Acne is the most common skin concern in the United States, affecting up to 50 million people of all ages each year. Dealing with acne can be difficult and overwhelming, but with the right products and habits, reducing blemishes and breakouts is possible. In honor of Acne Awareness Month, PCA SKIN has compiled nine tips to help you take control of your acne.

1. Don’t Pop Pimples:

Popping a pimple makes it harder for skin to heal and can generate additional breakouts. If you feel an extraction is necessary, visit a skin care professional for a more hygienic approach.

2. Change Your Pillow Case Every Other Day:

Pillow cases house dirt and oils that can get into pores as you sleep, leading to breakouts. Avoid the transfer of blemish-causing agents by washing your pillow case every other day.

3. Clean Your Cell Phone Every Week:

Because your cell phone rests on your face, it can cause breakouts. Set a reminder to give your phone (and the case) a weekly wipe down.

4. Wash Your Makeup Brushes Weekly:

Makeup brushes harbor bacteria if not cleansed on a regular basis. Use an anti-bacterial wash or brush shampoo to clean your makeup brushes once a week!

5. Use the Right Combination of Products:

To effectively treat breakouts, make sure you’re using the right combination of products, including moisturizer. The Acne Control Regimen is a four-step solution for stubborn breakouts. Each step is uniquely formulated with professional-grade ingredients to treat multiple types of acne.

6. Keep Your Hands off Your Face:

The added dirt and bacteria from your hands can lead to more pimples. Avoid breakouts by washing your hands regularly and trying your hardest to not touch your face.

7. Add a Retinol to Your Regimen:

For breakout-prone skin types, keeping cell turnover at a normalized rate promotes clear, unclogged pores. Retinol helps with this process. Nightly use of retinol not only reduces the frequency and intensity of breakouts but also improves and prevents scarring. Intensive Clarity Treatment is a pure nighttime retinol specifically formulated to improve breakout-prone skin.

8.Cleanse Your Body:

Acne is not limited to the face. It can also affect other places, such as the back. PCA SKIN’s Blemish Control Bar is formulated with 2% salicylic acid and can be used all over the body to prevent and clear breakouts.

9. Treat Your Acne with the Right Ingredients

Everyone’s breakouts are a little different and require different treatments. Use PCA SKIN’s Acne Cream with 5% benzoyl peroxide for cystic acne. For mild to moderate breakouts, PCA SKIN recommends the Acne Gel with 2% salicylic acid. Bonus: Acne Gel can be used on the entire face.

Want to learn about more ways to keep a healthy, clear complexion? Check out the LovelySkin 30 Day Challenge!