Do you have the “luck of the draw” and have skin that’s prone to acne breakouts? Fret no more! There is still something you can do to help prevent unwanted breakouts. Acne is caused by a number of things, including the presence of bacteria and fluctuations in hormones. By trying to control these, we can minimize of acne.

Here are some tips for caring for acne-prone skin:

• Wash your face - twice a day. No more, no less. Washing it too often will strip away the skin’s moisture and leave it dry and dull. Not washing it enough may mean there are makeup residue, excess oil and dirt that remain on the surface of the skin that can cause the appearance of acne. When washing, use warm water and a facial wash that’s specially designed for acne-prone skin. Don’t scrub or rub the skin while washing.

• Keep your hands (and hair) off your face. These may contain excess oil and dirt that may worsen any inflammations and may even cause the breakouts themselves. Keep your hands and hair clean at all times. The same goes for stuff that touches your skin, such as the phone receiver, scarves, headbands or glasses. When you do need to touch your face (i.e. to apply make-up or anti-acne products such as creams and moisturizers), be sure to wash your hands.

• Sleep with a clean face. No matter how tired you are at the end of the day, always make sure that your face is properly cleansed and make-up free before you go to bed. This will prevent makeup particles from clogging your pores.

• Shave with care. Shaving may irritate the skin. When shaving, be sure to prep your skin and soften the hairs with warm soapy water and a shaving cream that’s ideal for acne-prone skin. When using safety razors, be sure that it has a sharp blade. Using a sharp blade will prevent nicks that can add to your acne problem. Don’t try to shave off your pimples – it won’t work and will just worsen the situation.

• Choose non-comodogenic makeup and cosmetics. Some makeup ingredients may clog up pores – non-comodogenic makeup does not contain these ingredients.

• Pop the pimples! It may feel good and satisfying, but it may result in facial scarring, as well as worsened redness and swelling. Popping the pimples may just push down the inflammation further down. If you need to have your pimples treated, visit your dermatologist/skin specialist or only use the Obagi skin care products your doctor prescribed.

• Expose your skin to the sun unnecessarily. Your skin tends to overcompensate for the sun exposure by producing more sebum. Thus, limit your exposure to the sun. Also, some anti-acne solutions may make your skin more susceptible to sun damage. Be sure to wear sunscreen such as Obagi NuDerm Physical UV SPF 32. So, while you’re undergoing acne treatment for your face, say no to tanning!

• Use cosmetics that contain irritants and oil. There are exfoliants, toners and astringents that contain ingredients that irritate your acne-prone skin. Instead, use products that are specially designed for acne-prone skin, such as the products from the Obagi Clenziderm line.

• Use hair-care products that result in greasy/oily hair. The oil in the hair can trickle onto the face and cause pores to clog up.

An Amazing Solution for Acne-Prone Skin

One of the things your skin specialist or dermatologist may recommend is Obagi Clenziderm. It involves a three-step set of products that contain solubulized benzoyl peroxide to effectively treat and eradicate acne. These Obagi products are designed to soothe the skin, clear up clogged pores and fight the bacteria that cause acne.