The do’s and don’ts of acne care

It all starts with prevention 

The best way to prevent pimples and blackheads is to take good care of your skin every day. Here’s some advice to help you ward off acne or keep it from getting worse:

• Cleanse your face with a gentle cleansers or a wash made for acne-prone skin, but never more than twice a day. 
• Hydrate your skin every day with a non-comedogenic gel, lotion or cream suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin. 
• Exfoliate your skin once a week.
• Use a topical product with acne-fighting properties as recommended by your pharmacist or beauty consultant.
• Always apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before going outside. 

Acne do’s 

Unfortunately, despite all your tender loving care, your skin can, at times, rebel. That’s when it happens: one, two or even three pimples appear out of nowhere!

Luckily there are many ways to get rid of blemishes fast. Try these tips:

• Start by gently washing your face. Don’t rub. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry with a towel. 
• Apply a medicated product with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Repeat the treatment several days, at least until the pimple disappears. 
• You can mask the blemish with a skin corrector or foundation formulated for acne-prone skin. For a flawless finish, apply a good quality loose powder. Your beauty consultant can give you the best makeup tips for a great complexion and recommend the right products for your needs. 
• Need a fast, easy acne solution you can take with you anywhere? Try a correcting stick. It looks like a pencil and it’s super convenient: 
  • It provides easy, mess-free application.
  • It can be used any time of day.
  • It dries pimples and helps eliminate them fast. 
  • It deeply penetrates skin for fast-acting healing. 
  • It masks flaws without clogging pores.

Green clay is another product some sources suggest for acne. Not only is it remineralizing and purifying, it is also known for its absorbent, scar-reducing and disinfecting properties. That makes it the perfect weapon against dreaded surprise blemishes. Here’s what you do: combine a bit of clay with some mineral water, apply the mixture to the pimples and let it dry overnight as you enjoy your beauty sleep.

Acne don’ts

Acne-prone skin is normally quite sensitive and requires special care. So here is what NOT to do:

• Don’t skip washing your face even for just one day.
• Don’t wash your face with very hot water.
• Don’t use irritating or abrasive cleansers.
• Don’t rub your skin.
• Don’t squeeze or pick at pimples.
• Don’t overuse the blackhead extractor.
• Don’t try out products (antibiotics, cortisone, rubbing alcohol, toothpaste, essential oils, etc.) on your skin without first speaking with a professional. 
• Don’t wear thick, heavy makeup.

Pharmacy services

Do you have questions about dermo-cosmetics formulated for acne-prone skin? Come and speak with your beauty consultant for answers.

Do you have questions about acne? Talk to your family pharmacists. They can help you achieve healthy, radiant skin. They can prescribe* medications for certain minor health problems, including acne, when the treatment and diagnosis are already known. A consultation will also be required so the pharmacist can make sure you meet the prescribing criteria.

To avail yourself of this service, you may need to book an appointment with your family pharmacist. Ask a member of the pharmacy team for more details. Some Uniprix-affiliated pharmacies also offer an online appointment booking service. To locate the store nearest you providing this service, click here. 

*Certain conditions must be respected. Fees may apply. Ask a member of the pharmacy team for more information. Pharmacists alone are responsible for the practice of pharmacy. They offer related services only on behalf of pharmacist-owners.