Our team of professionals and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well-being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics, which can be found on the side of each page. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you.
As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.
- Acne and rosacea
- Bumps and growths
- Color problems
- Contagious skin diseases
- Cosmetic treatments
- Dry / sweaty skin
- Eczema / dermatitis
- Hair and scalp problems
- Itchy skin
- Painful skin / joints
- Rashes
- Scaly skin
- Skin cancer
- Skin, hair, and nail care
- Skin care
- How to Apply Sunscreen
- How to Shave
- Skin Self-Exam: How to Do
- Face Washing 101
- How to Apply Self-Tanner
- Get the most from your skin care products
- Dry skin relief
- Preventing skin conditions in athletes
- How to care for tattooed skin
- How to care for pierced ears
- How to Treat Diaper Rash
- Skin Care on a Budget
- How to Treat Boils and Styes
- How to Treat Dandruff
- How to Treat Shingles
- How to Treat Cold Sores
- How to Treat Hives in Children
- Wrinkle Remedies
- Hair care / hair loss
- Injured skin
- Nail care
- Skin care
- Other conditions
- Videos
It’s very common for patients with acne to scrub their skin and to use harsh products, yet doing so often makes acne worse. In order for acne to improve, people with acne must be gentle when touching their skin and use gentle products, such as those that are alcohol-free.
For clearer skin, dermatologist recommend people with acne also follow these tips:
- 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. Do not use skin care products that irritate the skin, which may include astringents, toners, and exfoliants. Dry, red skin makes acne appear worse.
- 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 your 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 your skin. In addition, 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 percent, and the risk increases with each use.
© American Academy of Dermatology. All rights reserved. Reproduction or republication strictly prohibited without prior written permission. Use of these materials is subject to the legal notice and terms of use located at https://www.aad.org/about/legal