6 Expert Skincare Tips to Prevent Acne and Protect Your Skin Barrier
By Allie Kirchhoff, Advanced Esthetician at Nash Injections by Hannah
As an Advanced Esthetician in Nashville, I see how small daily choices can either support your skin or work against it. Here are my top six skincare tips to help prevent breakouts, protect the skin barrier, and keep skin clear and healthy.
You don’t need a 10-step routine or a shelf full of expensive products to have healthy skin. In fact, some of the most effective skincare habits are simple and easy to maintain.
1. Don’t Pick Pimples — Ice Them Instead
Picking at pimples might feel satisfying in the moment, but it almost always makes things worse. When you squeeze or pick, you push bacteria, oil, and debris deeper into the skin. This increases swelling and redness and greatly increases the risk of scarring and dark spots (hyperpigmentation). Picking pimples can even lead to infection.
A better option: ice the blemish.
Benefits of icing a pimple
Reduces inflammation: Cold constricts blood vessels, helping decrease redness and swelling
Soothes pain: Provides temporary relief for painful breakouts like cysts
Minimizes pores: Helps reduce excess fluid buildup, making pores appear smaller
How to ice a pimple safely
Cleanse: Gently wash your face
Wrap: Wrap an ice cube in a thin cloth or paper towel
Apply: Press onto the pimple and move in circular motions for 30–60 seconds
Rest: Remove and wait 5 minutes
Repeat (optional): Reapply once or twice, keeping total icing time under 15 minutes
This is a helpful short-term solution while your skin heals and helps prevent scarring.
2. Skip Hot Water — Use Lukewarm Water Instead
Hot water might feel relaxing, but it can damage your skin barrier. Washing your face with hot water strips away natural oils that help keep moisture in, leading to dryness, irritation, and increased oil production.
Benefits of lukewarm water
Cleans effectively by loosening oil and debris
Protects the skin barrier
Helps skincare products absorb better
Reduces redness and irritation
What to avoid
Hot water: Can worsen acne, rosacea, and eczema
Ice-cold water: Doesn’t dissolve oil well and can trap impurities
Pro tip: Cleanse with lukewarm water, then finish with a quick splash of cool water to calm the skin.
3. Wash Your Makeup Brushes Weekly
Unwashed makeup brushes are a common cause of breakouts. Dirty brushes collect oil, dead skin cells, makeup residue, and bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.
These bacteria can lead to:
Acne and clogged pores
Eye infections like styes or pink eye
Skin irritation and inflammation
In some cases, makeup brushes can hold more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Brush cleaning basics
Wash once a week with gentle soap and water
Rinse thoroughly
Lightly mist with isopropyl alcohol
Lay flat to air-dry
4. Change Your Pillowcases More Often Than You Think
Your pillowcase collects oil, sweat, dead skin, hair products, and bacteria every night. Sleeping on a dirty pillowcase means pressing all that back into your skin for hours.
General guideline
Change at least once a week
Change more often if you
Have acne or oily skin (every 2–3 days is ideal)
Sweat heavily
Use heavy skincare or hair products
Have allergies
Sleep with pets
5. Keep Your Skincare Routine Simple
Your routine doesn’t need to be complicated to work. Using too many products can actually irritate your skin and damage the barrier.
At a minimum, every routine should include:
Cleanser
Toner
Moisturizer
SPF (daily)
Retinoid (if appropriate)
Pro-tip: Quality matters more than quantity.
You don’t need a long list of products to get results. In my experience, using a few high-quality products consistently will always work better than layering on too many products that can irritate the skin or disrupt the skin barrier.
That’s why I often recommend medical-grade skincare. These products are made with higher-quality, research-backed ingredients that actually treat the skin instead of just sitting on the surface.
At Nash Injections by Hannah, I work with both ZO® Skin Health and Green Envee to support different skin needs. ZO® Skin Health is a results-driven, medical-grade line that helps improve acne, texture, tone, and overall skin health at a deeper level. Green Envee offers a more holistic, plant-based approach, using clinical-grade botanicals to support barrier repair, inflammation, and sensitive skin.
When chosen correctly and used consistently, both lines can help strengthen the skin barrier and maintain results from professional treatments like facials, chemical peels, and microneedling.
6. Get Regular Facials
Professional facials are more than self-care. Your skin renews itself every 4–6 weeks, and regular treatments help support that cycle.
Benefits of regular facials
Deep cleansing and exfoliation
Improved texture and tone
Better hydration
Increased circulation
Support for collagen production
Targeted care for acne, aging, and dullness
At Nash Injections by Hannah, our custom facials, chemical peels, and microneedling treatments are designed to meet your skin where it’s at and evolve with your goals.
Nashville Skincare Services at Nash Injections by Hannah
Healthy skin isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the right things consistently. These small habits can make a real difference between appointments and help your professional treatments last longer.
If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend booking a custom facial with me at our Nashville med spa. I’ll assess your skin, talk through your goals, and create a personalized routine and treatment plan that truly works for you.
Book your appointment at our Nashville med spa today.
Allie Kirchhoff is an Advanced Esthetician at Nash Injections by Hannah in Nashville, specializing in custom facials, chemical peels, microneedling, acne care, and results-driven skincare. She helps clients build healthy, glowing skin through expert guidance and personalized treatment plans.