Irritating acne can happen to anyone - be it eighth-graders to working professionals. Unfortunately, it has a habit of popping up right before any important event and ruining your mood and look.

Despite all the things you do to keep acne at bay - be it applying pimple creams, taking plenty of meds your dermat gives you and keeping your distance from junk food, those pesky pimples come right back in your life and on your face!

This is because no eating right or application of pimple creams will help until you start treating your acne-prone skin right. This includes many things like following a proper routine, drinking enough water, exercising, destressing and following some simple tips.

Below is the list of some helpful tips and good skincare practices that will help prevent pimples and get a clear and beautiful skin:

Keep your face squeaky clean

First, irrespective of whether you have acne or not, it is important to wash your face twice daily, once in the morning and once in the night, before going to bed. As excel oil, sweat and dirt are primary contributing factors to acne, it is important to wipe it all away from your face.

Use a mild cleanser or face wash to clean your face. Avoid scrubbing as you might end up hurting your inflamed skin. After washing, tap dry your face with a soft and clean towel. Another way to ensure your skin isn’t covered in grime and dirt as you go about your day is to keep facial wipes with you. Whenever you feel oil on your skin, use facial wipes to get every trace of oil and dirt off your face.

Don’t pop or pick the pimple

We understand the irresistible urge to pop that nasty pimple, but please do not do that. This could be the worst thing that you can do to make it worse. Not only does it leave a permanent (or long-lasting) scar, but it also invites more pimples. Furthermore, popping pimples pushes back bacteria deep into your skin which results in an even worse outbreak. Additionally, getting rid of the mark it leaves behind is difficult. Even the best pimple marks removal creams fail to make them go away completely.

Keep your skin hydrated

While it might look a little odd as oily skin anyway looks so greasy, moisturizing any type of skin is very much important for its health and glow. However, when it comes to oily skin, you should keep certain things in mind before investing in a moisturizer. For example, avoid rich and heavy moisturizers as they can block pores and urge your sebaceous glands to produce even more sebum. Instead, go for a lightweight and an oil-free moisturizer that doesn’t give your skin a greasy feel. As many pimple creams for oily skin can leave your skin dry, do not forget to moisturize your skin after every wash.

Stay away from the sun

The Sun’s UV rays increase inflammation and redness and cause hyperpigmentation. Your acne treatment medications even make your skin more sensitive to the sun. For example, retinol-infused pimple cream for the face will enhance your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Hence, limit your time under the sun. In addition, wear protective clothing like a broad-brimmed hat that restricts direct exposure to the sun. It doesn’t matter if you invest in the best cream to remove pimple marks; if you expose it to the sun, your face will still have dark spots.

And most importantly, never ever forget the sunscreen. Free radicals from UV light can block your pores and develop pimples. To avoid this, always apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from radical damage and prevent further development of spots. Stick to an oil-free sunscreen with a lightweight formula that doesn’t weigh down your skin or make it greasy.

Tone down on makeup

Avoid wearing heavy makeup on days when you are having a breakout. If you have to use makeup, then be mindful of your products. Start choosing organic brands that are free of sulfates and leads. Use tinted moisturizers instead of heavy foundation and go easy on the makeup! Additionally, make sure that you remove your makeup before going to bed. Otherwise, you will be rewarded with a big fat pimple the next day.

Apart from the things mentioned above, you should also pay attention to what you put in your hair. This might sound a little odd, but the oil or gel that you put in your hair might tickle down on your skin and cause acne. Also, keep your hair clean.

In the end, we would like to re-emphasize that it is essential to pamper your skin from the inside and the outside. Avoid sugary foods or processed food. You can also consult a dermatologist to find the right cause of acne and get targetted treatment to treat acne. But it doesn’t matter what they recommend, follow the tips diligently for your treatment to work better!