Even when individuals with acne refrain from squeezing acne lesions,
unless they are careful to keep their hands off their faces,acne symptoms can worsen. Unwashed hands hold bacteria that
can easily spread from the hands to the face. Even clean hands
can spread bacteria when they touch bacteria-infected acne lesions.
The bacteria is transferred onto the hands and then onto
the face or body. Because many people habitually rest their chins
on their hands, people with acne must make a conscious effort
to avoid doing this.
A young man explains: “When the dermatologist
told me to keep my hands off my face, I had to work at
it. I was surprised how often I touched my face. It’s not something
you think about until the doctor tells you to. It’s not easy to stop either. But I don’t want new zits all over my face, so I really
watch myself.”
Just as touching the face can worsen acne symptoms, so can using
makeup that contains oil. Lanolin, petroleum jelly, and other
oils in oil-based makeup can clog the pores, causing acne outbreaks.
Even lipsticks with moisturizers and hair products such
as gel and mousse can clog the pores along the lip line and forehead,
respectively. Since many people with acne use cosmetics
to conceal acne lesions, the oil in these products can be a problem.
Therefore, in an effort to hide acne blemishes without worsening
their acne, many acne patients use specially labeled, water-based,
noncomedogenic makeup. Unlike oil-based makeup, such makeup
does not clog the pores. And, in order to keep from spreading oil
and bacteria, acne patients should wash their makeup brushes
and sponges often.
Unfortunately, even noncomedogenic products sometimes contain
a small amount of oil that makes the product easier to apply.
This can aggravate acne outbreaks in some patients. In order to test
how much oil is in a product, many acne patients place a dab of
makeup on a piece of white paper and wait to see if an oil ring
forms. The larger the oil ring, the more oil in the product. Many
acne patients report being surprised by the size of the oil ring that
many popular cosmetics form. But by doing the test, acne patients
learn which products they should avoid.
When patients switch from oil-based cosmetics to water-based
products, they are usually quite happy with the results. They report
water-based cosmetics work well at concealing their complexion
flaws and cause fewer acne outbreaks. Beauty and skin
care expert Bobbi Brown agrees. “Don’t even think of wearing anything
except an oil-free [makeup] formula,” she advises her clients
with acne.
