Because of the common misconception that acne is caused by dirt (which is rubbish), it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to wash your face often, and aggressively to get rid of it.

When I first had acne I used to wash my face a minimum of twice a day, with a lot of cleansers and exfoliants.

Did my acne disappear or improve?…

Nope! It actually made it much, much worse.

If you currently feel that your acne is worse because of how you cleanse your skin, I urge you to keep reading for my step by step guide on how to correctly cleanse the skin for people with acne prone skin.

But First…

Are the products you are using to harsh for your skin?

The chance is they are. Most over the counter (otc) acne products contain ingredients that are to harsh for the skin. Become and acne detective and take a look at the list to see if the ingredients in your acne products are to harsh or not:

Become an acne detective by clicking here.

Now you know whether your products are to harsh for your skin or not it is time to move onto the main topic.

My Step By Step Guide On How To Wash Your Face Correctly

Step 1

Before you even think about washing your face, use your cleanser and warm water to wash your hands.

The hands, as you can imagine, have a lot of bacteria on them. You do not want to transfer this onto your face.

Many people will skip this step (myself included sometimes), but it is very important if you want to improve the appearance of acne.

Step 2

Apply a generous amount of cleanser onto the palms of your hands and rub It in-between them for around 5 seconds.

Then with the palms of your hands very, and I mean VERY GENTLY, massage the cleanser onto your face going in a circular motion making sure you get into all the areas.

Do this for around 20-30 seconds max, no longer or you could begin to aggravate the skin.

Step 3

Wash off the cleanser using lukewarm water, never hot. Before splashing the water over your face test to see how warm it is by using your hands.

The reason you do not want to use hot water Is because it can burn the skin, cause redness and inflammation.

In-fact I would say avoid using hot water on your face at all costs. I am not saying this to scare anyone but it can damage the skin, as-well as make acne much worse.

Step 4

Lightly pat the face dry with a clean towel, never rub. Rubbing the face can again aggravate acne and cause redness.

Step 5

Repeat the same process in the evening.

DONE.

Will The Following Steps Completely Get Rid Of Acne?

No. Unless you have very mild acne, following the steps will not get rid of acne. However if you where previously being to harsh on your skin then you could see a big improvement by implementing the above steps.

How Long Before Results?

Most will see results within 2-4weeks, however some may see results sooner others may have to wait longer, as anyone with acne will already know.

Are you taking part in the first ever “healthy habits challenge” starting soon?

Image Credit: Ale Art's