Act on Acne

Unsightly, sometimes painful, and usually embarrassing: the pimple. It’s hard to know what’s worse; how it looks or how it feels! Don’t fret, you can take steps to reduce active acne and prevent scarring. 

While acne is a common skin condition, it’s still a challenge to manage. Your genetics, time of life, and lifestyle will influence acne activity. Fluctuating hormones, bacteria, and fatty acids within oil glands set the stage, oil glands get plugged and inflamed, and the results can range from pimples to severe cystic acne.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent and manage acne: 

• Wash your face morning and night. A skin care professional may advise you to use a gentle cleanser, a salicylic acid, and or a benzoyl peroxide wash to name a few. (After a routine is established you may find alternating them works.) If consistency is a struggle, try cleansing at a different time of day. Your bed and or workout routine may influence the optimal time. 
• Shower or cleanse post workout. Regular exercise aids in flushing out toxins, improves sleep and aides in stress reduction. Exercise, sleep, and stress reduction are the foundation of healthy skin.
• Avoid further aggravating irritated and inflamed acne. Wash with tepid not hot water. Do not rub skin, apply friction, or use a rough cloth. Do not pick or touch your face. These practices spread bacteria. 
• Sterilize commonly shared and frequently touched items such as your phone and gym equipment. Keep sanitary wipes on hand. Wash your hands frequently.
• Wash pillowcases and towels with fragrance-free detergents and dryer sheets. Change your pillow cases frequently. 
• Prioritize your sleep. This is when our body regenerates.
• Stress doesn’t cause acne but it does aggravate it. Connect with your breath. Label ruminating thoughts and let them drift away. Incorporate yoga poses into your routine. 
• Fried, greasy, and high glycemic foods, such as: white bread, dairy, shell fish, and chocolate are believed to trigger acne. The conclusions often change but some wisdom remains the same: observe your body’s reaction to these types of foods. 
• Sip hot or room temperature water with lemon. This flushes and hydrates the body and skin. 
• Protect your complexion with a light moisturizer, natural minerals, and sun protection. Avoid heavy comedogenic cosmetics this will exasperate the problem. For natural sun protection, have a hat or visor on hand. 

Most everyone will suffer from a pimple outbreak but if breakouts persist, you should seek care from an esthetician or dermatologist. Delaying treatment puts you at greater risk for scarring and greater measures will be necessary later to correct scar-damaged skin. With proper guidance you can learn how to take impeccable care of your skin for a beautiful complexion!