5 Reasons Why Your Acne Treatments Arent Working

Your Skin Isnt Clean Before You Apply

The cleaner your skin is, the easier it is for spot treatments to penetrate pores and the faster it can dry out your pimple, says Miles. But using a product thats too harsh can aggravate existing blemishes. Opt for a gentle formula like derma es Very Clear Acne Cleanser made with natural ingredients like salicylic acid (a gentle exfoliator) and willow bark (an anti-irritant that helps calm breakouts) to keep skin balanced and receptive to treatment.

Your Pores Are Clogged

When your skins exfoliation cycle slows down, pores get cloggedthat buildup prevents your treatment from penetrating your skin. The obvious fix: Use an exfoliator 1-2 times every week to turn over cells and deep clean pores. The pro-grade crystals in derma es Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Glycolic Scrub whisk away dead cells while vitamin A helps renew skin, allowing your acne-fighting product easy access to attack and heal your blemish.

Youre Applying Too Little

Some people err on the side of less when applying potent acne products, afraid of irritation, but you need a generous amount to see results. So go ahead, pile on that spot treatmentyou might look ridiculous but theres no such thing as too much, according to Miles. Use your fingertips to apply it to your problem areas as often as neededyou can even reapply derma es Very Clear Acne Spot Treatment over your makeup throughout the day. Just make sure your fingers are clean so you dont add more bacteria to those blemish-prone areas.

Youre Not Using Enough Moisturizer

Its a common misconception that moisturizer can make skin more oily. Its actually essential to restore your skins natural oil production, which will help prevent breakouts in the first place. Apply a lightweight formula like derma es Very Clear Moisturizer evenly over skin (especially those spots youve been drying with treatment) after cleansing and before applying makeup to simultaneously create a protective barrier against acne-causing toxins and bacteria.

Your Lifestyle Is Sabotaging Its Success

No matter how potent your treatment is, if your stress level is a 13 out of 10 or youre not eating the nutrient-rich foods your body needs, it wont be as effective because the balance of your skin is out of whack. Eating right, exercising, and drinking lots of water helps keep your complexion healthy and allows your acne product to do its job.