Acne occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog pores, or follicles. Acne primarily affects teens, although adults are affected also. Puberty causes an increase in oil production which increases the risk of having an acne outbreak.

What are some of the ways we can instil acne skin care?
The easiest acne skin care regime is to wash your face twice daily with warm water and mild soap. Using your bare hands to wash your face is gentler and kinder to your skin. Acne skin care dictates that you are very gentle with your skin-no scrubbing vigorously, using harsh soap, or alcohol based skin products. These only serve to irritate the skin and may make acne much worse.

Acne skin care revolves around oil control where it can be controlled. Wash your face frequently to remove oil and dirt when you are sweating or working around an oily area. Exposure to grease, pore-clogging cosmetics or hair products can worsen acne. If you are prone to oily hair, wash your hair daily to reduce the oil. Concentrate on using oil-free makeup and moisturizers.

Acne skin care demands that you be gentle to your skin. Picking or squeezing pimples can cause more inflammation and help to push bacteria deeper into your skin. Friction, such as athletic gear, bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars, can make you sweat which can cause clogged pores and therefore, acne.

The Don't's of acne skin care are:

• Don't touch your skin unless absolutely necessary!
• Don't rest your chin in hands!
• Don't pick at your face!
• Don't smoosh your face into your pillow and keep pillowcase clean!
• Don't let hair products get on skin!
• Don't rest cellphone against your face!

The Do's of acne skin care are:

• Do treat your face gently and kindly.
• Do wash your face with your bare hands.
• Do wash face two times daily with warm water and mild soap.
• Do use oil-free makeup.

If your acne is very severe or does not respond to the pampering acne skin care regime, then you may need to contact your physician for more aggressive treatment options.