Wash your face once in the morning and once before bed. If you sweat during the day, such as during exercise or from being out in hot weather, wash your face as soon as possible to remove the perspiration. Look for a cleanser labeled as "non-comedogenic" This means that the product does not promote the formation of comedones, blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples. Examples include products from Neutrogena, Cetaphil and Olay. There are many store-brand products that are non-comedogenic. Read the label to be certain. There are oils that are used to clean the skin and many of these utilize very non-comedogenic oils. Using these is based on the principle that "like dissolves like." In other words, oils can be used to dissolve and remove excess skin oils. Also use alcohol-free products. Alcohol dries and damages the skin. You want to be very gentle when cleaning your skin. Using a washcloth or sponge can irritate the skin and cause more problems. Do not pick, pop, squeeze, or touch acne. This can also cause flare-ups, cause scarring, and will cause a longer healing time. Sun (and tanning beds) can damage your skin cells because of damaging UVB radiation. If you are using certain acne medications or certain other types of medication, you should know that some medications can make your skin even more sensitive to the sun. These drugs include antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim; antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl); drugs used to treat cancer (5-FU, vinblastine, dacarbazine); heart drugs like amiodarone, nifedipine, quinidine and diltiazem; Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen, and the acne medications isotretinoin (Accutane) and acitretin (Soriatane). This can cause permanent scarring and the skin will take longer to heal. Exfoliation is popular, but vigorous exfoliation often does more harm than good. Exfoliation can cause micro-scarring (tiny scars that can't be seen without some sort of magnification), obvious scarring and it can often make acne worse. The "scrubs" which perform the exfoliation may also be pulling off skin that is not yet ready to fall off. It is a bit like pulling off a scab that isn't ready to fall off on its own. While diet doesn't directly cause acne, despite the stories you may have heard about milk and chocolate, for some people certain foods increase the risk for acne. Some foods, including dairy products and diets high in processed sugars, can increase inflammation and provide an environment in which acne can flourish. Specifically, high-glycemic index foods, which are carbohydrate-rich foods, are linked to acne. This will help you ensure that you are getting the appropriate nutrients to keep your skin healthy. The vitamins that appear to be most important for the skin are vitamins A and D. In addition, consuming enough omega-3 fats can benefit those with acne. Try to make at least half of your plate is made up of vegetables, particularly at dinner. Foods high in Vitamin A include: sweet potato, spinach, carrots, pumpkin, broccoli, romaine, kale, red peppers, summer squash, cantaloupe, mangoes, apricots, black-eyed peas, beef liver, herring, and salmon. Foods high in Vitamin D include: cod liver oil, salmon, tuna, milk, yogurt, and cheese. Many foods are fortified with vitamin D, but the single best way to get Vitamin D is to expose your skin to the sun 10-15 minutes a week, as sunlight triggers Vitamin D production by the skin. Food high in omega-3 fatty acids include: flax seeds and flaxseed oil, soybean oil, canola oil, chia seeds, butternuts, walnuts, salmon, sardines, mackerel, whitefish, shad, basil, oregano, cloves, marjoram, spinach, sprouted radish seeds, Chinese broccoli and small amounts of meats and eggs.
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One-sentence summary -- Wash your face at least twice a day. Use a gentle, plant-oil based product to clean yourself. Use your fingertips to apply cleansers. Treat broken-out skin gently. Stay out of the sun and don't use tanning beds. Do not scrub the skin roughly. Avoid eating unhealthy foods. Eat a healthy diet.

Estimates point to nearly two million teens and young adults in America who purposely injure themselves in some way. Statistics show that young women are more likely to self-injure than young men. So, know that if you are a young person who has been hurting yourself, you are not alone. There are many others out there who know what you are going through, and you can get help. It might give you hope to visit websites where you can read stories about others who have overcome the urge to self-harm. Self-injury basically means causing harm to oneself on purpose. A common example of self-injury is cutting using a knife, razor, or other sharp object. Other methods may include biting, pinching, burning, hitting, pulling out hair, or picking at wounds. Extreme cases may even result in broken bones. People who self-injure often do so in secret. Your friends or family members may be unaware of the signs because self-injurers often wear long sleeves and pants and focus the injuries on hidden areas like the limbs and torso. Oftentimes, self-injury is a release for emotional pain. You may not have role models for dealing with feelings like anger, sadness, disappointment, or frustration, or you may have been raised to hide these emotions. The harmful behavior serves as an outlet. In some cases, teens might hurt themselves because they feel numb; they just want to feel something. However, self-harm is generally followed by shame or guilt that leads to more self-injurious behavior, a dangerous and endless cycle. Try to pay attention to when you have the urge to harm yourself. What happened before you started cutting, scratching, etc.? What did you feel in your body? What thoughts went through your head? Identifying these triggers can shed insight on how to overcome self-harm when you do seek help. Research has connect self-jury to psychiatric disorders like eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, and developmental disabilities, to name a few. You may be struggling with one of these conditions and the self-harm is merely a symptom of a larger problem. However, some adolescents engage in self-harm who do not meet the criteria for any mental disorder.
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One-sentence summary --
Accept that you are not alone. Recognize what self-harm is. Look for triggers. Know that self-injury can be a symptom of a bigger issue.