Five simple tips for preventing acne

Dealing with acne can be embarrassing at any age. So it’s no wonder products promising to fight acne are big business. Store shelves are lined with dozens of gels, creams, and cleansing pads. And dermatologists offer even more treatments. While some products will help you have a clearer complexion, there are a few simple steps you can take to minimize an outbreak. Here are five:

1. Don’t over wash your face. By washing your face too frequently, you’re making your pores create more oil and you may get more blemishes.
2. Keep your hands off your face! No touching allowed! Each time you touch your face you’re clogging it with more bacteria and oil.
3. Try to make sure your hair isn’t in your face. Hair is a notorious oil carrier. The oil on your hair can easily soak right into your skin.
4. Wash your pillow more often. Bacteria and oil can become trapped in the pillow fibers.
5. Wipe down your phone with anti-bacterial wipes whenever you can. Your face touches your phone more than you might think, spreading more bacteria.

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Janice Lieberman is the “Today” show’s consumer correspondent. She joined NBC News as a consumer reporter in 1999. She is author of “Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide.” She is a graduate of Rutgers University.

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