I keep getting acne even though I wash my face frequently during the day. Why?
Face-washing sounds like something that would be good for everybody. But in the case of acne, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Scrubbing your face hard and using alcohol-based skin cleansers cause irritation and can make your acne worse. So can washing more than twice a day. Be gentle when you wash, and use a gentle, non-comedogenic/non-acnegenic cleanser. By the way, don’t worry if that dirt on your skin will cause breakouts. The fact is, washing can’t reach the causes of acne, which lie below the surface of your skin.
Is stress related to acne?
Not in the way you may think. Having acne is often stressful, but day-to-day stress doesn’t cause it. Taking medication to treat severe stress can sometimes cause acne; this is a side effect that should be reported to the doctor.
Does what I eat cause or affect my acne?
There are no studies showing that what you eat or how much affects your acne one way or the other. If you feel that certain foods make your acne worse, it makes sense to avoid them.
Is sunlight good for acne?
Exposure to the sun isn’t recommended as part of an acne treatment plan, and it hasn’t been shown to make acne better. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can even be harmful to your skin, increasing your skin cancer risk and signs of aging. If you’re using acne medication, it may be one that increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, which could place you at an even greater risk.
Are some ways of treating acne better than others?
It’s not possible to evaluate acne treatments this way. Doctors evaluate their patients’ acne on a case by case basis and treat each one accordingly. Speak to your doctor about the best skincare regimen for you. It could make all the difference.
I can’t stop squeezing my blemishes! Am I hurting my skin?
Yes. You should try very hard not to do this, particularly with inflamed lesions, because you could push infection deeper into your skin. If this happens, the result could be more inflammation and even scarring.
Once I start my acne medication, how long will it take to see results?
That depends on the medication you’re using; it typically takes weeks or months for acne improvement, so be sure to give your treatment time to work. If you don’t see any change over a reasonable length of time, however, talk to your doctor.
I apply my acne medication to my blemishes, but new ones keep cropping up. Is there anything I can do about this?
Check the directions for use your doctor gave you. Medications you apply to your skin should be spread over the entire area where acne is or may occur.
I’ve stayed on my acne medication, and my blemishes are gone. Is it okay for me to stop using it?
First, congratulations on staying with your acne treatment until it could get the job done for you! However, a word of caution: don’t make the decision to stop your medication on your own. Check with your doctor first so he or she can evaluate whether discontinuing treatment could put you at risk of a later acne flare-up.
I have dark skin. Is acne treatment available for darker skin types?
Yes, acne is generally the same for skin of any color. Talk to your doctor about what treatment is right for you.