This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about putting your best face forward — what you can do to make your face look its best. That can be a challenge for those who have acne.

When you’ve got breakouts, the instinct is to scrub them away, but Dr. Erin Welch, a dermatologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says that’s a bad idea because acne isn’t caused by dirt, and too much scrubbing will only irritate the skin, making the acne worse. Instead, wash your face no more than twice a day, and use a medicated product containing either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These help slough off dead skin cells and keep pores from becoming clogged. You can find products with these ingredients over the counter, but if they don’t help, you may need to see a dermatologist for more intensive treatment. Whatever you do, don’t pick at or squeeze pimples. 

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/dermatology to learn more about
UT Southwestern’s clinical services in dermatology.