From scrubbing too hard to choosing the wrong cleanser, seemingly simple mistakes we make as part of our skincare routine might actually contribute to breakouts and acne.
For those that have acne-prone skin, here are mistakes you might be making in your skincare routine that worsens acne.
Over Cleansing and Exfoliating
People with acne-prone skin tend to also be oilier and instinctively think that cleansing several times a day will solve the problem. It is more realistic to stick to cleansing twice a day, morning and night. It is advisable to use a cleanser at night and simply rinse the face with lukewarm water in the morning.
Over cleansing will irritate the skin, cause excessive dryness and cause the skin to produce oil, making the skin even oilier overtime. This may also damage the skin barrier, causing the skin to be sensitized and more prone to breaking out. The same thing goes with over-exfoliation.
Combining Too Many Products In Our Skincare Routine
Combining several actives to fight acne can be extremely irritating to the skin. Using a retinoid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur and a clay mask in one routine is not going to help the skin! Some actives such as benzoyl peroxide do not work well with other actives (like retinol) and may render the other actives useless when paired together.
To avoid this, one can use a benzoyl peroxide face wash in the morning and use a retinoid at night. The best was is to use one active during the day and one active during the night. Slowly introduce one active at a time and reduce/stop usage if the skin becomes too sensitized.
Not Giving Products Enough Time
Don't believe in miracle products that claim to banish acne overnight because those simply do not exist! Many times we try an acne-fighting product, use it for about a week and claim (in frustration) that it didn't work at all and stop using it altogether. Unfortunately, dealing with acne and the skin requires a lot of patience and time for skincare products to work. We'd be surprised at how long we actually have to use the products before one start noticing results.
Picking and Popping Acne
Squeezing and popping zits can so satisfying, but very problematic. We often end up spreading more bacteria into the skin, causing even more breakouts. One also run the risk of causing permanent scarring and hyperpigmentation by squeezing it. However, don't pick, pop or squeeze your acne. Leave it to the professionals to extract it.
Not Seeing a Dermatologist
Many people wait until their acne gets severe to seek professional help. It is best practice to see a dermatologist as soon as possible, so that they can work with you to come up with a game plan on how to effectively tackle your acne. What most people don't realize is that acne is not just simply a skin condition, but it's chronic skin disease and needs to be treated like one! Treating acne early on will minimize scarring that are left from breakouts.