Acne can happen at any age. Teenagers, college students, pregnant women and even people in their 30s and 40s can get unsightly blemishes. Though medications can help with serious acne cases, most acne is best treated by a consistent, acne-specific skin-care regimen. If you're concerned about your acne or if self-care measures don't improve your condition, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist to discuss your acne.
Identification
A skin regimen for acne should serve three basic purposes. You want to soothe any current acne outbreaks, prevent future acne outbreaks and take measures to minimize scarring. This typically requires a mixture of regular cleaning and exfoliating, spot treatment and moisturizing.
Features
Choose a cleanser that contains alpha hydroxy acids or salicylic acid for twice-a-day skin cleaning--these ingredients slough away dead skin cells that can clog your pores and cause acne. Washing more often can aggravate your skin, so if you need a skin refresher during the day, Elle magazine recommends using a light toner. If you have active breakouts, use an anti-inflammatory spot treatment on them once or twice a day. To prevent scarring and help your skin heal itself more quickly, use a lightweight moisturizer every day. And don't forget the sunscreen--sun exposure will make your acne spots darker and more noticeable, says Dr. Diane S. Berson, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and board member for the American Acne and Rosacea Society, in Allure magazine.
Misconceptions
Moisturizer may seem potentially problematic when you have acne, but not using it can actually make your breakouts worse. When your skin gets too dry, your sebaceous glands increase their oil production to compensate, creating more potential for clogged pores and more breakouts, according to Real Simple magazine. Just choose a moisturizer that will be less likely to clog your pores, like a lightweight, non-comedogenic lotion instead of a heavier cream.
Expert Insight
Choose acne products designed for your age group for the best results, recommends dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad in Elle Magazine. Teenagers may get better results from products with high concentrations of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide because their acne is typically caused by violent hormonal shifts that respond well to extreme treatments. If you're older, those measures can be too harsh, says Murad, and you should look for calming treatments that have anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Warning
Popping your pimples may seem like a fast way to make them disappear, but when you squeeze active blemishes, you're actually making your acne problem worse, says Berson in Allure magazine. Berson says popping a blemish traumatizes the skin in that area, causing inflammation, potential scarring and a longer recovery time.
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