The Top 5 Mistakes Made by People With Acne
You have acne and you don’t know why. You seem to be doing everything within your power to get rid of it. But maybe your daily habits are actually doing more harm than good to your skin. Here are the top mistakes made by people with acne. If you’re doing one of these no-no’s, it’s time to break the habit now.
Mistake 1: Picking or Popping Your Acne
Put your hands down and walk away from the mirror! Picking or popping your pimples leads to increased inflammation, which in turn means a greater risk of scarring. Also, you may think you’re doing a service to your skin by getting rid of the offensive blemish, but you’re actually pushing the bacteria deeper into the dermis. More bacteria means more pimples. Not good!
Mistake 2: Stopping Your Acne Regimen Too Soon
Acne can take up to two months to respond to medication or a new skincare regimen. Just because you don’t see results right away, don’t assume your new regimen is not working. Allow for at least eight weeks before moving onto another regimen.
Mistake 3: Using Too Many Acne Treatments
When you overload your skin with too many acne treatments, you’re actually doing more harm than good. We recommend that our patients who are using prescription acne medications use a very gentle cleanser and moisturizer in their regimen. Using too many active ingredients, such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, will irritate and inflame the skin.
Mistake 4: Avoiding Accutane at all Costs
Accutane is a necessary and actually wonderful acne medication for the right patient. Many patients walk into our office and proclaim: “There is no way I will ever go on Accutane!” While Accutane is not the first line of therapy, it is a viable option for severe acne that is not responding to other treatments. We recommend our patients to stay open to this possibility. Accutane is the closest thing we have for an acne “cure.”
Mistake 5: Waiting to See a Dermatologist or Skincare Professional
We often see patients with severe acne scarring, who have never been to a dermatologist. Had they seen a dermatologists earlier in the course of their acne, much of the scarring could have been avoided. A dermatologist or a skincare professional will help guide you in making the right choices for your skin. Acne should be left in the hands of a professional.
