If you want to combat acne, it’s time to rethink your daily skincare routine. To give you the best advice, one of The Derm Group’s board-certified dermatologists, Avnee Shah, M.D., shares her expert tips for what you should do every day to keep your skin clean, clear, and acne free.
Here are the 7 steps you should follow throughout each day, as recommended by our very own Dr. Shah:
Step 1:
Cleanse with a gentle cleanser when you wake up.
Step 2:
In the morning, try an antioxidant serum that includes topical niacinamide.
Step 3:
Moisturize! You don’t want your skin to dry out and then overproduce oils, which leads to acne. For oilier skin, try a water or gel-based moisturizer as they tend to be light-weight.
Step 4:
Sunscreen in morning is always a must. There are brands that have niacinamide built into their sunscreens as well, such as EltaMD. Sunscreen is helpful for dark marks left behind by acne.
Step 5:
Curb the makeup. As we are wearing masks regularly due to COVID, the moisture under the mask mixed with makeup can lead to more break outs.
Step 6:
Cleanse in evening. It can be gentle or have an AHA/BHA/glycolic acid to allow for some light exfoliation.
Step 7:
Finally, try Differin (available over the counter) with moisturizer before bedtime. Start slow, 2-3 times a week and increase as tolerated.
There you have it. Follow these derm-approved steps, and make your daily routine an acne-fighting part of every day. If you have any questions about your acne concerns, request a consultation with The Derm Group online or by calling 973.571.2121.