How to Prevent Acne If you suffer from breakouts, you know that they can be an uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassing situation. Chances are you have also spent a few hundred dollars on everything from serums to lotions to creams and gels. The really bad news about this is that you are probably wasting your time and your money - it’s not always about what you put on your face, sometimes it’s about the things you are doing to your face and body in general. Instead of turning to gels and serums, take a look at some of these things and see if you do these or don’t do these things. Keep Your Face Clean Make sure that you keep your skin clean, not only from sweat and oil during the day but from other things like dead skin cells, dirt and, of course, makeup. You should never leave your makeup on overnight and chances are if you do, it’s what is causing your breakouts. Instead, wash your face in the morning and at night, and make sure you use warm water not hot and that you use a gentle face cleanser - not soap or anything else. Sometimes soap can have an adverse effect and actually irritate your skin more than help it, plus soap tends to strip the natural oils away from your skin. When possible, try using an exfoliating sponge or something a little softer than a harsh washcloth. When you are done washing your face, make sure that you throw the dirty towel in the laundry because dirty towels are a breeding ground for bacteria and if you have any kind of acne or open sores on your face, this could spell BIG trouble later on down the line. Moisturize Your Skin Not only is it important that you use a skin care product that minimizes dryness, but you also need to look for one that contains or says that its "noncomedogenic" this essentially means that the product should not cause acne. You should also make sure that you understand what kind of skin you have - oily, dry or combination skin. One of the best ways to find out what kind of skin you have is by visiting a top NJ dermatologist and getting a skin test done to see what skin type you are so that this way you can find better moisturizers that will benefit your skin instead of making it worse. An NJ dermatologist will be able to answer all of your skincare questions and will give you much advice on how to keep your skin healthy at every stage of life. And you should also make sure that you drink a lot of water to help keep your skin moisturized as well as not-wrinkly. Over The counter Products