Many women will sympathize with you if you have acne-prone skin. Some are lucky and only have a few breakouts during their teen years, while others have to deal with acne right into and through adulthood. Here are 20 of the best tips for dealing with acne.
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1. Go outside
Fresh air can do wonders for your skin. Spend at least one or two hours a day outside and you will notice a big difference. Try to find a place in the shadow as sun and sweat can worsen your acne. The cool air in the winter can also help with reducing the swelling and redness of pimples.
2. Do a Steam Bath
Once a week, boil some water and pour into a large bowl. Let it cool for 2 minutes, then place your head above it and cover with a towel. Sit there for about 10-15 minutes. The steam will open your pores helping your skin to get rid of all the dirt. Wash your face before and afterwards. You can also add chamomile to the water.
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3. Vitamin C Mask
Try a vitamin C mask on your face. A concentration of 15-20% of vitamin C in a serum or powder would be perfect. (Levels of 20% and higher have a lower impact!) It helps especially with acne scars and hyperpigmentation.
4. Malassezia Follicularis
If you have only tiny red pimples, it could also be that these are not caused by bacteria but by the fungus malassezia (pityrosporium). Use a ketocanazol cleanser two times a week for exactly 5 minutes. Repeat every 2 to 4 weeks to keep the results.
5. Eat Healthy
You probably heard this tip a million times. Avoid junk food, candy, soda, and wheat, and reduce dairy products. Refined sugar increases your level of testosterone which can lead to acne. Read labels on packaged food because sugar comes in a variety of names (eg dextrose, glucose fructose syrup). Also be careful with preservatives as well as artificial colors or additives like E471, E450 etc). Best is to go raw, meaning fruit and vegetables here we come!
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6. Don’t Smoke, Don’t Drink
Needless to say that these are bad for you. Try to quit it all, otherwise reduce it at least. A lot of alcohol also consists of sugar. So, if you are out and want to drink something, aim for the not-so-sweet drinks.
7. Skincare Routine
Wash your face twice a day with cleansing gel especially made for acne. Make sure you use tissues to pat your face dry or a fresh towel every time you wash your face because you want minimal bacteria on what you put on your face after cleaning it. Afterwards use a toner without alcohol since the alcohol drys out your skin which only results in your skin producing more oil. Finally, moisturize your skin with a non-comedogenic cream. Do a peeling and a face mask with clay once a week.
8. Exercise
Now you wonder how the sweat could be good for your face. Well, when you work out you get your blood pumping and increase your circulation which means that your acne and especially the scars can heal faster. Just make sure to immediately wash your face after exercising. Leaving the sweat on your face longer than necessary does only harm to your acne!
9. Right Choice of Make-up
Try to use products that contain salicylic acid, so that you fight acne even while covering it up. I can recommend the Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream 8 in 1.
10. Hands Away from Your Face!
Pay extra attention throughout the day to keep your hands off your face. There is so many bacteria on your fingers and you don’t want them in your face! Don’t scratch or place your head in your handd either.
11. Clean Environment
Switch your pillow cases regularly, try to put your phone on loud speaker or clean it every day, try contact lenses instead of glasses on your nose etc.
12. Tea Tree Oil
Its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties make it a great fighter against acne. Even though it is oil it can dry out your skin enormously. Only use it diluted with water and on small areas.
13. Benzoyl Peroxide
Before you go to bed use a cream with 5% benzoyl peroxide. Use an old pillow case because the cream can cause stains. The substance will dry out the pimple. Only use sparingly!
14. Reduce Stress
Stress increases the level of cortisol in your body which can lead to acne. Meditate, exercise, write, paint, do yoga, or just breathe deeply for a few minutes to alleviate stress. Also, sleep 7-9 hours every night.
15. Contraceptive Pill
Ask your gynaecologist to prescribe the pill for you. Too much testosterone can worsen your acne, so the higher levels of estrogen will have a positive impact on your skin.
16. See Your Dermatologist
The experts know best what is good for your skin and can prescribe you creams or tablets with isotretinoin which can do miracles for your acne.
17. Beta-carotene
If you don’t want to take isotretinoin, which is a vitamin A derivate, you can eat food high in beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. Sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach are ideal choices.
18. Aleppo Soap and Oil
The variety among this kind of soap is big. Find one with 60% olive oil and 40% laurel oil. Speaking of oil, you can also try oil cleansing. If your skin gets enough oil from outside, it produces less sebum and in turn less pimples. Most suitable like lavender oil or rosehip oil.
19. Ice, Ice, Baby
A pimple is an inflammation. To reduce swelling you can cool it with crushed ice for 20 minutes several times a day. You will see how the pimple becomes smaller and smaller.
20. Patience for 28 Days
The skin cell cycle is 28 days, so you have to stick to these rules for at least a month to see results. I know it’s not easy. But if you really want it, you can do this. And once you get used to it, it will just be a normal routine for you without any big thinking any more. So, have some patience, girl! You got this!
Do you have any other tips? How did you cure your acne? Let us know in the comment section.