Acne may not be a serious health issue, but it can lower your self-confidence. Acne occurs due to bacterial infection, hormonal fluctuations, and blocked hair follicles. No matter the cause, breakouts can affect your social life. If you have acne, what is on top of your list is how to get rid of it. Do not worry. Here is a simple guide to help you get rid of acne.
Avoid Dairy
Dairy products contain antibiotics that will only make the acne worse. Milk has testosterone precursors, which increase sebum production. Skimmed milk is strongly related to breakouts. Milk also contains sugar which stimulates insulin. You can replace dairy products with coconut-based dairy-free varieties.
Topical Acne Treatments
Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinoids are common acne treatments but retinoids are the most transformative. The treatment helps with collagen production and reduces blackhead and whitehead formation. You’ll get the best result with a combination of retinoids and benzoyl peroxide. You can also use pastes and spot creams that help in speeding up the whitehead’s resolution. The other treatment you can use is azelaic acid, which kills Propionibacterium acnes bacteria that cause pimples. You can also get an acne treatment kit. The kit comes with charcoal nose strips, salicylic acid dots, and Hydrocolloid dots that are effective in treating pimples. Patience is essential when trying a new product since a pimple lasts six weeks. You need to use a product that long before you can give up and say it is not working.
Have a Simple Skincare Routine
Most people will go on a cleansing and exfoliation spree as soon as they notice a pimple. However, that will only make it worse. Washing your face constantly with soap disrupts the skin’s natural acidity. Excessive washing of your face will strip the oils, making the body produce more oil. Using a gentle wash and applying a moisturizer can make a huge difference. You should stick to washing your face once or twice a day. Clean skin will help you get rid of pimples.
Oral Medication
Birth control pills can work wonders on your acne. Since it lowers testosterone levels, it will be effective in reducing acne. Make sure you have an exit strategy. When you stop using the birth control pills, you go back to square one. The other medication you can use is Spironolactone. Even though the medication is meant for blood pressure, it can help with breakouts. The other option is Accutane which is given only on prescription. The good thing about the medication is that it will continue working even after discontinued use.
Have a Healthy Diet
Embrace a healthy diet to have clear skin. Sugary foods increase acne breakouts because they increase insulin levels. Therefore, having a diet with less sugar can reduce breakouts. You can have a food diary to identify the foods that cause the breakouts. A diet with green leafy vegetables and fruits will improve your skin’s quality because they are rich in antioxidants. You should include cabbage, kale, chia seeds, oats, and broccoli in your diet. Such foods will eliminate the toxins that cause breakouts.
Stay Hydrated
Even though you will not get pimple-free skin overnight by drinking eight glasses of water daily, your skin and overall health will improve. Your skin is prone to breakouts when the skin surface is dry. Water will not cause breakouts because it does not contain sugar. When you drink enough water, your skin will remain hydrated and prevent acne.
Use a Moisturizer
You may be worried that a moisturizer can make the acne breakouts worse. However, that is not the case. A moisturizer will give improvements to your skin and help with acne. When you are dehydrated, the oil glands produce too much oil, which can worsen acne. A moisturizer will hydrate your skin and improve acne. Look for a moisturizer that can hold moisture and is lightweight. Make sure the moisturizer you buy is labeled non-comedogenic－meaning it won’t cause acne.
Getting rid of acne is not something you can do in a day. You’ll need a lot of patience to get rid of acne. You’ll notice improvements with time. You can start with the above guide to see clear and acne-free skin.
Also Read: 6 Common Skin Care Mistakes
