Are you constantly canceling plans due to unseemly breakouts?
Do you suffer from acne symptoms in your life despite all the attempts to keep them away?
Acne is one of the most prevalent skin diseases in the world, affecting around 85% of people at some point in their lives. Traditional acne treatments can be expensive and often have unwanted side effects such as dryness, redness, and inflammation.
Acne starts when your skin pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Each pore is associated with a sebaceous gland, which produces an oily substance called sebum. Excess sebum can be secreted through the pores, causing the growth of bacteria known as acne propionibacterium, or P. acnes.
Your white blood cells attack the bacteria in acne, which leads to inflammation of the skin and acne. Some instances of acne are more severe than others, but typical symptoms include whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. Many factors add to the growth of acne, including genetics, diet, stress, hormonal changes, and infections.
The first and most critical rule for treating acne is not a groundbreaking one: don’t forget to cleanse your face! Cleansing and treating your skin twice a day is the best way to keep it from breaking out.
Purchasing a general facial cleanser will not necessarily improve the skin; for the cleaner to be more effective, you need to pay attention to your skin needs and choose the ingredients accordingly. If your skin tends to get oily, choose products containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or glycolic acid. For irritable skin, look for cleansers that contain lactic acid or moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, which don’t dry out like those made for other oilier types.
Cleaning your face daily with granular cleansers and exfoliation products can do more harm than good. When done frequently, it can cause redness, inflammation, and irritation. Peeling the pimple can draw healthy cells from the skin and create an open wound and an increased risk of scarring. The exfoliation should be done with caution, no more than 2-3 times a week maximum.
When you think about it, having constant access to your facial towel every day is like reusing the dinner napkin over and over again. Using dirty towels can harbor bacteria and can also introduce new bacteria into your skin, which can lead to more acne.
Will your moisturizer worsen your acne?
Think again – this can help rejuvenate your skin. The sebaceous glands tend to overproduce the oil if your skin is dry and dehydrated, which can lead to an increase in acne. Moisturizing the skin’s surface can restore balance to the sebaceous glands and help control acne and improve healing. Although SPF is a must, some sunscreens can cause breakouts. You want to look for oil-free, non-comedogenic formulas that won’t clog pores.
Any food that causes an increase in insulin can lead to inflammation and acne. Green leafy vegetables and other freshly colored fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants and nutrients decrease redness and improve skin quality (studies have shown that acne patients have higher oil production and lower levels of antioxidants). Reduce consumption of dairy products, which may contain hormones and antibiotics which can worsen acne breakouts. Other skin-boosting foods that stimulate the skin include eggs, nuts, legumes, and quinoa.
Acne is the enemy of almost everyone, but some have worse than others! For the unluckier ones, there is a no better option to take a trip to a dermatologist to treat severe acne.