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| Picture Courtesy freedigitalphotos.net |
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
