Don’t: Overwash Your Face
While poor hygiene can contribute to breakouts in some instances, we now know that the cause of acne is far more complex than that. Still, there’s old advice out there that insists you should wash your face more or reach for astringent, drying cleansers when dealing with a breakout. Don’t do that! Overwashing your face can actually exacerbate acne.3
What to Do Instead: Similar to the advice above, it’s important to take a gentler approach when dealing with breakouts. Wash your face no more than twice per day—or after working out/sweating—and always use a gentle cleanser. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing, and gently pat your skin dry.