Here are fifteen tips to help you...
15: Keep your hands off Your Face;
Here's a simple tip If
you want the skin on your face to look lovely, stop touching it. Sounds easy,
right? Well, good luck with that. Most of us aren't aware of how often we touch
our faces. We relieve itches, wipe our lips and scratch our ears. Once you pay
attention to how often you paw at your face, you may feel downright feral.
Hands are the body's primary tool to interact directly with the world around
us. There's plenty of blame to go around, but the world is pretty dirty. Sweat,
grime and oil (not to mention bacteria and viruses) spread from person to
person through use of frequently touched surfaces like door knobs, store
counters and gas station pump handles. Needlessly touching your face at some
point in the day is inevitable, so try to wash your hands throughout the day as
well.
14: Wash your skin
twice a day;
Taking a moment to thoroughly (but gently) wash your face is one of
the simplest and most effective ways to prevent breakouts. Grime and grease
build up on your face all day, and residue from cigarette smoke, air pollution
and daily living winds up there, too. Don't go overboard with the washing,
however. Twice a day should do it -- once in the morning, and once at the end
of your day. Use a clean washcloth, warm water and a mild soap or cleanser.
This simple regimen will be effective at ridding your skin of dust, dirt, dead
skin cells and bacteria. You don't want to dry out your face by stripping away
all of its oil, and you can do more harm than good by agitating or weakening
your skin by scrubbing too hard.
13: Work up a sweat;
A great way to improve your skin's appearance, not to mention you’re physical,
mental and emotional health is to get some regular exercise. Half-an-hour's
worth of exercise three to four times a week is preferable, but any amount is
better than none. Stress prompts your skin to crank up oil production, so
anything you can do to reduce stress (taking a yoga class, for example) helps
with breakouts. Working out also restores order to fluctuating hormone levels,
which in turn reduces sebum production in the follicles. That's not the only
skin benefit you get from exercise, sweating helps clear out your pores,
ushering those dead skin cells to the surface where they can't cause as much trouble.
12: Loosen up when
you're working out;
We’re all familiar with acne on our faces, but some of us
break out pretty much anywhere on our bodies. One major cause of this is acne
mechanica, a form of acne caused by friction, heat, and constant contact between
skin and clothing or athletic gear. Headbands and helmets are likely to cause
acne on the hairline, and chin straps will leave their mark as well. If you
have athletic gear that rubs against your skin, try loosening it up or removing
it during those times it's not in use. Many jogging suits or yoga outfits can
cause acne problems as well. This is usually because they're too snug-fitting
or made of synthetic fibers. Switch to loose-fitting clothes made of cotton,
and you should soon start to see an improvement in your skin.
11: Don't forget to
shower;
Perhaps the only thing that feels better than going to the gym is
leaving it. With that post-workout endorphin high still lingering, it's easy to
wrap up a workout, go home and find a comfortable place to collapse. But when
you get comfy making dinner or checking your e-mail, you're forgetting
something important. When you exercise, the sweat that leaves your body through
your pores takes dead skin cells with it. This is a very good thing -- it's the
accumulation of these dead skin cells that can lead to blockages. However, once
that sweat evaporates, it leaves salt behind on your skin. If you don't wash
these dead skin cells and salt off in short order, they'll block recently
cleared pores. One of the best ways to get rid of this salty build-up is to use
a moisturizing body wash. Not only will it clean the salt off of your skin, but
it will help replenish the moisture lost during your workout.
10: Buy some benzoyl peroxide;
Many people who have had
trouble with acne have gotten good results from using benzoyl peroxide.
Although prescription versions are available (mostly for cleansers or lotions),
most products with benzoyl peroxide can be obtained over the counter. There are
a number of products available, but most involve a cream or gel that is applied
to broken-out portions of the face. Benzoyl peroxide kills the P. acnes bacterium
that causes inflammation in a blocked pore. It may take about three weeks for
results to occur, so be patient.
9: Stock up on salicylic acid;
Though it doesn't kill
bacteria or have any effect upon sebum production, salicylic acid can be useful
in your efforts to get rid of acne. Salicylic acid causes your skin to shed its
outermost layer. By getting rid of this layer of dead skin cells, your skin
will be better able to keep pores nice and clear of blockages. You'll want to
avoid putting this peeling agent on any irritated or sensitive skin, or any
skin that has cuts or sores. And you have to keep using it once you stop,
the benefits cease.
8: Take a look at your makeup;
When you're looking for the
cause of your acne breakouts, you might want to consider your makeup. Makeup
alone doesn't necessarily cause breakouts, but it certainly doesn't help. In
some cases, people may notice a significant increase in facial blemishes when
wearing a certain brand or type of makeup. If this is the case, switch brands
or select products labeled "oil-free" or "noncomedogenic."
Give it a few weeks to see if there's any difference. This definitely takes
patience, which isn't always in such large supply when our skin is waging war
against us. But it's worth it to switch out products (and behaviors)
methodically, keeping track of what works and what doesn't. Regardless of what
type of makeup you wear, always wash it off when your day is finished. Leaving
makeup on overnight is a good way to make sure you'll need more of it when you
wake up.
7: Ask for antibiotics;
If over-the-counter treatments don't
work, you may need to bump it up a notch and try antibiotics. These medications
damage or destroy bacteria, helping the body battle infections great and small.
When used to treat acne, antibiotics (which are available in pill or topical
form) kill the P. acnes bacterium, thus helping to reduce existing inflammation
while preventing future bacterial growth through continued use. Tetracycline is
commonly prescribed for acne, and it works by taking away the bacteria's
ability to produce proteins. Watch out, though -- it's not all clear skies (and
skin) from here. Antibiotic treatment for acne sometimes causes dryness or
scaling. Oral antibiotics can also make your skin sensitive to light, so you'll
want to stock up on sunscreen or risk a very nasty burn.
