Chronic acne is one of the most difficult skin ailments to treat. Even though there are hundreds of products at our fingertips and thousands of skincare specialists available, for some, breakouts and what causes them continue to be an unsolvable mystery. While we may not have the cure, this routine can offer some hope.

Along with the right products to treat your skin type and a dermatologist if your acne isn’t easily controlled, an effective day and night routine can give your face just the boost it needs to fight back against breakouts and keep them at bay.

1. Wash your face every morning and night – “every” is the key word. Skipping one wash can allow oils and dirt to penetrate deep enough to infect the skin and cause a chain reaction breakout. Wash with an acne-specific formula that has at least a 2% salicylic acid to help keep your pores clear. This will also help reduce any redness. Allow your skin to dry completely before applying an all-over salicylic acid treatment after one was daily.

2. Be sure to follow your morning wash with a moisturizer labeled “noncomedogenic” and “oil-free” to protect your skin from the harsh elements it’s exposed to every day. Moisturize at night if your skin is very dry, but skip it if you can as your skin will produce its own oil while you sleep.

3. After your night wash, dab on a pimple treatment that has no more than 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. This reduces acne-causing bacteria and gives your skin a chance to rest without your pores filling with excess oils. For a major breakout, dab on in the morning, but no more than twice a day to avoid red spots.

4. Never use grainy scrubs or products that exfoliate using abrasive materials. These can rupture pimples and cause infection or spread the breakout. Try a weekly mask that contains zit zapping sulfur.

5. Your makeup could be the culprit of your breakouts. Be sure to clean all your brushes often. They can carry zit-causing bacteria that you reapply daily if you continue to use dirty brushes. Switch to a mineral foundation and even mineral makeup that won’t clog your pores.

6. Retin-A helps to prevent blocked pores and may be the solution for your long-term acne control. Be careful using it on existing pimples warns dermatologists, it can increase their redness.

If you have acne, you may already be taking some of these steps. Consistency will become your best defense against future breakouts and will bust the breakout you may already be fighting to control. Awareness of your surroundings – flying, driving with the windows down, lack of sleep, trying a new product, sweating or spending extended periods of time outside, all these can affect your skin. Be proactive with Retin-A and acne treatments designed to keep pores unclogged. Your best defense is routine!     

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