating toner, and a retinol cream — might damage your skin barrier and lead to more breakouts.

“If your skin is on the oilier side, using a moisturizer formulated for dry skin may be too occlusive and lead to clogged pores, ” Mikailove says.

Moisturizers help skin stay hydrated, which makes a big difference for acne-prone skin. If your skin gets too dry, it will produce oil (sebum) to counterbalance the dryness. And, as noted above, an excess of sebum can cause pimples.

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However, many moisturizers contain oil, synthetic fragrance, or other ingredients that may irritate your skin and cause pimples. Be sure to check the ingredient list before purchasing a moisturizer to make sure it’s fragrance-free and noncomedogenic.

When it comes to any product for acne-prone or sensitive skin, keep this rule of thumb in mind: The fewer ingredients, the better.

Just know that overusing OTC treatments can sometimes lead to irritation and dryness, so it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s usage instructions.

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Not sure which OTC acne treatment might work best for your skin or your specific skin goals? It may be worth connecting with a dermatologist for an expert opinion on your skin.

A dermatologist can provide professional product recommendations, along with advice on any potential medication interactions to keep in mind. For instance, using a beta hydroxy acid (like salicylic acid) along with retinol can cause excessive dryness and irritation, so you’ll typically want to avoid mixing products with these ingredients.

If you’re dehydrated, your body may signal your skin’s oil glands to produce more oil. Dehydration also gives your skin a dull appearance and promotes inflammation and discoloration.

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While you might feel tempted to use makeup to cover up pimples, know that doing so could clog pores and trigger outbreaks.

If you don’t want to nix makeup from your daily routine, opt for a foundation or concealer that’s noncomedogenic and fragrance-free so your skin doesn’t become even more irritated.

A tinted moisturizer with salicylic acid, like Neutrogena SkinClearing Complexion Perfector, can be a good option for coverage and acne-fighting power in one.

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Along with limiting makeup, it never hurts to stay mindful of any other products you use near your face, particularly hair styling products.

Hair spray, dry shampoo, and texturizing products can come in contact with your skin and cause outbreaks, so you may want to consider oil-free, noncomedogenic options for these products.

It’s tough to avoid touching your face but try to pay attention to how often you touch your face and stop yourself in the act as much as possible.

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Catching some rays may dry out pimples in the short term, but it can have unwanted skin consequences in the long run. Frequent sun exposure dehydrates skin, which, over time, causes it to produce more oil and block pores.

Wearing sunscreen can help protect your skin year-round. Of course, as you might already know, sunscreens tend to be pretty oily. For both sun and pimple protection, opt for a noncomedogenic, oil-free sunscreen.

While it might feel practically impossible to resist squeezing that larger-than-life whitehead on the tip of your nose, your best bet is to avoid popping zits.

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To use tea tree oil for pimples, apply a drop or two to the inflamed area. You can also add a few drops to your daily cleanser or moisturizer.

Important In most cases, you don’t want to put undiluted essential oils on your skin (they can be super strong and irritating). But for acne treatment, before putting undiluted tea tree oil on your face, you’ll want to do a patch test to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin. To patch test:Apply a few drops behind your ear or under your jaw. Wait several hours to a day. If irritation occurs, dilute the oil with water, in a 1-to-1 ratio, before you use it.

While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the

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If OTC acne treatments don’t make much difference, a dermatologist can prescribe antibiotics to help reduce inflammation and bacteria on your skin. Antibiotics, which come in both topical and oral forms, work by reducing the amount of

Over the long term, your body can become resistant to antibiotics, which makes these drugs less effective. It’s essential to follow the regimen your dermatologist outlines so you can get the most out of your prescribed treatment. Also, make sure to mention any other medications you’re taking to avoid any harmful interactions.

, French green clay has potent antibacterial properties. It helps draw out impurities, reduce inflammation, and absorb excess oil that may lead to pimples.

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You can buy French green clay in powder form. You mix this powder with water to make a face mask. You can also add other skin-soothing ingredients such as yogurt or honey for a more dynamic natural mask.

Reducing your intake of these foods or adopting an anti-acne diet may help ease your breakouts. If reduction doesn’t seem to help your acne flare-ups, you can try an elimination diet to more clearly identify the cause.

Typically, an elimination diet involves cutting out gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, fast food, and alcohol for 23 days. This may seem a little extreme, but after 23 days, you can start introducing these foods back into your diet, one at a time, and record any changes to your skin that occur. This can help you identify any foods that trigger acne for you.

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Important: Before beginning any new type of diet, it’s best to check with a dietitian to make sure you’re still consuming the right amount of calories and nutrients for your body’s needs.

Stress doesn’t cause pimples, but it may make them worse. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), your body produces more oil-stimulating hormones when you’re stressed.

Many of the ways you prevent pimples can also help you manage them. For instance, eating a balanced diet, reducing stress, and not popping pimples may help shorten the amount of time they stick around.

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If you have severe acne that persists even after you take steps to prevent it, you may want to try a prescription-strength treatment, such as:

Prescription-strength treatments may involve a range of side effects, some of them serious. Your dermatologist can help you weigh the pros and cons and determine which treatment is right for you.

Although you’ll often notice the terms “acne” and “pimples” used interchangeably, experts define acne as a skin condition that affects the skin’s hair follicles and glands. Pimples are a symptom of this skin condition.

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A few pimples here and there that go away quickly may not pose much cause for concern, but it’s always worth getting stubborn breakouts, cysts, and