Having Trouble with Acne?
Oh acne, the most dreaded of all skin conditions. It haunts even the best of us. You’d have probably seen one too many Youtube video of pimple popping and blackhead squeezing. Acne and blackheads are exceedingly common but yet, not any less irksome. It might be insanely gratifying to squeeze your zits but removing them from your skin this way might just leave a trail of wreckage in its wake.
First things first! Acne is usually caused by infected or inflamed sebaceous glands in the skin.
There are two types of acne:
- non-inflammatory (whiteheads and blackheads)
- inflammatory (papules, pustules, nodules and cysts)
Yes, acne breakouts are the absolute worst but fret not, here’s an ultimate guide on how to prevent
acne (and hopefully for good!)
1. Keeping it clean
It should be stressed more often how important it is to adhere to a strict facial cleansing routine.Experts recommend that we wash our face twice daily with a suitable facial cleanser. This is to remove dead skin buildup, oil and dirt from clogging up our pores. Also, it might be tempting to go to bed straight at the end of a long work day, but do remove your makeup thoroughly first. Don’t be lazy or you’ll suffer the consequences later!
2. Touchy feely
A recent study quantified the hand-to-face contact rate and discovered that we touch our faces as often as 2000 times a day! Our germ-ridden hands are probably our skin’s worst enemy. Therefore, wash your hands often and keep a hand sanitizer close! In addition, with the increasing reliance on our smartphones, we bring it everywhere – even to the toilet – and then we put it to our faces when picking up a call. The transference of bacteria from the dirty screen to our faces will inevitably result in acne breakouts. For the same reasons, it is essential that we change our pillowcases often in order to get rid of acne for good!
3. Slather up
Invest in a good moisturizer and sunblock for your face. You may think that you have oily skin and therefore it is okay to skip the moisturizing part. WRONG! It is often because your skin is dry and therefore your glands overcompensate and produce even more oil. Keep those sebaceous glands in control with a good moisturizer!
4. Here comes the sun
Sunblock is your best friend when it comes to keeping pigmentation at bay and to prevent the darkening of existing acne scars. Even if you are staying indoors for most of the time, UV rays shining through windows or radiation from light bulbs and smartphone screens will cause damage to your skin.
5. You are what you eat
Lowering your salt, sugar and dairy intake will reduce breakouts and prevent dull and puffy complexion. Your diet should favour lean proteins, healthy fats and lots of greens that are packed with skin-boosting antioxidants and minerals.
Our lifestyle habits play a significant role when it comes to managing our acne and pimples. Do consult a professional or dermatologist if your condition persists. It may seem like a lot of trouble to adhere to such a rigorous regime, but in the long run, it will definitely pay off – imagine looking like your favorite Instagram filter in real life! Clear, flawless skin will always be in fashion. Time to keep your skin in tip-top shape!
