There is nothing as annoying as waking up to a giant zit or a collection of pimples scattered on your face. It does nothing for your self-esteem, and you can almost predict how many dark spots you will end up with after they heal. However, acne is normal, even after puberty.
Acne is the result of blocked pores. When your skin’s pores block due to dead skin, oil or bacteria, it leads to the development of a pimple. Additionally, many things can trigger acne.
Hormonal changes, especially in women, can trigger acne. Stress can make existing acne worse. Additionally, your diet affects acne on your skin. People who consume carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread and chips are more likely to develop acne. Lastly, medication can also affect your skin, causing acne breakouts.
It is important to note that acne does not mean you have dirty skin. In fact, washing too often or scrubbing too hard could be the reasons why you have acne. Additionally, cosmetics do not always cause acne nor make it worse. If you are using the right products for your skin type, then you should be fine.
Whatever the reason, you need to take care of the acne on your skin. Care tips are to ensure it does not spread and leaves minimal scarring. Furthermore, these tips will ensure that your skin clears as soon as possible.
The Dos of Acne Care
Do use a mild cleanser and warm water.
Cleaning your face is a crucial part of taking care of acne. However, you may want to switch up your routine to ensure that your acne does not spread. Firstly, if you have a strong cleanser for your face, switch to a mild one. This is because the harshness of a strong soap dries out your skin and makes your breakout worse. Secondly, you should reduce the number of times you wash your face. Stick to mornings and evenings, plus you should use warm water.
Do moisturize daily.
Just because you have pimples does not mean that you should go out without sufficient protection. You still need a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and protected from the effects of the sun. When selecting a moisturizer, be sure to go with the right one for your skin type. Switch to an oil-free moisturizer to avoid clogging your pores further. Additionally, go for light moisturizers that will not make you feel like you are wearing a mask.
Do use ice.
Sometimes, acne swells and causes some pain on the skin. Additionally, you may have poked at them too much, causing some redness around the area. Poking them any further won’t help, but you can use ice cubes to reduce the welling. Using ice is a non-invasive way of reducing inflammation on pimples. Gently place the cold compression on the affected area and hold until the swelling and pain go down. However, be careful not to leave the ice on too long that it irritates your skin.
Do use acne creams.
Sulfur-based acne creams can help maintain extensive breakouts. If you have an important day coming up, you should consider using a cream. Over the counter acne medication is a good place to starts. However, since these creams could affect your skin, we advise speaking to your dermatologist first. A consultation will help you determine which creams can clear up your acne. You could even ask about injections to help with quick healing.
Do use essential oils.
Lastly, you should consider using essential oils to clear up your acne. Or at least soothe the pain. Essential oils can achieve both these functions. There are several that can help with this. However, it is advisable to perform a patch test before using it on a larger area. Rosemary is excellent for people with oily skin as it prevents further clogging of your pres. Peppermint has antibacterial properties, while tree tea oil will clear acne on most skin types.
The Don’ts of Acne Care
Don’t touch your face.
As tempting as it may be, you should avoid touching the pimples on your face. Touching them means exposing the acne to bacteria which can worsen the condition. Additionally, if you feel the pimples, it could increase the inflammation level and make the pain a lot worse. If you must look at them, use a mirror and keep your hands away from your face. Touching your face also prevents exposing your skin to more bacteria that will form pimples.
Don’t wash your face too much.
Cleaning your face is essential, but you will worsen the condition if you do it too much. It sounds crazy but remember; acne does not mean that your skin is dirty. Even mild cleansers will irritate the skin if you wash your face too much. Additionally, they strip your skin of moisture, leaving it unprotected. Therefore, avoid multiple washes every day. Instead, stick to a basic routine of morning and evening.
Don’t pop them.
Popping your pimples is very bad for your skin. As tempting as it may be to squeeze the contents out of the pimple, you must refrain. Why? For starters, you will expose your zits to bacteria from your hands which will worsen the breakouts. Secondly, if you leave an open wound, you stand a chance of developing infections from external factors. And finally, scarring is a guarantee after squeezing pimples. Just resist the urge and let them heal naturally.
Don’t use toothpaste or aspirin.
When looking for care tips for acne on your face, you are sure to come across two remedies. One is putting toothpaste on the affected area to dry out the pimples for quicker healing. Another is using crushed aspirin and water to make a paste, which you then apply to the affected area. Unfortunately, pure aspirin will irritate your skin and will do nothing for your outbreak. Similarly, toothpaste is bad for your skin. The fluoride in toothpaste can cause allergic reactions, worsening your acne.
If you have trouble with acne, you should find a licensed dermatologist to help you manage it. Until then, you should follow these tips to ensure that you manage the acne and prevent scarring.
