Acne Health Center

Self-help strategies

Suggestions to manage acne include:

  • Cleansing – cleansers specifically developed for acne-prone skin can help. Try washing the affected areas twice per day. Don’t overdo it. Too much cleansing can cause other skin problems, such as dryness or skin irritations. Try to keep hair clean and off the face and neck, as oil from the hair can make acne worse.
  • Make-up – choose water-based, oil-free products where possible to avoid worsening acne by clogging the pores with oils or powder. Make-up should be thoroughly removed before going to bed.
  • Don’t squeeze – picking and squeezing pimples can make it worse and lead to scarring.
  • Stress – this can trigger an outbreak of pimples as it causes the release of hormones that can make oil glands release more oil onto the skin. This is why pimples seem to magically appear on stressful days, such as at the time of an exam or special date. While stress may be difficult to control, at least you know that the outbreak is due to stress, not a sign that the treatments do not work.
  • Diet – there is now more evidence that a low-GI diet may help some people with acne. Many people think that lollies or chocolate cause pimples. Research has not shown any strong link with these foods, but if you notice that eating certain foods causes pimples for you, try avoiding them.
Reviewed by: 
Review Date: 
April 3, 2012
Last Updated:
June 28, 2013
Source:
dailyrx.com