Acne is one of those pesky little problems that shows up
especially when you don’t want it to. Most people spend a lot of time and money
to keep pimples from popping up but it doesn’t always stop them. Because acne has several causes and not
everyone experiences the same type of acne, it makes it difficult to completely
eliminate acne from occurring. The acne industry is continually growing due to its frequent
occurrence. Acne products and treatments are widely available and used.
However, what if there was another way to keep your skin clear of acne. Diet,
lifestyle, habit, and skin care all contribute to acne free skin. Follow these
tips to reduce your acne outbursts and keep your skin looking young and
beautiful.
- Avoid
touching your face. Not just with your hands but also with anything that
potentially has microorganisms on it such as hair, towels, pillows, or
tissues. All of these can carry oil, dirt or bacteria onto the face, which
can cause acne. Although it’s difficult, limit the contact between your
face and hands. If you must touch your face remember to wash your hands
first. Additionally, use clean towels, pillowcases and tissues when coming
into contact with your face.
- Don’t
pop your pimples. When you pop your pimples the bacterium within the clogged
pores comes out, which can further spread the infection and inflammation.
So instead of having one pimple you can end up with 20. Additionally you
increase inflammation, and redness of the area surrounding the pimple due
to the unnecessary pressure. Not to mention that if your hands are not
clean when you pop your pimples, you can transfer more dirt, oil and
bacteria into your pores making your acne worse.
- Eat a
healthy, balance diet. This includes eating fresh fruits and vegetables
that are loaded with vitamins, minerals and water. Fruits and vegetables
are easily digested and keep the flow of elimination in the body up to
par. Caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates increase the oil produced
within the sebaceous glands making acne more likely to occur. Eating a
balanced diet keeps your skin healthy and nourished from the inside out.
Healthy foods improve the look of your skin.
- Drink water. The body needs water
to properly hydrate the body, maintain blood pressure and elimination.
Dehydrated skin, looks dry, can crack and can retain bacteria and toxins
that is normally expelled through perspiration. Additionally water helps
to maintain skins elasticity, which promotes cellular growth and repair. A
proper amount of water to drink is 6-8 glasses daily. This will keep your
skin glowing and naturally acne free.
- Use
oil free products. This includes cosmetics, cleansers, face washes, and
hair products. The oil in these products can contribute to clogged pores
and acne outbursts. Oil and cream based products can cause skin irritation
and allergic reactions. Additionally, avoid using cosmetic products over
pimples. Although it’s natural to use cosmetic products to cover up acne
breakouts, it can actually make acne worse. The chemicals in make up can
exacerbate acne and cause more inflammation on the skin.
- Always
remove make up at the end of the day before you go to bed. Leaving make up
on you face allows pores to become clogged and acne bacteria to flourish.
Residue from make up can accumulate on pillowcase and cause dirt and oil
build up in your pores. Always use a fresh pillowcase to avoid sleeping on
dirt and oils from your hair and face.
- Shampoo
your hair regularly. Dirty hair or hair with product in it can transfer
oil, dirt and bacteria to you face upon contact. By keeping your hair
clean you can avoid the transfer of these pore-clogging materials. If you
do use product in your hair use a headband, or pull it back off your face.
The chemicals in hair products although ok for your hair and scalp may cause
irritation when it comes into contact with your face. Always shower after exercise as
well. Sweat can cause product, oil and dirt to move from your hair to your
face, which can get trapped in your pores causing acne to occur.
- Exercise
on a regular basis. Exercise increases circulation of the blood, nutrients
and oxygen to the skin, which allows for proper expulsion of toxins and
chemicals through perspiration. Exercise also reduces stress, which
reduces the hormone imbalance within the body, which can cause acne.
- Try to
6-8 hours of sleep a night. Our brain and body need time to reboot and
recharge through sleeping. When we sleep our body cleanses the system of
toxins from the previous day. In addition, sleep gives our body the rest
it needs to be able to maintain all the systems of the body especially the
immune system that protects our skin. Without adequate energy our body is
unable to work properly and our systems don’t work efficiently. Sleep
restores our body’s energy levels so we can adequately fight off
infection, inflammation and bacteria.
- Stop
smoking. There is no doubt that smoking is bad for you health. However, in
addition to all the terrible things that it does to your bodies it also
harms our skin and can actually make acne worse. If quitting is something
you struggle with try to cut down on the amount you smoke until you are able
to give it up completely.