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.
Sarah Labdar, “10 Acne Free Skin Tips For Everyday Life”, Everyday Health
