Acne Control Tips

Be aware that many of the so-called "facts" you hear about acne control may not be true. Remarkably, there are many misconceptions about acne control and acne skin care that may seem logical, but are totally wrong. Unfortunately, some of these myths or misconceptions can even have devastating effects when it comes to caring for and controlling your acne condition.

For example, the belief that an individual suffering from acne should wash their face several times a day with a facial scrub is quite common. Even though this has a logical ring to it, the practice can actually aggravate the acne problem. Scrubbing the face excessively can trigger a spreading of the acne to other parts of the face. Moreover, some people believe that a stronger soap is a better soap, but the soap's harsh chemicals only aggravate any acne outbreak.

Remember, acne cannot be fully treated, but it can be controlled. There are several acne skin care methods that may help prevent a major acne outbreak. These include:

• Use the hottest water that you can withstand when washing your face. It opens up the pores entirely and kills the bacteria that thrive within. It may also dissolve the excess oil.
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  Use soaps made specifically for acne control and treatment. Though the milder soaps may prove useful, they are not nearly as effective as the acne specific soaps.

Acne control is your best defense against acne outbreaks.  Remember though, acne cannot be fully treated, but it can be controlled using proper acne skin care methods. There are several additional acne skin care tips provided below that may help prevent a major acne outbreak. These include:

• Take showers rather than baths. A shower's continuous flow of water is more helpful in opening and cleaning the skin pores. It has been established that those who shower thoroughly are able to eliminate oily cells and dead skin cells. If you bathe in a tub, however, the pustule infections may transfer to other parts of your skin and may create a new acne outbreak.
  
• Take two showers daily following the guidelines above. A shower in the morning and in the evening is most effective. However, if this cannot be done, it is advisable to at least wash your face regularly.
  
• Wash your face regularly, with care. To help prevent an acne outbreak, the best approach for an acne-prone individual is to keep his or her pores open as much as possible. To do this, you must wash your face on a regular basis, but not too often. Making use of wipes or washing the affected area gently may be helpful in eliminating bacteria.
  
• Wash your face with a soft wash cloth that is changed daily to avoid the spreading of acne infections over the entire face. Avoid vigorous face washing or forceful scrubbing to prevent aggravating the pimples or cysts. From an acne control standpoint, consider washing your face before entering the shower to prevent spreading acne infections to other parts of the body.
  
• Doctors recommend that, when washing your hair, you avoid getting shampoo on your face. The chemicals in shampoo can aggravate the skin, especially acne prone skin.
  
• If you take a bath, add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the water to kill bacteria that are present in the pores as they open.
  
• Avoid direct sunlight. If this cannot be avoided, it is best to apply sunscreens (oil-free) to save your skin from potential infections.
  
• Always practice good hygiene. You will be rewarded many times over in reduced acne outbreaks and better looking skin.

These acne control tips, combined with regular acne treatments,will get you off to a great start in controlling your acne outbreaks and developing an acne skin care program that works for you.  Your skin depends on it!