1. Properly wash your face

Pimples can appear anywhere on the skin, but they most often occur on the face. While the skin microbiome is complex, scientists have identified a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes that can cause acne breakouts. This bacteria causes inflammation when it turns sebum, the oil found naturally on skin, into fatty acids.

Removing excess oil, dirt, and sweat daily can help prevent pimples — but washing your face too much may make acne worse.

“When we strip our skin of its natural sebum with excess washing, it actually causes the skin to produce even more oil in order to rebalance your skin,” says board certified dermatologist Anar Mikailove, MD. “Thus, washing your face excessively can indeed make acne worse, as does using cleansers or astringents that dry out the skin too much.”

As a general rule, you’ll want to wash your face no more than twice a day.

Mikailove suggests using cleansers that are sulfate-free, fragrance-free, and gentle enough for twice-daily use. Skip the harsh physical scrubs or drying foaming cleansers.

To wash your face:

1. Wet your face with warm (not hot) water.

2. Apply a mild cleanser in a gentle, circular motion using your fingers, not a washcloth.

3. Rinse thoroughly.

4. Pat dry.

Healthline’s picks for the best face washes for acne

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

• CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Bioré Charcoal Acne Daily Cleanser

2. Know your skin type

Knowing your skin type can help you determine which products to use and avoid. You can use the following parameters to identify your skin type, but you can also consult a dermatologist for help if you’re still unsure:

• Dry. Your skin often feels flaky and tight.

• Oily. Your skin tends to look shiny by the end of the day.

• Combination. You have both dry areas and oily areas. The oily area is usually the T-zone, or your forehead, nose, and chin.

• Sensitive. Your skin reacts easily to products and is prone to rashes, discoloration, or irritation. You can have sensitive skin along with any of the above skin types.

In general, people with oily skin are more prone to acne, Mikailove says, but anyone can get pimples. Having your skin type information on hand can make it easier to choose an acne regimen that helps your skin clear up.

According to Mikailove, if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, too many products with active ingredients — like a salicylic acid wash, a salicylic acid exfoliating toner, and a retinol cream — might damage your skin barrier and lead to more breakouts.

“If your skin is on the oilier side, using a moisturizer formulated for dry skin may be too occlusive and lead to clogged pores,” Mikailove says.

3. Use a moisturizer

Moisturizers help skin stay hydrated, which makes a big difference for acne-prone skin. If your skin gets too dry, it will produce oil (sebum) to counterbalance the dryness. And, as noted above, an excess of sebum can cause pimples.

However, many moisturizers contain oil, synthetic fragrance, or other ingredients that may irritate your skin and cause pimples. Be sure to check the ingredient list before purchasing a moisturizer to make sure it’s fragrance-free and noncomedogenic.

Healthline’s picks for the best moisturizers for acne

• Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer

• CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion

• Origins Clear Improvement

When it comes to any product for acne-prone or sensitive skin, keep this rule of thumb in mind: The fewer ingredients, the better.

4. Use over-the-counter acne treatments

Over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments can help heal pimples, and sometimes even prevent them in the first place.

Just know that overusing OTC treatments can sometimes lead to irritation and dryness, so it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s usage instructions.

Here’s what you should know about the most common active ingredients you’ll find in OTC acne treatments:

• Benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide works best on inflammatory acne, like cysts and red bumps, because it kills acne-causing bacteria.

• Salicylic acid. This ingredient is ideal for blackheads and whiteheads because it works to unclog pores and reduce inflammation.

• Sulfur. Sulfur is a natural ingredient that’s often gentler than the two mentioned above. It can dry out dead skin cells to unclog pores and absorb excess sebum.

Not sure which OTC acne treatment might work best for your skin or your specific skin goals? It may be worth connecting with a dermatologist for an expert opinion on your skin.

A dermatologist can provide professional product recommendations, along with advice on any potential medication interactions to keep in mind. For instance, using a beta hydroxy acid (like salicylic acid) along with retinol can cause excessive dryness and irritation, so you’ll typically want to avoid mixing products with these ingredients.

5. Stay hydrated

If you’re dehydrated, your body may signal your skin’s oil glands to produce more oil. Dehydration also gives your skin a dull appearance and promotes inflammation and discoloration.

To keep your body well-hydrated, aim to drink at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Drink more:

• after exercise

• when pregnant or nursing

• when spending time in a hot, humid environment

6. Limit makeup

While you might feel tempted to use makeup to cover up pimples, know that doing so could clog pores and trigger outbreaks.

If you don’t want to nix makeup from your daily routine, opt for a foundation or concealer that’s noncomedogenic and fragrance-free so your skin doesn’t become even more irritated.

Be sure to gently wash any makeup off at the end of your day and especially before going to bed.

A tinted moisturizer with salicylic acid, like Neutrogena SkinClearing Complexion Perfector, can be a good option for coverage and acne-fighting power in one.

Along with limiting makeup, it never hurts to stay mindful of any other products you use near your face, particularly hair styling products.

Hair spray, dry shampoo, and texturizing products can come in contact with your skin and cause outbreaks, so you may want to consider oil-free, noncomedogenic options for these products.

7. Try not to touch your face

Touching your face can transfer bacteria — and those pore-clogging impurities — onto your skin.

It’s tough to avoid touching your face but try to pay attention to how often you touch your face and stop yourself in the act as much as possible.

Also helpful? Washing your hands regularly. That way, if you do touch your face — and in all honesty, you probably will — your hands are clean.

8. Limit sun exposure

Catching some rays may dry out pimples in the short term, but it can have unwanted skin consequences in the long run. Frequent sun exposure dehydrates skin, which, over time, causes it to produce more oil and block pores.

Wearing sunscreen can help protect your skin year-round. Of course, as you might already know, sunscreens tend to be pretty oily. For both sun and pimple protection, opt for a noncomedogenic, oil-free sunscreen.

Healthline’s picks for the best sunscreens for acne

• EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

• Aveeno Positively Radiant Sheer Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 Sunscreen

9. Don’t be a pimple popper

While it might feel practically impossible to resist squeezing that larger-than-life whitehead on the tip of your nose, your best bet is to avoid popping zits.

Popped pimples often bleed, but they can also make the problem worse by:

• becoming inflamed and clogging surrounding pores

• getting infected

• leaving behind scars

10. Try tea tree oil

Tea tree essential oil is a popular natural remedy for pimples. Tea tree oil contains a compound called terpinene-4-ol, which has been shown

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 to kill certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as increase white blood cells to promote healing.

To use tea tree oil for pimples, apply a drop or two to the inflamed area. You can also add a few drops to your daily cleanser or moisturizer.

Important

In most cases, you don’t want to put undiluted essential oils on your skin (they can be super strong and irritating). But for acne treatment, before putting undiluted tea tree oil on your face, you’ll want to do a patch test to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin.

To patch test:

• Apply a few drops behind your ear or under your jaw.

• Wait several hours to a day.

• If irritation occurs, dilute the oil with water, in a 1-to-1 ratio, before you use it.