Common Acne Mistakes

If you're desperate to zap all the pimples from your face, you might find yourself turning to DIY remedies that either have no effect, make your acne worse, or cause permanent damage to your skin. If you truly want an effective acne regimen, you should avoid making the following mistakes:

* Expecting instant results: A pimple doesn't sprout overnight any more than a baby suddenly pops into existence. An acne lesion takes time to form. Your pore begins giving birth to a pimple long before you notice it. That's why you can't expect instant results from acne products. And consider this: If something is strong enough to instantly wither your pimples, imagine what it's doing to your skin! Your best bet is to focus on long-term remedies that will keep your skin clear.

* Depending on only one product: The formation of acne is a long and complicated process, and the triggers are unique to each individual. That's why you're not likely to find one single "magic fix" for your pimples. For example, spot treatment can be effective for existing acne lesions, but it doesn't stop more pimples from forming. Washing your face with an appropriate cleanser every day can help, but you might also need to tweak your diet or drink more water. Acne isn't a simple enemy, so you need different weapons in your arsenal.

* Over-washing your face: For the most part, you should wash your face no more than twice a day. And even then, you need to be gentle and use a mild cleanser that's appropriate for your skin type. Scrubbing your face and using harsh cleansing agents will just irritate your skin and make your breakouts even worse.

* Jumping from remedy to remedy: Most acne products and regimens won't give you overnight results. You can't just switch to a new remedy every week or two; you must give them time to work. Your skin will also suffer from the stress of all these different chemicals you're inflicting on it, so it never gets time to adjust. Flitting from one thing to another can set you up for worse skin problems.

* Ignoring the underlying causes of acne: Most acne sufferers just want the blemishes gone. Who cares how they form? But it's important to understand exactly how acne forms and what your triggers are, because only then are you armed with the knowledge you need to choose a skin care regimen that works best for you.

* Stopping treatment when skin clears up: Once you find something that works for you, you need to keep using it. If you stop, the acne is only going to come back. Remember, there is no cure for acne. The best you can do is control it.

* Not using sunscreen: The sun can do a great deal of damage to your skin. More than that, many acne products make your skin even more susceptible to sun damage. You should always wear a non-comedogenic sunscreen, which will protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays.

* Avoiding moisturizer: You might be afraid that using a moisturizer will clog up your pores and make things even worse. However, when applied to clean skin, a noncomadogenic moisturizer will not cause more outbreaks. In fact, since many acne treatment products are drying, you need to follow up with moisturizer to keep your skin from getting dry and flaky.

Those are just some of the many mistakes people make when treating acne. Most of these problems can be avoided by being patient and as gentle with your skin as possible.