Five ways to ward off acne

The onset of summer often means a nightmare for people with oily skin. Choose the right skin care products to protect your face from zits, says an expert.

Dermatologist Kiran Lohia, managing director of Lumiere Dermatology, shares a few acne defense tips:

* Wash your face only twice a day: When you overwash your face, your skin signals your oil glands to overproduce oil, making it even more greasy. So, limit the excessive skin cleansing so that your skin can naturally balance itself.

* Don't use soap: Soaps can damage skin by making it drier, rougher and more permeable to bacteria.

* Look for face washes with salicylic acid in it: Salicylic acid is naturally derived from willow bark. It helps to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads. It also reduces oil production. The percentage should be at least one percent of it to have enough efficacy.

* Use moisturiser twice a day. No matter how oily your skin is, your skin still needs moisture to keep it healthy. Look for gentle gels that are free from fragrance, colour and paraben to let your skin breathe.

* Wear sunblock: The sun has UVA and UVB rays which initially may seem to be drying up those pimples. But they ultimately worsen your acne in the long run. Also, the sun can worsen the acne marks.