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Acne vulgaris - Management
What self-care advice should I give to a person with acne?

  • Advise about washing and skin care. In general, it is recommended that people with acne:
    • Do not wash more than twice a day.
    • Use a mild soap or cleanser and lukewarm water (as very hot or cold water may worsen acne).
    • Do not use vigorous scrubbing when washing acne-affected skin, and the use of abrasive soaps, cleansing granules, astringents, or exfoliating agents should be discouraged (advise use of a soft wash-cloth and fingers instead).
    • Should not attempt to 'clean' blackheads. Scrubbing or picking acne is liable to worsen the condition.
    • Ideally, should avoid excessive use of makeup and cosmetics. If they must be used, advise that a non-comedogenic, water-based product should be used sparingly (advise that details of cosmetic ingredients are displayed on the product label), and that all makeup should be removed completely at night.
    • Use a fragrance-free, water-based emollient if dry skin is a problem (several topical acne drugs dry the skin). The use of ointments or oil-rich creams should be avoided as these can clog pores.
  • Advise about non-prescription treatments.
    • Benzoyl peroxide is a useful topical drug available over-the-counter. However, there is a lack of evidence of benefit for other over-the-counter drugs.
    • Complementary and alternative medicines (for example herbal medicines) are not usually harmful but there is a general lack of evidence to support their use.

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