If you’ve been lucky enough to figure out how to keep your acne at bay, and prevent future breakouts, then you obviously feel a huge sense of relief. But what do you do when acne breakouts come back?
I’ve been relatively acne-free for a few years now. I had pretty significant adult acne which took a few years of trial and error before I found an acne regimen that worked for me. The fear that my acne will come back as bad as it was before is constant, but I feel like I have enough knowledge now to know how to prevent my face from going completely haywire. For the past few weeks, however, I’ve been getting several small breakouts – it’s nothing major, but enough for me to take action.
I feel like I’ve personally cured my acne and can now prevent acne breakouts by following my self-created regimen. So why am I suddenly breaking out then? It’s because I’m not following my own advice and regimen! If you find a skin care routine that works for you, stick with it! If you haven’t found a routine that works, then hopefully you will find that my own regimen works well for you.
Go back to basics
It’s now been a week since I had the last breakout. What did I do? I went back to using the exact products I know don’t cause me to breakout, and that I know help to prevent acne.
It gets boring using the same products month after month, and since I write this skin care blog, there’s always something new to try. The temptation is so great to be always searching for the best new product. But if you’ve found a routine that works, stick with it – it’s boring, but it works, and it will save you money!
Try one new product at a time
If you are like me and can’t resist trying out new skin care products, then only try one new product at a time. Keep everything else the same, and give the new product a week, or two ideally, to see how it works for you. If you try multiple new products at the same time, it’s impossible to tell what works and what doesn’t. Even if you pick a new product designed to help with acne, it could always make your acne worse, so the only way to know is to test it by itself.
Prevent future breakouts
Even if you rarely breakout, using at least one daily acne product can prevent future breakouts. Daily use of a strong retinol, retinoid, or good salicylic or glycolic product can help prevent breakouts if you rarely get pimples. To keep my acne under control, I need a whole slew of products, and I think my current breakout crisis happened partly because I ran out of my acne prescription for Differin several weeks ago. By not using Differin, I’m pretty sure my skin is much more susceptible to having problems with products that don’t usually cause issue for me. So it’s back to boring ole basics for me right now since it’s better to be safe than sorry (and pimply).
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July 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 am
I just recently had some breakouts on my forehead, after being clear for a while, and I was almost sure it had to be the new makeup remover I was using.
After some experimenting, I realized it was food causing it! Cookies! Go figure…
July 11th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hi Jeni,
Do you know if the ahnfeltia concinna extract in the Clinique Moisture On Line, is the same as Algae Extract (which is pore clogging)? Also, could you use the Clinique Moisture On Line with the TxSystems Afirm without any complications (no active ingredients in Clinique Moisture On Line)?
Thanks so much. Love your site!
July 11th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Would you recommend starting at the low level TxSystems Afirm? How would you recommend using it? I have only used Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle cream, but it doesn’t have a precentage of retinoid in it.
Thanks!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:59 am
My acne problem got better after I use Neostrata products. I’am tempted to change to a cheaper face products but afraid my acne will worsen after using another product.
Co-author of “www.antiagingskincaremag.com”
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:04 am
I believe what you put in your body has as much as an impact for your skin as what you put topically on it.
Medications, antibiotics may throw your skin into a bad spiral of acne breakouts. When one is healthy and drug-free then it shows upon your skin.
I take pride in using skin care products infused with moisturizers and anti-aging ingredients. But, I take more pride in exercise, eating right, and living healthy by remaining alcohol and smoke free.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Sticking to a routine using the products that you know work is generally the safest way to deal with acne. Monitoring the pressure in your life, your menstrual cycle and other contributors to acne outbreaks help with their management too. Finding the best product and process that suits YOU in the first place is the most important step of all. So do your own research well. Read up on the types, causes and cures for acne, ask your friends and consult your local doctor. Do all three, not just one.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Thanks for this, it seems that my acne only ever breaks out when I have somewhere to go like a wedding or party!!
January 20th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
I recently had a hormonal acne breakout and purchased the Made from Earth Grapefruit Glycolic Scrub to battle the blemishes. I like this product because it is super antioxidant and clears up acne pimple and helps to reduce any scaring. This product has salicylic acid to fight the pimples and works nice, also easy to apply and not goey or messy at all. Reasonably priced for a glycolic scrub, and the smell is so good in the morning.