Clear+Acne

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Despite what movies and TV shows had you believe, acne doesn’t go away the day you celebrate your 20th birthday, the woes of teenage breakouts suddenly behind you. In fact, adult acne is incredibly common and can spring up even if you never battled zits in your younger years.

If you’re in your twenties, thirties, or beyond, still battling persistent acne, you've probably tried a lot of different methods to clear it, but you may not have tried everything.

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Spoke with Dr. Kenneth Mark , a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Peter Thomas Roth, the CEO and founder of Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skin Care who fought acne and knows just how tricky it can be to treat. Both experts clued us in to the products, individual ingredients, and lifestyle adjustments that may help you clear your skin for good.

Whether you’re trying drugstore products or luxury beauty buys, both of our skincare gurus agree that there are a couple of go-to ingredients you should look out for, because they’re the best bang for your buck when it comes to treating pimples.

“Salicylic acid is the single most key ingredient, as it unclogs pores, exfoliates, and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the oil glands, ” said Dr. Mark. “The anti-inflammatory effect stems from salicylic acid being a derivative of aspirin, which is acetylsalicylic acid .”

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Roth explains how salicylic acid works on zits, saying, “As a chemical exfoliant, salicylic acid penetrates and cleans out pores to clear up acne and blackheads while helping reduce the appearance of pore size, fine lines, wrinkles, acne marks and residual discoloration. The other benefit to salicylic acid is that it does not have the potential to lighten clothes, skin, sheets or hair, and it is safe to use both day and night.”

He calls it “the most effective ingredient for preventing and treating acne, ” and it can be found in cleansers and other products designed for acne at a wide range of price points.

Aside from salicylic acid, both Roth and Dr. Mark recommend alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid, which, Roth says is a “chemical exfoliant that provides additional help with pores and breakouts while also reducing the look of dullness, uneven skin tone and texture, fine lines and wrinkles.”

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Both experts recommend avoiding products that are “comedogenic, ” like petroleum jelly, which can clog your pores. Dr. Mark suggested avoiding ointments and oils, which can often be too thick for sensitive skin, and Roth recommends “seeking out products that are oil-free, fragrance-free and alcohol-free and to stay away from creams with heavy textures.”

Skincare involves plenty of trial and error, so don’t be afraid to ask your dermatologist for recommendations or testing out samples before committing to a skincare routine that works for you.

It smells like rotten eggs, but Roth explains that one hidden gem skincare secret is none other than sulfur , noting that this “mineral ingredient is amazing for clearing up, treating and preventing acne and blackheads, ” adding that it’s great for “when a blemish arrives unexpectedly and you’re in need of urgent spot treating.”

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Every person’s skin is unique, so we all have different needs when it comes to skincare. But because those who suffer from acne

Both experts recommend using a gentle cleanser twice a day, with Roth recommending “a gentle foaming cleanser that also includes salicylic acid so you can treat while you cleanse.”

If your skin is on the oilier side, look for cleansers that contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide , or glycolic acid, as our experts mentioned. For those with more sensitive skin that gets easily dried out or irritated, you’ll want to look for cleansers that contain lactic acid or glycerin, which is more hydrating. Dr. Mark recommends Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash ($6.49) as a gentle but effective affordable option.

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You’ll want to be always sure to use a clean washcloth or face towel, while being sure to cleanse as quickly as you can before

Washing at night is especially important to help remove any toxins or pollutants your skin was exposed to in the air during your day, as well as with removing all traces of makeup or products. You might be exhausted, sure, but you’ve gotta take your makeup off every single night, no matter how tired you are.

You might think that you have to be aggressive to treat aggressive acne, but the opposite holds true — acne sufferers will want to be extra gentle with their skin.

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That said, as Roth told , “Exfoliation is key to treating and preventing acne, on both the face and body. However, you want to be careful not to over-exfoliate as this can dry out your skin, leading to new breakouts.”

Experts recommend exfoliating two or three times a week if your skin is normal to oily, and once a week if it’s more sensitive. But daily exfoliating can strip skin of its natural oils, which will only irritate it and lead to more breakouts — exactly the opposite of what you’re going for.

Your face comes into contact with a lot of things throughout the day, and some of them might unknowingly be contributing to breakouts. Be sure to regularly clean anything that comes into contact with your face, from your towels and sheets to your makeup brushes and your cell phone.

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Also, be sure you’re regularly cleaning any fitness equipment that might touch your face (that yoga mat or those gloves!) so you’re not unknowingly transferring any icky bacteria to your skin.

Even though it’s tempting, you’ll want to avoid touching your face with your hands and fingers — this is a bad habit even those without acne-prone skin should avoid, even though we all do it without realizing dozens of times a day.

“Sometimes for a quick fix, a topical steroid is the key to shrink a blemish or zit overnight, ” says Dr. Mark said. Topical steroids are often prescribed for itching, skin irritation, rashes, and other skin conditions, but as Dr. Mark added, “However, it is important not to use these long-term, as topical steroids can also cause acne … this is just meant as a quick fix when needed.”

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If you’re using trusted products but are still having acne flare-ups, you might want to look at your overall lifestyle. If you’re constantly on the go, leaving little time for relaxation or quality sleep, you could start to see it in your skin.

“Stress and hormones are the two main causes of acne. Poor sleep can exacerbate both stress and hormone levels, ” said Dr. Mark, so you want to be sure you’re consistently getting enough sleep

Even if you’re wearing lightweight beauty products formulated for acne-prone skin, you’ll want to let your skin breathe … a tough feat when you may want to do what you can to cover up existing breakouts. But giving skin a break at least one day a week gives it a chance to breathe and heal more quickly.

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A major part of leading a generally healthy lifestyle includes eating a wide variety of nutritious foods, because sometimes what you put into your body can also show up on your face by way of acne.

There are plenty of foods that could be giving you acne , that you’ll want to enjoy in moderation. Dr. Mark noted that this generally varies patient by patient, but some people feel that dairy, fried foods, and foods with a lot of added sugar can trigger breakouts.

Roth explained that it’s a good idea to “drink lots of water and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables with high water content.”

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Dermatologist Dr. Kally Papantoniou expanded on this idea in 2017, telling Teen Vogue that “leafy green vegetables and other brightly colored fruit and vegetables which are rich in antioxidants and nutrients dampen inflammation and improve skin quality (studies have shown acne patients have higher oil production and lower antioxidant levels), ” helping to get rid of acne in the long term.