1. You Have to Change What You Eat

Unlike general doctors, your dermatologist is trained to study your skin and not so much your weight or eating habits. However, what you eat plays a huge impact on your skin. By failing to get the proper nutrients, your skin can go crazy and end up breaking out. You should be getting a good mix of foods from each food group. Your skin will show it!

2. Stop Touching

I’ve made many visits to my dermatologist and she has never warned me not to touch my acne. Well, it turns out that she should be. That’s because your fingers can transfer germs and bacteria to the acne, causing it to worsen and slow down healing. If you must touch, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water really well first.

3. Products Are Usually for Teens

Yes, you can still get acne as an adult, but most of the products sold are formulated for teens. Because your skin changes as you age, these products might not be that effective for your skin now. But, your dermatologist might not know that you are struggling with finding a product that works. Mention it and she’ll probably have an answer.

4. You Don’t Have to Spend a Ton

Dermatologists often recommend pricey treatments and medications, but they aren’t always your only answer. However, they are paid to tout these things because they make more money that way and are able to get samples and promotions. The truth is that you can get good results without these items. For example, research shows that covering a pimple in honey can make it smaller and less noticeable overnight. Bottom line – do your research.

5. You Must Have a Routine

Being wishy washy about your skincare routine is a surefire way to suffer from breakouts. On the other hand, sticking to a consistent regimen goes a long way toward making sure you stay pimple-free. You need to cleanse and moisturize at least once a day. You also need to choose products designed for your skin type. This is super easy to do and is pretty powerful.

6. Be Ready for Trial and Error

Dermatologists will hand over free samples or prescriptions for skincare products, but they might not tell you that you could end up trying many different things before you find what works. It can be discouraging, but you should expect to try a few products before finding the one that works for your acne.

7. It Will Get Worse before It Gets Better

Many products are designed to get rid of acne, but could make your skin look worse before it finally starts to get better. One example is Retin-A, which sloughs off the top few layers of your skin. You’ll look peely and flaky before the medication does its job and gets rid of your breakouts. It’s a pain, but stick with the program and pretty soon you’ll love what you see.

How do you deal with your acne? Do you have any other tips that dermatologists might not be sharing?