In an office setting, your dermatologist can help you with clearing your acne effectively and efficiently. However, during shelter-in-place situations like today you may want to exhaust your self-care options first before trying to Zoom, Skype or facetime with your doctor.

Here are several tips on what to try at home for teenage acne:

1. Wash your face twice daily with your fingertips using lukewarm water, and a good cleanser- more on this next. Once in the morning you should use a  gentle  cleanser and the other time in the evening you can use a  medicated  wash for acne if the skin is not too dry. Over the counter options for gentle cleansers include: Cerave hydrating cleanser, Cetaphil gentle cleanser, Neutrogena hydroboost cleansing lotion, or Purpose wash for more oily skin.  For the medicated wash, you can use a cleanser with 2-10% benzoyl peroxide , salicylic acid , or sulphur component in its ingredient list.  This medicated wash should be used once a day in the shower to wash the torso if you also have stubborn back or chest acne.   2. Choose to use  oil-free  moisturizers, sunscreen, and make up items. A bonus if they happen to also be  non – comedogenic  moisturizers, sunscreen, and make up. Remove your make up in the evening using oil-free make up remover prior to washing the face.   3. Use an over the counter topical acne treatment once daily at night time. Your options include adapalene 0.1% gel, retinol cream, 2-5% benzoyl peroxide gel (the higher the percentage, the more irritating it gets), a salicylic acid gel, or an azelaic acid or sulphur based topical. Brands such as Clean and clear, Neutrogena, Panoxyl, Acne Free, Differin and The Ordinary will be a good source when looking for the above ingredients. Make a habit of reading a product’s ingredient list on the back of the bottle to find out about its main active ingredient. Don’t just buy a product because of their advertising statements.   4. Modify your diet to avoid too much dairy, sugar, and processed food items. Limit protein powder intake, or eliminate completely if possible.

5. Do not pick your pimples, do not scrub hard when washing the face, and let things heal naturally. Resist the temptation to “pimplepop”.   6. Do not use tanning beds to clear your acne.

7. Don’t torture your skin with toners, astringents, harsh detergents, or alcohol solutions.   8. Be patient, and give your skin about 6-8 weeks at a chance for improvement when starting over the counter options.

If all the above fails, or you don’t have the patience to figure out an over the counter routine, your dermatologist can rescue you with an oral agent or prescription topical agents. We also love to make recommendations for over the counter items that would be suitable for your skin type.

Virtual visits are available by emailing dsbtelederm@thedermspecialists.com  , or contact us at (810) 355 4300

Please stay home, stay healthy, and save lives.

Dr. Francisca Kartono & the staff at DSB

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