8 Things To Help Treat Acne
The most effective methods to fight acne include a combination of prevention and proper skincare.
Here are some suggestions you can use to lessen and treat acne:
1. Practice Regular Exercise
Regular exercise has been proven to help fight acne by fighting off negative stress levels that occur in everyone’s life. However, make sure to aviod wearing tight lycra and nylon exercise clothes. These synthetic fabrics tend to cause more body moisture and heat, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. It’s better to use loose clothing made of cotton or natural blends, and keep your clothing and equipment clean.
2. Use The Proper Cosmetics
To avoid pore-clogging and irritating your skin that can contribute to acne, use products labeled “noncomedogenic” or “oil-free.” Opt for “hypo-allergenic” perfumes and make-up to adverse reactions and skin irritation. Coal tar derivatives, carmine and heavy cream in blushes can cause reactions.
Shimmering facial colors can include a flaky material called mica that can irritate skin and clog pores. Use a lip gloss without a shiny finish to also reduce clogging of pores. The shinier it is, the higher then comedogenic content and the more your pores can clog.
3. Eat a Healthy Diet
Recent studies show that diet does not play as large a role as once thought in either the cause or the treatment of acne. With that in mind, though, what is best for your body is best for your skin. So, make sure that you take in enough vitamins, minerals and supplements that are recommended to prevent and help conquer acne breakouts. Among these are:
* Vitamin A or Retinol (High doses are toxic)
* Vitamin B Complex
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin E
* L-Carnitine
* Zinc
A high quality brand name multivitamin will probably have the essential vitamins and minerals to help you with acne prevention.
4. Hormonal Treatment May Help
Hormones (or a lack of them) during later years – especially for women – frequently play a part in acne outbreaks. One recent study showed that about 50 percent of women have acne problems, referred to as hormonal acne, during the week before their menstruation.
Treatment options include topical retinoids, oral antibiotics and Benzoyl Peroxide for adolescents. For adult women, oral contraceptives or hormonal birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) have been beneficial at times. Other options include systemic treatments, and prescription or over-the-counter medications.
5. Follow a Healthy Skin Regimen
Avoid harsh scrubbing or over-washing, since this can cause skin irritation or lead to over-production of oil to replace what’s washed off. Use products that exfoliate gently and don’t use products containing alcohol.
6. Acne Products Are Available
Some of the better products available that have been shown to help include:
* Benzoyl Peroxide
* Proactiv® Solution
* Salicylic Acid
* Retinoids
* Antibiotics
* Oral Contraceptives
* Anti-Androgens
* Isotretinoin (Accutane)
7. Advice for Shaving
Shaving can be an excellent way of exfoliating or removing dead skin. This can help with the prevention and spreading of acne by removing it so it does not clog pores. And, for some light acne cases already in process, shaving can help remove small whiteheads and blackheads that are there. Make sure to not shave areas that are sore or infected and use shaving cream designed for sensitive skin.
Always use a razor with a sharp blade. Use gentle swipes instead of heavy pressure and go with the flow or “grain.” Electric razors may not shave as close as a regular razor blade, but they help with the prevention of acne.
8. Avoid or Reduce Stress
Stress includes external and internal stress factors. External stressors are those that compromise your skin’s ability to take care of itself, such as oily make-up and too much sun. Internal stress factors like anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, depression and a variety of other internalized emotions, can produce chemical reactions in your body that can produce acne flare-ups and other skin irritations.
There is more information on How To Get Rid of Pimples and Acne here.
