Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Wellness

How to build the best skincare routine if you’re prone to acne

BethAnn Mayer
By

Acne is often seen as a problem that goes away after puberty, but it can actually occur at any age. The American Academy of Dermatology Association reports that up to 15 percent of adult women experience acne.

Acne isn’t just a physical appearance problem. It can do a number on your self-esteem and confidence. If you’re experiencing a breakout, you may feel uncomfortable going out. What’s more, it can be painful.

Recommended Videos

However, there are a few steps you can take to clear up and prevent acne. Here’s how to build the best skincare routine for acne, based on dermatologist recommendations.

Related

woman-applying-skin-product

Daily skincare routine order

This four-step skincare routine should be done twice per day, ideally in the morning and at night.

Use an acne-busting cleanser

Find an oil-free, non-comedogenic cleanser that doesn’t clog pores and has salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Use your fingers to gently rub the cleanser onto your entire face in a circular motion. Don’t just dab it on your pimples — that won’t help prevent future breakouts. Leave it on for the recommended amount of time. Then, use your fingers and warm water to rinse off the cleanser gently. Pat your face with a clean towel to dry off your skin.

Apply toner or astringent

If you have oily skin, try out a toner or astringent. These products nix excess oil and hydrate your skin. High alcohol content can dry out skin, so check the label to ensure the product you choose has a low amount of this ingredient. Stop using it if it causes irritation.

Apply acne medications

If a dermatologist has prescribed an acne treatment, apply it to a dry face or as directed.

Moisturize

Since acne medications can dry out skin, it’s doubly important to moisturize two times per day (even if you have oily skin). Opt for an oil-free moisturizer.

a closeup of a woman applying face cream as part of a skincare routine
Sora Shimazaki/Pexels

Long-term skincare advice for people with acne

Though it would be great to zap zits and move on, acne treatment is more of a marathon than a sprint. Here’s a couple of things to keep in mind when it comes to long-term care.

  • Wash sheets (and anything that comes into contact with skin) weekly. Things that clog your pores, such as dirt and bacteria, build up on items like sheets, pillowcases, and hats and can make acne worse. For more severe acne, consider swapping out pillowcases two to three times per week.
  • Work on stress management. Stress can cause breakouts (and make you even more stressed). Try adding a weekly yoga or meditation session to your schedule.
  • Be patient. Once you start using a product, it can take four to six weeks to notice any improvement and two to three months or longer to see significant clearing. Assess progress on a monthly basis or every other month.
  • See a dermatologist. Working with a dermatologist can help ensure you get the best-in-class skincare routine advice for you. Dermatologists can also prescribe treatment for more severe acne, such as birth control and retinoids. The frequency of your visits will depend on how severe your acne is and the medications prescribed.

Avoid these acne treatment mistakes

If you have acne, it’s tempting to want to try every product in the book at once and to wash your face constantly. However, you may be making your condition worse. Here’s what not to do if you have acne:

  • Wash your face constantly. Though it’s understandable that you want to get rid of your acne ASAP, washing your face too often can actually irritate skin and cause more pimples. Wash it when you wake up, before bed, and if you’re sweating.
  • Scrub your skin. Easy does it with your skin. Scrubbing it, even if it feels grimy, is also an easy way to exacerbate acne.
  • Touch or pop zits. It’s hard to ignore pimples. However, touching them will only add oil, grease, and dirt to your skin that will, in turn, clog pores — hands off the pimples.

Acne is no fun, and it doesn’t have an age limit, unfortunately. Three in 20 women experience acne as adults. That may not seem like many people. However, if you’re one of those three women, you may feel self-conscious during a breakout. That’s understandable. The good news is there are remedies that will help you clear up your skin and mitigate acne in the future.

Figuring out how to build the best skincare routine for acne can be difficult, and a dermatologist can help. That said, simple tweaks, like washing sheets weekly, can go a long way. Also, remember: Sometimes, less is more. Stick to washing your face twice per day and after sweating. Anything more can worsen acne. When you do wash your face, use an anti-acne cleanser and consider an astringent or toner. Since acne treatments can dry out skin, be sure to moisturize.

BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.

Editors' Recommendations

BethAnn Mayer
BethAnn Mayer
Contributor
Beth Ann's work has appeared on healthline.com and parents.com. In her spare time, you can find her running (either marathons…
You can do this daily stretching routine in under 10 minutes
woman doing overhead tricep dip on track

You’ve probably heard that stretching is vital for athletes. It can improve performance and prevent injury. However, if you’re not an athlete, do you really need to do it?
The simple answer is: Yes. Why is it important to have a daily stretching routine, even if your longest walk is from your car to your desk at work? Stretching increases your range of motion and improves circulation. It also helps with posture, something you may need after slouching over your kitchen table as you’ve worked from home for the last year.
If you barely (or don’t) have time to work out, you may feel like you definitely don’t have room in your schedule for even a quick stretch routine. We bet you do. Here’s a daily stretching routine you can do in less than 10 minutes.

Lower body stretches
Sitting at a desk may be lower-impact than running 10 miles before sunrise, but it’s still important to stretch out your legs. If you’re sitting in the same position for most of your day, it can cause stiffness and poor circulation. Combat them with these stretches:

Read more
Now is the best time to Marie Kondo your mind — here’s how
woman-at-desk-with-pen-thinking

Marie Kondo’s Netflix series Tidying Up revolutionized the way we think about organization. The Kondo method asks us to change our relationship with our belongings, considering their usefulness and personal value. While organizing your space, Kondo instructs you to thank items that don't spark joy, reflect on what they once meant to you, and part with them.
This raises the question, though: Can you try this Marie Kondo method for your mind?
Sometimes, we may have goals, mindsets, and other considerations that no longer suit us or our changing lifestyles. Other times, they still do and just need to be adjusted. Clearing the clutter and simplifying our thoughts allows us to make mental room for what really matters. Try out these Marie Kondo tips to get free up some headspace.

Step 1: Set an intention
In her de-cluttering course, Kondo asks students to imagine their ideal lifestyle. Maybe you want to stress less with a better work-life balance, or perhaps you're trying to heal from a rough breakup so you can build a happy relationship with someone new. Think about what you want, and set precise, measurable goals.
Here’s the catch: In the Kondo method, part of setting an intention to de-clutter is resolving to do it in one giant swoop. The Kondo method requires students to tidy up their homes in what she calls a “tidying festival,” rather than splitting up the work over a few weekends or months. Unlike refreshing your physical space, cleansing your mind is often a long journey that’s constantly evolving. That’s okay. You can modify your mindset and goals over time. However, making a general plan gives you a template to look back on if you ever need to make tweaks to your lifestyle.

Read more
What you need to know about traveling after you’re vaccinated for COVID-19
Woman wearing a mask sitting at the airport

The end of the COVID-19 pandemic may finally be in sight. As of the end of May, over 60 percent of the total U.S. population have had at least one vaccination dose, and with the summer right around the corner, people are antsy to start venturing out beyond their local grocery store. Travel is set to make a huge comeback this year, but is it safe, even if you’re vaccinated? Do you still need to quarantine if you do plan to take a trip? Keep reading to learn more about traveling when you’re fully vaccinated, which regulations still apply, and how to be as safe as possible.

Can people who are vaccinated travel?
Per the current CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated people are less likely to contract and spread the coronavirus and can travel within the United States at a lower risk to themselves. For international travel, it’s crucial to consider the state of the crisis in the destination to determine whether it’s safe to visit. Remember, you are not fully vaccinated until two weeks after your second dose of a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Read more