Wrinkles and Pimples!

Hello!

 But how do you treat those blackheads and bumps without exacerbating your aging-skin concerns — namely fine lines, dryness, and age spots? We've got pro advice and skin-care recommendations that are just right for your dual concerns.

Wash, Don't Scour

• Resist the urge to cleanse your breakouts  Aggressive rubbing or abrasive cleansers, like those with nut pits, can make acne worse. A blackhead or whitehead is simply a clogged pore. Once you have pinkness or inflammation (a.k.a. a pimple), it means the lesion has ruptured under the skin — and rough treatment can cause this reaction. That's what happens when a facialist overzealously squeezes your pores and makes your acne worse.

• Clear skin with salicylic acid instead... It loosens up dead skin in pores, so sebum doesn't pile up and clog them. Like aspirin, a chemical cousin, salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help hinder.

• ...Or try an antibacterial wash. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria behind your breakouts, and it has a slight peeling effect, which helps keep pores clear, too. Note: Women with sensitive skin may find benzoyl peroxide irritating or drying.

• Consider a part-time approach. Just as you might change cleansers as the weather gets hotter and more humid, you may want to switch based on your menstrual cycle, If you find that your skin gets oilier and breaks out only during the week before your period, substitute a salicylic acid cleanser for your usual mild one then, and use it a few days beyond the end of your cycle.

• Expect a bit of trial and error.Sometimes a one-pronged approach — just a new cleanser — can be enough to clear skin.Try that for two or three weeks to see how your skin reacts before adding other treatments. You want your skin to look normal. If it's red and peeling, then tweak your approach and cut back to fewer acne remedies, or use the one product less often.