6: Consider birth
control pills;
Women who are dealing with acne can look to an unconventional
source of relief: birth control pills. Not only can oral contraceptives help
regulate menstrual cycles and prevent pregnancy, a prescription for these
once-a-day pills may also be your ticket to clearer skin. The reason our skin
goes crazy during adolescence (this is true for both genders) is that our
bodies are cranking out high levels of hormones such as androgen and
testosterone. These sex hormones prompt glands in the skin to produce higher
levels of oil called sebum. Acne results when this excess sebum clogs up the
pore along with dead skin cells. The FDA has approved three different birth
control pills for treatment of acne. All three contain a mix of the hormones
estrogen and progestin. These hormones seem to lower sebum production in women,
resulting in less acne. This form of treatment is usually only considered once
other treatments -- such as topical options -- have failed. There are
drawbacks, however. For one, there's no guarantee it will work. Also, anyone on
birth control pills runs the risk of potential side effects, from headache to
nausea to high blood pressure. Women with certain health conditions (heart
diseases and trouble with blood clots, for example) shouldn't take oral
contraceptives at all.
5: Manage stress (and sebum);
If you're not careful, all this
worrying about acne is going to give you acne. Many people notice a link
between feeling stressed out and experiencing acne breakouts. Some stress
behaviors certainly contribute to bad skin: lack of exercise, nervously
touching your face, not bathing or maintaining proper hygiene and maybe even
poor diet (researchers go back and forth on diet's role in acne). But the
body's chemical reaction to stress itself can play a major role in your skin's
appearance. When we undergo stress, the hypothalamus prompts other cells to
produce and release stress hormones, one of which is cortisol. These hormones
prepare you for a "fight-or-flight" situation -- your heart rate
quickens, your perception becomes sharper, and your skin produces more oil.
This oil -- sebum -- is produced by glands found inside hair follicles. It
travels up and out of the hair follicle, taking with it dead skin cells. When
it reaches the surface, it forms a protective coating. When sebum and dead skin
cells get backed up in the follicle, this is due largely to one of two reasons:
something on the skin's surface has blocked the pore (like makeup or dirt), or
there is an increased production of sebum (which occurs during puberty). When
you get stressed out, you boost sebum levels, and your skin pays the price.
4: Try isotretinoin;
Occasionally,
people will find that no matter how hard they try, common treatments such as
salicylic acid don't produce the hoped-for results. Fortunately, there's a
stronger oral medication available that your doctor can prescribe to you:
isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is known by a variety of brand names (Accutane, for
one), and it's been proven to be effective for treating severe acne.
Interestingly, nobody is quite sure why isotretinoin works to reduce acne, but
it's believed that it reduces the amount of sebum production. For some people,
this drug will end their association with acne forever more; for others, it may
significantly reduce the number and intensity of future outbreaks. While
there's no guarantee it will work at all, isotretinoins anti-acne effects are
usually achieved after four to five months of treatment. The drug isn't a step
you should take lightly, though some of the side effects are scary, such as
birth defects if a woman taking it becomes pregnant (or is already pregnant).
3: Follow the light (and the heat);
Some acne treatments
require significantly more hardware than others. Various forms of low-intensity
light (colored blue, red, green-yellow or a combination) seem to be effective
in killing the P. acnes bacteria. This is helpful in treating acne because when
pores get partially or fully clogged, bacteria on the scene is attracted to the
blockage and then multiplies, causing inflammation. By using a wand like
device, a doctor can painlessly apply the light treatments, which are only
effective for as long as the treatments continue. There's a chance of mild skin
irritation, but otherwise there are no side effects. Using a special heat wand,
a doctor can treat your acne in a similar fashion as through light treatment.
However, instead of eradicating bacteria, the use of heat shrinks the size of
the sebaceous glands. This results in less sebum production, and, with any
luck, less acne.
2: Sandblast;
It some of us have more or less unencumbered
ourselves of the acne scourge only to still display the scarring it left
behind. Many people have acne scarring, and one way to get rid of it is through
microdermabrasion. This isn't dermabrasion, which brushes away a comparatively
thick layer of skin. Microdermabrasion is less intense than that, and way
cooler. A doctor using a wand like device bombards your face with tiny
particles of aluminum oxide. It sounds painful, but it doesn't hurt.
Simultaneous to the bombardment, the device vacuums up the particles from your
skin, so you won't leave the clinic looking like you just fell asleep face-down
on the beach. This only affects the outermost layers of skin, leaving your skin
looking and feeling smoother. Microdermabrasion isn't a one-time treatment, but
usually requires one treatment a week over the course of several months to
achieve optimal results. You may experience a little short-term redness, but
should enjoy less redness overall in the long run.
1: Explore lasers;
If
you're looking to exact revenge against your uncooperative sebaceous glands,
you may choose to take the battle to the next level: lasers. Lasers utilizing
pulsating lights can be focused on problematic parts of the skin, producing
heat beneath the skin's surface. This heat causes thermal damage to the
sebaceous glands but doesn't damage the surface of your skin. Laser treatment
reduces acne by half after just two sessions. Be warned that it's not all fun
and games, though -- even with a topical painkiller, the treatment may still
cause discomfort or pain. You might also experience swelling and redness for a
day or two.
This blog publisher does not advise on self medication and cannot
be help responsibly for anybody who does as this shared article serves as a
suggestion and not to replace any medical advice from your physician.