If you have acne, you’re not alone. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually. Despite its prevalence, acne can be a difficult condition to manage. If you’re struggling with acne, here are seven tips that may help:
1. Keep Your Face Clean
Washing your face twice a day is a good place to start your journey toward a smooth, acne-free complexion. Use a mild cleanser and warm water. Why is this important? Cleansing your face gets rid of the dirt, oil, and bacteria that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It also helps remove dead skin cells that can make your skin look dull.
While this is effective, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. First, avoid using harsh cleansers as they can irritate your skin and make your acne worse. Second, don’t over-wash as this can also lead to irritation.
2. Don’t Pick or Squeeze Your Pimples
The temptation to pick or squeeze pimples is real, but it’s important to resist. Picking can cause scarring and lead to more breakouts. If you absolutely must pick, do so with clean hands and use a sterile tool like a comedone extractor. This will help minimize the risk of infection.
Also, avoid touching your face with your hands throughout the day. This can transfer bacteria and dirt to your skin, leading to more breakouts.
3. Use an Acne Treatment
Acne treatments come in many forms, including gels, lotions, creams, soaps, and spot treatments. Many over-the-counter options are available, but you may need a prescription from your dermatologist for more severe cases.
Acne treatments work by killing bacteria, unclogging pores, and reducing inflammation. The type of acne treatment you use will depend on the severity of your acne. One important thing to note is that not all treatments need you to visit a dermatologist.
Some acne strips are effective, and you only need to visit a trusted seller like Patchology to buy them and also venture into other high-quality strips that will work for your skin.
4. Use a Moisturizer
It may seem counterintuitive to use a moisturizer if you have acne-prone skin, but it’s actually an important step in your skincare routine. Moisturizers help keep your skin hydrated, which is important for overall skin health. They also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
When choosing a moisturizer, look for one that’s oil-free and non-comedogenic. These products won’t clog pores or lead to breakouts. Also, avoid using products with fragrances as they can irritate your skin.
5. Consider Changing Your Diet
There’s no one-size-fits-all diet for people with acne, but some foods may trigger breakouts for some people. Common triggers include dairy, sugar, gluten, and certain oils. If you think your diet may be causing breakouts, consider keeping a food diary. This will help you identify any potential triggers. Once you identify your triggers, you can make changes to your diet accordingly.
6. Get Some Sunshine
Vitamin D is important for overall health, and it may also help reduce the severity of acne. Vitamin D helps promote cell turnover, which can help keep pores clear.
Spending time in the sun is one of the best ways to get vitamin D, but it’s important to protect your skin while you’re outdoors. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and avoid direct sunlight during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
7. Reduce Stress
Stress can worsen acne breakouts. When you’re stressed, your body produces hormones like cortisol. These hormones can increase oil production, leading to clogged pores and breakouts. To reduce stress, consider yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
You can also try aromatherapy or massage therapy. If you have severe acne, you may also want to talk to your dermatologist about prescription medications that can help reduce stress.
Conclusion
Acne is a common skin condition that can be frustrating to deal with. But there are things you can do to manage your acne and keep breakouts at bay. These tips can help you get started.
Also, read:Â How to Reduce Fine Lines and Tighten Your Skin
Author: Hannah Boothe
Hannah Boothe is a freelance writer native to Northern California who spends her free time developing herself. Hannah enjoys the outdoors, she goes hiking whenever the weather permits and enjoys practicing yoga. She carves out time to journal and read whenever she can. She loves adventure and connecting with those around her.
