Many people deal with acne on a daily basis. It can be a pimple during that time of the month or acne that's just always there. Many people don't realize how hard it is to cure acne. It's not as simple as putting an ointment on your face. It takes dedication and time. When you realize one regimen isn't working, then you have to try again. This process takes 6 weeks and it can be very discouraging. When you have acne you want instant results but it rarley works out like that. However, there are some things you can do to reduce the amount of acne you have. For some, these simple habits in this post may be causing your acne, if you stop then you can cure your acne. For others, like me, it goes beyond taking simple precautions.
Hormonal acne is the hardest to cure. Sometimes our bodies create too much testosterone or estrogen. Abnormal amounts of Testosterone is common in people who use steroids or woman with PCOS(polycystic ovary syndrome). When it's that time of the month your estrogen levels will increase and this is why most women experience breakouts. If you breakout during your period, then I recommend using an acne cream with benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide will fight bacteria and help your breakouts. If you have dry skin, then I would recommend an acne cream with salicyloc acid. Salicyloc acid will deminish the dead skin that's clogging your pores. However, if you're breaking out and can't find a solution to your acne, then you need to see a dermatologist.
Why do hormones and stress cause acne? Whether it's testosterone, estrogen, androgens(stress hormones), etc, they all break you out in the same way. Hormones can cause your sebaceous glands to secrete too much sebum. Bacteria will then feed from the sebum and cause a even larger blockage in your pores with pus(infection). While you should try to find a way to balance all of your hormones and control stress, it's a good idea to fight against the bacteria in the meantime. Like I wrote before, benzoyl peroxide is a great cream to control bacteria.
Your cleansing routine
Many people make the mistake of not properly cleaning their face. You need to know your skin to effectively treat it. Do you have dry or oily skin? Is your skin sensitive? When your at the store and you see all kinds of cleansers and just pick up which ever one is the cheapest is a bad idea. They have multiple kinds for a good reason. If you have dry skin you need a face wash that is hydrating while fighting dead skin cells and bacteria. For people with dry skin, make sure you find a product with glycerin. Glycerin helps your skin stay moisturized while still fighting acne and oily skin will also benefit from this. For oily skin you will need a acidic face wash that fights oil and kills bacteria. Just be sure not to wash your face too much. This can cause over production of oil, resulting in more acne.
After you wash your face always be sure to user a toner. This will take that extra step to cure your acne. Try to avoid toners with alcohal. A good toner that I recommend is Pixi Glow Tonic($29). After you apply your acne cream you need to be sure to moisturize. Everyone needs to do it, even if you have oily skin. If you don't moisturize, your skin will overproduce oil and cause more breakouts. Depending on your skin type, you can choose between a light or heavy moisturizer. Obviously, dry skin will need the heavier moisturizer and oily skin will need a lighter moisturizer. My favorite moisturizer is Cetaphil's moisturizer. At night I will apply it with a heavier hand and during the day I apply less. Next time you got to the store spend a few minutes reading the claims on the bottle. Customize your skin regimen to your specific needs. Your completion should look better within six weeks.
Touching your face
Touching your face is a HUGE no no, even if you regularly wash your face. Think of all the things you touch during the day. All you're doing is picking all of the bacteria up and rubbing it on your face. This can cause serious breakouts and it's so easy to cure. Just don't scratch, pick or rest your face on your hand. This could be the leading cause to your acne. Another thing that could be causing you to breakout is putting your phone up to your face. It's the same as your hand. It holds so much bacteria and even traces of fecal matter(yuck!). Most people don't talk about this but I think your headphones can also cause acne. Think about it, your headphones are constantly clubbing against your jawline everyday. What I like to do is put mine in my ears by the back of my head and that way I can avoid my face. Always be careful about putting stuff up to your face. It's such a common mistake and it way to simple to overlook.
Not drinking enough water
I'm not going to spend too much time on this category. I think everyone knows they need to drink water and that it's important for your skin. Water is crucial for your skins moisture and it washes out toxins. It's as simple as that.
Your pillowcase/sheets
Another culprit is your pillow case and sheets. You need to be sure to change out your bedding weekly or it can cause acne. It's not just your pillow case, your sheets can cause you to get acne on your back. During the night you sweat and shed a lot of skin cells. One way that I like to prevent acne from my pillow case is using a towel. After I have used both sides of my pillow, I will get a clean towel and lay it down every night. This is a great way to prevent future breakouts.
Cosmetics
When buying makeup always make sure it's oil free. I know everyone knows this but a lot of people don't listen. It can make a huge difference. Also, when you pick out powder products, like blush, check the label for the hypoallergenic claim. Not only do you need to worry about the cosmetics you use but make sure your brushes are clean. Set a certain day every week that you clean your brushes. Bacteria loves to grow on brushes and all you're doing is making your face another breading ground when using dirty brushes. Another option is to use your hands but always make sure you wash them before applying your makeup. Also be aware of your shampoo, they're not always safe and can cause breakouts.
Popping other pimples
A sure way to cause another pimple is to pop one. When you pop a white head you're exploding bacteria all over your face. Not only are you doing that but it can cause pernament scarring. If you need a pimple popped get it professionally done.
Exfoliating
This also goes for part of your cleansing routine. You need to be sure to exfoliate. This will get rid of any dead skin and leave you with a fresh face. It's ideal to exfoliate twice a week. I recommend the St. Ives blemish control green tea scrub. It's not as harsh as the popular St. Ives apricot scrub.
Thank you for reading, Taylor.
* I'm not a medical professional but I wanted to share all the common causes of acne with you. If you do have acne I recommend seeking help through a dermatologist.
* In this post I didn't talk about diet because it's not medically proven that there is a link between diet and acne. However, it is a good idea to lower your intake of foods with dairy and high amounts of sugar.
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