Is acne a problem that has plagued you for years? Have you always thought that you would grow out of it, but never have? Forget the pinching and popping, and follow this acne survival guide in order to get the great looking skin that you deserve.
Nobody enjoys getting a blackhead. They look terrible and, sometimes, just plain hurt. Resist the urge to scratch or pick at them. Instead, use astringents and keep the area clean with facial soap and water. You can also mix 1 tsp of baking soda with water. Apply this to your blackheads.
If you suffer from serious acne, try taking a zinc supplement or a daily vitamin containing zinc. A zinc supplement should be taken about two or three times a day in small doses. Zinc is a mineral that can help your body reduce the number of acne breakouts you suffer.
If you skin continues to break out it can be a sign that there is something wrong inside your body and a multivitamin may help. Your skin is a vital organ and depends on nutrition. If your body is not receiving the right nutrients it will fight back, and acne may be its yell for help.
When it comes to acne, you are the best person in the world to know how your skin behaves. If your skin feels like it is getting oily, you should wash it immediately. If you feel it is becoming too dry, grab a moisturizer and massage gently on your face.
Avoid mixing different acne treatments together. When people have bad acne, they think that using many treatments will cure their condition faster. Each acne cream has harsh ingredients that might not get along well together on your skin.
To help control your acne, take on a ‘less is more’ approach. Use only one or two skincare products, so your skin can have the opportunity to heal by itself. Also, wear as little makeup as possible, and be sure to use makeup formulas that will not block your pores.
If you suffer from acne, look out for moisturizers that contain alpha hydroxy acids, retinol or salicylic acid. These ingredients are exfoliating agents, which can increase cell turnover helping to improve acne. Unfortunately, these agents can sometime irritate sensitive skin, so discontinue use if you notice increased pealing, flaking or redness on your skin.
When you are able to swim and the weather permits, by all means do it! Swimming relaxes your body and yields the exercise that you need to calm your acne. In addition, chlorine may help control the pimples that occur as a result of acne.
If you are a woman using the pill Accutane (or any of its generic forms) to treat your acne, make sure that you avoid pregnancy during your treatment period. Make sure you have a second form of protection against pregnancy such as birth control. If you take the pill for acne and get pregnant, your baby has a high risk of being deformed.
After years of fighting acne you may finally have found the answer. By incorporating these tips and tricks into your skin care regime, you may be able to reduce the appearance of acne or even eliminate it. So, go ahead and give it a shot. The sooner you begin, the sooner you will enjoy a clear complexion.
Beatrice Cox is a writer and stylist with a passion for the intersection between biology, technology and design. High in Swedish Bali and Heritage, it travels around the world encouraged and informed a global perspective on the future of fashion and its relations with planetary health. She is currently working for a sustainable fashion label in Bali, Indonesia.