In order to clear up and prevent acne, make sure you're not actually washing your skin too much. A gentle wash two times a day is recommended. While washing is obviously important for skin care, washing too vigorously or too much can actually harm your skin as it may irritate and dry it out.
Lots of people get acne when they are stressed. Stress causes the body to produce the hormone cortisol, which may trigger acne outbreaks. By engaging yourself in activities that you find relaxing (such as deep breathing or yoga), you can greatly decrease your chances of having an acne outbreak.
A simple and relatively inexpensive home remedy for acne can be found in baking soda. Baking soda acts as a natural exfoliant by helping to remove dead skin cells. It also cleans and unclogs pores. To use, simply create a paste by combining a little water and baking soda, and wash away after 15 minutes.
If you notice recurring breakouts or blemishes on one side of your face only, you may be exposing yourself to a dirty phone or pillowcase. Try wiping down your phone earpiece and mouthpiece with an antibacterial cleanser, and alternate ears. You may also change your pillowcase more frequently because dirt and oils pressed into the fabric may be the culprit.
Whether you exercise at the gym, home, at school, or participate in sports, remember to shower after breaking an intense sweat. While sweat is good for clearing out your pores, it's not good when it remains on your skin to fester and soak back in. Take a shower to wash off any remaining dirt, skin flakes, and bacteria to avoid acne.
If you must shave during an acne breakout, consider using a standard blade and not using an electric razor. Try to shave with the direction of hair growth, not against it. Shaving can irritate acne prone skin and lead to scarring, so be very gentle with your skin while shaving.
Avoid caffeine to keep your skin nice and clear. Caffeine triggers your body to produce more stress hormones. Stress hormones will cause your body to react in ways that will increase the amount of acne flare-ups. Stay away from caffeine containing products to help clear up your acne issues.
It you have repeated bouts of acne, seek professional help from a dermatologist. Over-the-counter medication does not work for everyone. It is important to obtain help from an expert that will be able to assess the situation and can prescribe more powerful treatments, if they are needed, to rid your skin of acne. Just remember, if you wait too long to see a physician, you may suffer permanent scarring from your acne.
In order to prevent breakouts, try to incorporate more Zinc into your diet. It is necessary for the skin's oil producing glands and an essential antibacterial mineral. It is proven that a person whose diet is low in Zinc is more likely to develop both acne and blackhead outbreaks on their face.
Giving up on a product or regime to fight acne because it does not give you immediate results is counterproductive. Of course, you want all blemishes gone as quickly as possible, but some products take time. Finding the best product in combination with a good cleansing routine is a bit of a trial and error process. Follow all instructions carefully. Also, stick with a product for the prescribed time, in order for it to really be effective for you.
So there you have it, some sure fire tips for dealing with acne. It's never fun to find your face full of zits and the quicker you get rid of them, the better. Follow the bits of advice you've found here and your skin will be clear again in no time. Maybe even in time for that special night out.