September is Acne Awareness Month—the perfect time to prioritize healthy skin.

With summer winding down, it’s time to adjust your routine to better care for your body’s biggest organ—your skin.

Follow these 7 tips for acne-prone skin to get a smoother, clearer, more balanced complexion.

1. Shun the sun

Avoid the sun. If you have to be outdoors, wear sunscreen.

Extended and ongoing exposure to UV rays can lead to hyperpigmentation in the areas of blemishes. These hyperpigmented spots can last months or even a lifetime.

Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to protect the outer layer of your skin. Reapply it every 2 hours, or more often if you’re outdoors sweating or swimming.

2. Wash it away twice a day

A good skincare habit, whether you’re acne prone or not, is twice-daily face-washing.

Start the day by cleansing in the morning, wash off the day in the evening, and then do it again as needed after sweating.

Perspiration can make acne and blemishes worse, especially if you’ve been wearing a hat or helmet while doing it. Don’t forget your post-sweat cleanse (and SPF reapplication)!

Bonus tip: Avoid irritating delicate skin by gently cleansing.

Use:

• A mild, creamy cleanser for dry and inflamed skin and a gel cleanser for normal to oily skin
• Employing a cleanser with salicylic acid can be a great option for more persistent acne
• Lukewarm water, and
• Your fingertips, not an abrasive cloth or brush.

3. Go gently

Along with the previous face-washing tips, think gentle, gentle, gentle when choosing other facial skin care products.

• Use alcohol-free products.
• Avoid the overuse of astringents, toners, and exfoliants as they can deplete the skin of its healthy protective layers.

4. Moisturize …

… but choose a moisturizer that’s light, oil-free, and appropriate for acne-prone skin.

5. Stop touching your face

Even post-pandemic many of us still touch our faces. Stop it!

Do your best to break this habit if you’re looking to reduce breakouts and blemishes, and to stay healthier inside and out.

6. Look after your locks

The oils from your scalp can worsen acne on the face. Wash your hair before it becomes oily and pull it off your face if possible.

7. Stay clear

Embrace ‘skinimilism’. Learn to love your natural skin and its texture while taking a minimalistic approach to skincare.

This means less is more; less makeup, less facial creams, less products, less of anything unnecessary.