My Top 10 Tips For Preventing and Treating Acne

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Hello ladies! I remember how acne used to dominate my teen years and the horrible feeling I got every time I noticed a pimple as if I had sprouted horns on top of my head! As I grew up, I felt more confident and stopped displaying the “My life is over” reaction characteristic of a pimple sighting. I realized teens were really sensitive to the acne issues and even grown ladies tend to experience mini panic attacks over it. So, I decided to write you guys a post detailing what I have learnt about preventing and treating acne since my teen years to help arm you against our ancient nemesis!

1. Detox

Detoxify your body by taking a good amount of antioxidants daily which will neutralize the free radicals in your body and promote healthy skin. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great source along with green tea. Vitamin C is a superb antioxidant so if nothing else a glass of water with lemon juice squeezed in.

2. Don't Touch It

Acne in the form of cysts is a ticking time bomb that is going to spread the problem everywhere you touch so keep your hands away from the troubling spot and just use effective spot treatment to dry it up. Also if you are in a habit of touching your skin often then you need to curb this urge because our hands are covered with invisible dust and germs that will infect your pores if you keep putting your hands all over your face.

3. Don't Squeeze

This is a really bad idea because the pressure you exert on the muscle underneath can damage the cells and result in scars long after the acne has cleared up. Plus, it’s painful!

4. Scrub Away

When you notice your skin looking dull and feeling flaky it’s mainly because of the dead skin cells that accumulate over the surface and must be cleared up for your actual skin to be revealed. Exfoliating once a week is quite effective for me and you should always pick a scrub that matches your skin type. There are also facial foams and gel with ingredients like salicylic acid that remove dead skin cells but I have found them to be too harsh and drying for my skin so I would suggest you test them out before buying.

5. Change Your Pillowcase Every Few Weeks

I know this may sound odd but your face comes into contact with your pillowcase too frequently for you to ignore it. The dust and oil that may have gathered on the fabric’s surface overtime can cause breakouts so do remember to change it every few days.   

6. Avoid Using Oil-control Products Too Often

The sebaceous glands of your skin naturally produce oil to prevent moisture loss and keep your skin hydrated. If you use too many oil-control products on a regular basis your glands will feel a great drop in the oil level and produce even more oil to make up for the loss. Be careful and find a balance even if you have oily skin. It’s a good idea to use such products only on your T-zone if you have combination skin to prevent the rest of your face from drying up.

7. Use A Clay Mask

Masks especially those which have natural ingredients are very good at removing oil, toxins and impurities from your skin. These are basically the things that encourage acne so use a mask regularly for that extra bit of help.

8. Use Oil Free Makeup

Even if you have dry skin it is better to use oil-free make up particularly foundation because your skin already produces the perfect amount of oil on a daily basis and any extra oil will definitely clog your pores leading to acne.

9. Know Your Allergies

A lot of us may not be aware of the allergies we have and constantly ask ourselves why am I breaking out? You should know exactly what your skin is sensitive towards so that you avoid it like the plague! Food allergies may manifest themselves in the form of acne too so if your doctor has told you not to eat something, be good and stay far away from it.

10. Never Sleep With Your Makeup On

This is one of the cardinal sins of skincare which I am sure we all have been guilty of at least once. Make up, no matter how high end, is not something you leave on your skin for longer than necessary because these are not natural chemicals. They will damage your skin and cause it to age earlier if you are not careful. A major reason for breakouts is bad quality make up coupled with improper removal.

So there you have it some wisdom collected over the years along with some lessons learnt the hard way. Don’t forget to smile to keep the good hormones flowing for a radiant complexion!

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com