Many of us have experienced it and we all hate it: Acne. It usually pops up when you least want it to and can be a hassle to get rid of. There are several types of acne that you may experience. These are whiteheads, blackheads, cystic acne…the list goes on. While it’s important to understand not everyone experiences acne the same way or for the same reasons, there are some tried and true resolutions to combatting those annoying blemishes.
- One thing I cannot stress enough is the importance of hydration. Drinking plenty of water will help your skin stay hydrated and less oily, which can help reduce acne and redness on your skin. However, solely drinking water will not be the answer to completely clearing up blemishes.
- Gentle exfoliation is key. It’s important to slough off dead skin cells while making sure to use an exfoliant that is not going to tear or irritate your already sensitive skin. A gentle exfoliating cleanser, much like our AM Cleanser, is going to work best for acne-prone skin. This type of cleanser will not only leave your skin glowing, but it will also help to rid your face of dead skin cells, while treating your skin to powerful antioxidants, like acai extract.
- When washing your face, it’s important to use a clean towel every time. Using the same towel over and over can result in unwanted dirt ending up back on your face right after you’ve cleansed, which is not what you want when fighting acne. If you use a Clarisonic or other cleansing brush, it is important to change out your brushes every 3 months and clean them in between uses with soap and water. I even use white vinegar every two weeks or so to clean them by soaking them in the vinegar with warm water.
- We all know that food can affect how you look and feel, and it most certainly affects whether or not you develop acne. The biggest culprit is refined sugars and grains, plus greasy foods and hydrogenated oils. This may be because these types of foods cause spikes in blood sugar and inflammation. When these foods are digested in the intestine, they may trigger a hormonal response which translates to acne on the face, especially on the forehead. If you see acne on the forehead, it most likely comes from the digestion of greasy or inflammatory foods in the intestine. Pimples appear when skin and the connective sebaceous glands become clogged (with excess debris, oil, and cells) leaving the area prone to bacteria and yeast, which inflame the pore and cause an embarrassing pimple.
- Dairy has also been linked to the development of acne because of the trigger to your body to produce hormones, enabling your cells to absorb sugar. Foods rich in probiotics and Vitamin A are good choices to help you ward off any pimples. If you’re prone to acne, try drinking antioxidant-packed green tea instead of indulging in that piece of chocolate, which is also an acne triggering food. No one said it would be easy, but if you are acne prone, you will need to make adjustments in your diet just like those who are genetically prone to weighing more. It is just the luck of the genetic draw!
- Find a routine and stick to it. If you find certain products work better for your skin to fight acne better than others, then go with them! Getting to that point can be filled with some trial and error, but it will ultimately be worth it in the end.
Next week, I will cover specific medical treatments you may try that will help you with the fight against acne, so stay tuned. There are lots of breakthroughs with laser and chemical peels that may also help you in this fight!