Anyone living with acne knows the struggle of healing their skin can be daunting, yet you can combat it effectively while soothing current pimples by also preventing new ones from forming, ending the often troubling cycle of breakouts.
Pimples can appear anywhere on the skin, though they tend to manifest more frequently on the face. While our microbiome can be complex, scientists have identified Propionibacterium acnes as one of the major contributors of acne breakouts by turning sebum oil produced naturally on our bodies into fatty acids and creating inflammation.
Although there’s no foolproof solution for ridding your skin of acne completely, you can reduce breakouts and aid with maintaining as healthy skin as possible. Here are eight strategies to stop pimples and get on your journey towards clearer skin.
What Causes Acne ?
Breakouts may be initiated by hormones, particularly androgen which stimulates sebum production. Hereditary traits, diet, overuse of skin products or environmental pollution could all play a role. All these can contribute to skin irritation leading to acne breakouts.
Other common causes include:
- puberty, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle
- pressing or picking at existing pimples
- cleaning or scouring your skin too harshly
- tension from things like hats, protective caps, and backpack straps
- high humidity
- beauty care products, similar to oil-based items
- a few medications
What’s The Contrast Among Acne And Pimples ?
Although acne and pimples are frequently used interchangeably, they should not be considered synonymous. Acne is considered a skin condition, while pimples are just an effect. Acne is defined as an infection of hair follicles and glands on the surface of skin that affects hair production as well as gland function.
Different side effects of acne can indicate the cause of breakouts. These may include:
- blackheads (stopped pores on the skin’s surface that are open)
- whiteheads (stopped pores under the skin’s surface that are shut)
- papules (small, delicate red or pink knocks)
- pustules (papules with discharge on top)
- nodules (large, painful protuberances profound under the skin’s surface)
- cysts (painful, discharge filled protuberances under the skin’s surface)
1. Appropriately Wash Your Face
To help prevent pimples, it’s essential to remove excess oil, soil and sweat daily from your face – excessive washing may make acne worse! Washing too often could also exacerbate issues.
Dr. Anar Mikailove, MD from his board-approved dermatology practice explains, when we strip away too much sebum through overbearing washing, it prompts your skin to produce more oil in response. Therefore, frequent facewashing may only exacerbate acne conditions further and/or using cleansers or astringents which dry out your skin too much are known to increase outbreaks of acne.
Mikailove suggests opting for gentle cleansers that are sulfate- and fragrance-free, suitable for twice daily use and made specifically to target acne, rather than harsh physical scrubs or foaming cleansers that could potentially irritate and dry out skin.
Apply a gentle cleanser using gentle circular strokes using only your fingertips, not a washcloth.
To wash your face:
- Wet your face with warm, not hot, water.
- Apply a gentle cleanser in a delicate, circular movement utilizing your fingers, not a washcloth.
- Flush thoroughly, and pat dry.
2. Realize Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type is often useful so that you know which products to use and avoid. Use the following criteria to help identify which skin type you may possess (although consulting a dermatologist for assistance may also be beneficial):
Your skin can often feel tight and flaky.
Oily: Your skin may often look glowing before the day’s over.
Combination: Your skin features both dry and oily spots (typically the T-Zone or forehead, nose and jawline area).
Sensitive: Your skin is easily irritated and susceptible to redness. Mikailove notes that oilier skin types tend to be more likely to experience acne breakouts; however, anyone can develop pimples. Being knowledgeable of your own skin type will assist with selecting an acne regimen tailored specifically for you – something having your information handy will do.
Mikailove elaborates: “For instance, if your skin is sensitive and acneic, using too many actives aimed at targeting acne such as salicylic acid wash, exfoliating toner, and retinol cream may be too much for it, leading to further breakouts due to an impaired barrier function,” while using lotion formulated for dry skin may be too occlusive and lead to blocked up pores.
Moisturizers help the skin stay hydrated. No matter if you suffer from acne, utilizing cream is still crucial because if your skin becomes overly dry it will produce oil (sebum) to compensate – an abundance of sebum causes pimples.
Unfortunately, many creams contain oil, synthetic fragrance or other fixings which could irritate skin and trigger pimples. When purchasing cream for acne-prone or sensitive skin conditions, make sure that its ingredient list includes no fragrance-causing compounds and is noncomedogenic; the fewer its components the better!
3. Utilize A Lotion
Moisturizers assist the skin with staying hydrated. Regardless of whether you have acne, cream is important because in the event that your skin gets excessively dry, it will create oil (sebum) to counterbalance – and an abundance of sebum causes pimples.
Notwithstanding, many creams contain oil, synthetic fragrance, or other fixings that may irritate skin and cause pimples. Make certain to check the fixing list before purchasing a cream and make sure that it’s fragrance-free and noncomedogenic. With regards to any item for acne-inclined or sensitive skin, the less fixings, the better.
4. Stay Hydrated
Being dehydrated can trigger oil glands on the skin to produce more oil, leaving your complexion dull with inflammation and redness worsened by dehydration.
Stay hydrated by drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day, especially after exercising or spending time in humid environments. Be sure to increase your fluid consumption post workout, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or in hot and humid climates.
5. Make An Effort Not To Contact Your Face
Contacting your face too frequently can transfer bacteria – and those pore-clogging debasements – onto it, leading to breakouts on your skin. Therefore, be aware of how often you touch it, catching yourself when doing it as much as possible.
Do your best to wash your hands regularly so that if they come into contact with your face, your hands are clean.
6. Limit Sun Openness
Limit Sun Exposure Exposing yourself to direct sunlight may temporarily help dry out pimples, but prolonged sun exposure has serious repercussions in the form of dehydrated skin that produces more oil and leads to blocked pores over time.
Sunscreen should be worn daily to protect the skin year-round. Unfortunately, many sunscreens contain oil that could clog your pores; to get maximum sun and pimple protection choose noncomedogenic oil-free sunscreens instead.
7. Try Not To Be A Pimple Popper
Even if it seems tempting, squeezing that large whitehead on your nose could prove disastrous. Popping pimples may lead to scarring or infection as well as increasing inflammation and blocking pores around the pimple causing even greater problems than initially imagined.
8. Avoid Certain Foods
Your diet can also play a part in contributing to acne breakouts. Processed food, dairy items, alcohol and refined sugar are commonly responsible. Reducing your consumption of such items could help alleviate breakouts.
If reducing doesn’t seem to help with acne flare-ups, an elimination diet may help more clearly pinpoint their source. A typical elimination diet generally entails eliminating gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, fast food and alcohol for 23 days before reintroducing each food slowly into your diet and recording any changes to your skin that occur – this allows you to identify if any are actually your triggers and help better pinpoint whether any may actually be possible triggers of flare-ups.
Before beginning any new diet, it is advisable to speak with your physician and ensure you’re consuming an appropriate number of calories and nutrients daily.
