Dear Skin Care Expert,

I have an acne problem and I need to know more about how to properly cleanse my skin. I’ve heard conflicting advice from family and friends. Some say I should wash more often and really scrub to get rid of the dirt and oils, while others are telling me I should not wash often at all in order to keep from aggravating the acne problem. What is the truth here? How should I really be cleansing my skin?   – Totally Confused

Dear Totally Confused,

Well, it definitely sounds like you need some help here. Actually, most doctors out there recommend that people who have acne wash their skin with a cleanser that is mild twice daily – once in the morning and once at night. This should be done gently without any scrubbing. Also, if you work out and sweat a lot, then you may want to wash after that as well. Unfortunately, there are many people who think that scrubbing their face and using rough pads or strong soaps is going to help them stop acne outbreaks and the oil production. Actually, this can make the acne problem worse.

If you are not sure what products to use, you can speak to your doctor about the best one for your skin type. When you wash your face, be sure that you wash under the jaw and around your neck, all the way up to your hairline. Also, after you wash the skin, make sure that you rinse off the skin as well. There are astringents available for acne as well, but usually you should only use them if your skin is very oily, and even then only on the spots that are very oily. Also, make sure that your hair is shampooed regularly as well to help keep oil from your hair from causing more acne around your hairline.

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