Personal Acne Care Plan
Acne

The Truth About Acne

• Resolving acne takes time. There are many forms of acne and individual skin types.
• Realistically, the average treatment time is 6-8 weeks.
• Avoid treatments that promise miraculous or overnight results. You will be disappointed.
• Legitimate acne treatments: decrease sebum production, reduce bacteria and inflammation, and normalize skin shedding.

Acne Treatment

1. Avoid overly humid conditions: saunas, unventilated kitchens, etc.
2. Do not use cosmetics or other skin irritants. They may increase irritation.
3. Avoid scratching or picking. This may spread bacteria.
4. Wash 2-3 times-a-day with a mild cleanser or antiseptic product.
5. Hydrogen peroxide may be applied as part of a treatment regimen.
6. Apply Acne Rx to affected areas.
7. UV or sunlight is helpful for drying acne.
8. Severe acne may require antibiotics or other prescription medications.
9. Re-apply Acne Rx to affected areas to promote healing.
10. Monitor acne areas for excess oil production or infection.

Acne Treatment Tips

• Acne is caused by bacterial infections within skin pores. Skin pores allow our skin to breath. Keeping skin pores open, free from dead skin cells and dirt is essential to avoid bacterial infections or acne. Wash your face 2-3 times per day with a mild non-irritating facial cleanser using a loofah or facial scrub. To reduce bacterial infections wipe face with hydrogen peroxide following cleansing if necessary.
• Avoid touching your face. Hands are full of bacteria and are frequently dirty. Touching facial skin tissue rubs dirt or bacteria in skin pores. If necessary, throughly wash your hands before you touch your face with anti-bacterial soap and hot water.
• Eat a healthy diet. Although acne is not directly associated with diet, a healthy diet of fresh vegetables and fruits with regulated amounts of fats helps. Diet effects our auto-immune system which fights off bacterial infections.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise that causes skin pores to sweat, opens and cleanses skin pores allowing them to flush and breath. Exercise like proper diets helps strengthen our auto-immune system and muscles.
• Avoid using make-up that clogs skin pores. Most inexpensive facial make-up fills skin pores plugging them and encouraging bacterial growth. More natural make-up products exist and are typically found in health food stores. If you have to use make-up take it off after short periods of use.