How To Clear Acne | 13 Dos & Don’ts For Fighting Pimples

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Want to know how to finally get rid of acne? Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do.

Acne is a skin condition that affects the majority of the population. I for one have struggled with mild acne for most of my life.

Since I was not able to see a dermatologist, I started researching thoroughly about the topic. I was determined to find a solution to my problem. Funny enough, a few years later, this inspired me to get into med school to become a dermatologist.

If you really want to get clear skin, hang on for a few minutes. In this article not only do we cover the best practices to get rid of acne but also what you most definitely should avoid, I promise this will save you so much time!

How to clear acne

First things first, acne can fall into three main categories: mild, moderate and severe. It’s vital that you identify which category you fall into because these acne types are treated differently from one another.

Also, if you’re not really sure what acne lesions are and you do not know how to recognize them I suggest you start here, where I talk about how to know your acne type with photos to make it easier for you to understand.

1. Mild acne

Mild acne obviously is the easier form of acne to treat. You fall in this category if you have

1. Fewer than 20 whiteheads or blackheads.
2. Fewer than 15 inflamed bumps.
3. Fewer than 30 total lesions.

As I already said it’s the easier acne type to treat and luckily for you, is usually treated with over-the-counter topical products.

Remember though, do not expect any product to give you results overnight. It may take up to eight weeks to see significant improvements.

2. Moderate acne

You have moderate acne if you have

1. 20 to 100 whiteheads or blackheads.
2. 15 to 50 inflamed bumps.
3. 30 to 125 total lesions.

Usually, dermatologists use prescription products for moderate to severe acne. This means you may need to see a dermatologist if you fall in the moderate acne category.

Having knowledge about skincare and, specifically, acne and skincare can still be highly beneficial to you. This is why I still advise you to inform yourself about how you can treat your acne.

3. Severe acne

Severe acne is commonly referred to as “nodulocystic acne”. If you have multiple inflamed cysts and nodules your acne is considered severe.

In this case, you most definitely need to see a dermatologist as over-the-counter products may not be very helpful for you. If you’re curious though, I think it would still be beneficial for you to know what you’re up against.

How to know your acne type

I have an entire article where I go in-depth on all of the different acne lesions and how to identify yours if you want to know more.

What you should do to clear mild acne

Since I’m not a dermatologist – not yet at least 😂 – I cannot help you clear moderate and severe acne. What I can do is help you find the ideal skincare routine and the right products for you to clear your mild acne and the milder moderate acne types.

1. Do wash your face to avoid more breakouts

Washing your face is vital if you are acne prone. You need to remove all of the gunk and bacteria that formed on top of your skin during the day, otherwise, you could get even more acne.

Just make sure to not overdo it, overwashing your face can be as bad as not washing it.

2. Do wear SPF every day to avoid scarring

I know this is a used and abused tip but hear me out. Not only sunscreen is able to slow down and prevent the aging process but also it prevents scarring and dark spots. They are really difficult to deal with so it’s a step you must include in your skincare routine.

3. Spot-test everything to avoid more irritation

basically, you want to apply a little bit of the product you want to start using on your cheek for a few days. If you have really sensitive skin I suggest you do this for a full week. This will ensure you know you can tolerate your new products before drenching your face in them.

If at this point you don’t see irritation or any kind of bad reaction you’re good to go.

4. Stick to the right ingredients that can actually help you with acne

Here are the ingredients you absolutely want in your skincare routine if you have acne or acne-prone skin

1. Benzoyl peroxide
2. Salicylic acid
3. Retinoids
4. Sulfur

5. Do use hypocloric acid to prevent acne

This is fantastic to get rid of bacteria on your skin. I abused this during Covid and now anytime I need to wear a mask for working in the hospital. This will ensure no acne is going to form under my mask, it’s absolutely incredible!

Also, you can just spray it all over your face – maybe do not drench your face in it but I think you got the point – to prevent acne.

Right now I’m using the Tower 28 SOS daily rescue facial spray but I found on Youtube that Walgreens cleansing spray can be a cheaper alternative. You could even use them on your body if you have chest or butt acne for example.

6. Do change pillowcases and towels regularly

7. Do clean your gadgets (glasses, hats, etc.)

What you shouldn’t do if you have acne

1. Don’t use physical scrubs

Physical scrubs can be fine if you have good skin overall and you want to exfoliate but for acne, they are a big fat no. They are going to make your skin even worse since they can

• Inflame active pimples
• Make you scar more easily
• Spread bacteria, therefore causing more breakouts in different places

Also, avoid using exfoliating brushes. They’re definitely more gentle but can also inflame active pimples and spread bacteria around your face and you absolutely need to avoid that.

Stick to enzymatic scrubs instead such as Huda Beauty Wishful, this is wonderful for acne.

2. Don’t skip moisturizer, you can be dehydrated even if you have oily skin

The only circumstance where I think you could skip moisturizer is if you live in a very humid climate such as India for example.

3. Don’t pick your skin or pop any pimples

Listen, YOU MUST AVOID THIS at all costs. Picking your skin will just make you more inflamed, will lead to scarring, and could also spread more bacteria as well.

Instead, use hydrocolloid patches – aka pimple patches – these will help you get rid of the pimple way faster without any consequences whatsoever. Here are my two favorite ones if you want to give this a shot

• COSRX acne pimple master patch
• Clearasil rapid rescue healing spot patches

Essentially, they are kind of the same products but Clearasil makes a more affordable option. I honestly still prefer COSRX for some reason though, I think they are slightly more effective. Still, if you want to try them out for a cheaper price go for it they are great.

If you hate pimple patches for some reason I have two spot treatments that I absolutely love which are more like a cream or a paste

• Innbeauty project pimple paste: whenever you have a zit you want to erase place a bit of this product on it and leave it on
• Acne free therapeutic sulfur mask: if you suffer from acne consider doing this face mask 2-3 times a week

4. Don’t overuse the same actives in your skincare routine

For example, say you tried salicylic acid and you loved it. You started with a cleanser but now you also use a serum and a spot treatment and whatnot.

This is not good for your skin and it won’t help you clear your skin any faster. The only thing that is more likely to happen is that you will be more inflamed and irritated, it could even worsen your acne over time.

5. Don’t use toothpaste or lemon as an acne treatment

These are not going to clear your acne, they just won’t do the job. Probably toothpaste could calm the inflammation temporarily but is not an acne treatment and it will not clear your pimples.

6. Don’t do your night skincare routine right before you go to sleep

Yes, it’s better than not having a nighttime skincare routine but you want your products, your treatments especially, to sit on your skin in order for them to be absorbed.

When you get home jump in the bathroom and do your skincare right away. This will allow your skincare to be absorbed into your skin and not your pillow.

This post was all about dos and don’ts to finally get rid of acne.