How to Stop Acne Reinfection

Acne is caused by certain bacteria that live on the surface of the skin. To stop or even eliminate acne, it's important to get rid of the bacteria. To do this, the skin must be kept from reinfection by the bacteria. Reinfection can keep acne coming back over and over again.

Instructions

1. Wash clothes regularly with a strong detergent and in hot water. Wear clean clothes every day rather than rooting through the laundry bin to find something. Bacteria and facial oil often resides on clothes. The oil can be removed with the detergent and the hot water can kill the bacteria.

2. Use a clean pillowcase each night. These have a lot of contact with the face and can harbor more bacteria and oil than clothing. They should be washed just like the clothing.

3. Keep your face clean. An acne medication that kills bacteria, such as benzoil peroxide, can kill bacteria before reinfection can occur.

4. Avoid putting your hands on your face. This can introduce new bacteria as well as oil from the fingertips. The dirt from the hands can also clog the pores. Touching one spot on the face and then another can infect a different part of the face with the bacteria. If you must touch your face, use a sleeve or a tissue.

5. Keep your accessories clean. If you wear glasses or necklaces, clean them with rubbing alcohol after each use. This will efficiently kill the bacteria. Do the same with the parts of a cell phone that come into contact with the face.