As students head back to school this month, some teens may be feeling self conscious by oily skin or acne. If you are faithfully treating your acne but still seeing new breakouts your skincare routine could be to blame. Here are 10 skincare habits that dermatologists recommend to help you get the best results from your acne treatment: 

Wash twice a day and after sweating. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, can make acne worse, so wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.

Use your fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge, or anything else can irritate the skin.

Be gentle with your skin. Use gentle products, such as those that are alcohol-free. Do not use products that irritate your skin, which may include astringents, toners and exfoliants. Dry, red skin makes acne appear worse.

Scrubbing your skin can make acne worse. Avoid the temptation to scrub your skin.

Rinse with lukewarm water.

Shampoo regularly. If you have oily hair, shampoo daily.

Let your skin heal naturally. If you pick, pop, or squeeze your acne, your skin will take longer to clear and you increase the risk of getting acne scars.

Keep your hands off your face. Touching your skin throughout the day can cause flare-ups.

Stay out of the sun and tanning beds. Tanning damages skin and some acne medications make the skin very sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light, which you get from both the sun and indoor tanning devices. Using tanning beds increases your risk for melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) by 75%.

See a dermatologist. Give us a call to make an appointment with one of our Board Certified dermatologists if your acne makes you feel shy or embarrassed, the products you've tried have not worked, or your acne is leaving scars or darkening your skin. 

Treatment options: When a patient has severe acne, a dermatologist often recommends treating it with one of the following. 

Antibiotic + medicine you apply to the acne: This is often the first treatment recommended for severe acne. Taking an antibiotic can reduce the redness and swelling of acne. The medicine you apply to your skin works on reducing bacteria and clogged pores. If this treatment fails to clear your skin, your dermatologist may switch your antibiotic or talk with you about isotretinoin.

Isotretinoin: This is a potent medicine that attacks all four causes of acne—bacteria, clogged pores, excess oil, and inflammation (redness and swelling). About 85% of patients see permanent clearing after one course of isotretinoin. Due to possible side effects, you will need to carefully consider whether you want to take this medicine. If you decide to take isotretinoin, you must enroll in a monitoring program.

Birth control pill (females only): A birth control pill can be an effective part of an acne treatment plan. When treating severe acne, a birth control pill may be used along with an antibiotic or a medicine called spironolactone (spy-ren-no-lac-tone) to get the acne under control.

Our providers here at Valley View Dermatology can help treat existing acne, prevent new breakouts, and reduce your chance of developing scars. 

(Source info: American Academy of Dermatology)