Pimples, zits and blackheads: Oh my! No matter what you call it, acne is a fact of life for millions of people everywhere. It ranges from mild to severe and it’s not just a teenager issue.
These blemishes are mostly caused by hormonal changes or a genetic disorder. The following will cover a few facts you need to know about blemishes to help you understand better what to do and what not to do.
Step 1 – Don’t let “diet advice” bother you. Sweets and certain other sugary or starchy foods can make an outbreak worse, but there is no evidence that proves it’s actually a cause for pimples. There’s no harm in enjoying a piece or two of Halloween candy as it’s highly unlikely it will cause a pimple outbreak. After all, it’s just once a year. It is advised however, to make sure you do eat fresh fruits and vegetables, good proteins and whole grains in order to maintain healthy skin.
Step 2 – Hands Off – It’s very tempting to pop or pick at those pimples, but resist the temptation. First it’s not exactly an attractive thing to do, but it can also cause scarring of your skin and the bacteria on your hands and under your nails can cause it to get worse or infected.
Step 3 – Makeup – What you don’t want is heavy makeup that clogs pores. When you choose foundation make sure to look for those that are oil-free and non-pore clogging (non-comedogenic). You also want to avoid sun damage by finding a good sunscreen.
Step 4 – Clean Skin – You should at least wash your skin with a gentle, mild cleanser (or soap) once in the morning and once before bed. You want to wash the makeup, sunscreen oil and bacteria from your skin, but you don’t want to scrub acne affected areas. Also avoid using rubbing alcohol and harsh facial scrubs as these can cause more irritation and even make breakouts worse. Make sure to cleanse your hairline thoroughly as that is a primary outbreak area.
Step 5 – Hair products – One of the first places you see pimples is in along the whole hairline from your forehead to your jawline. There are a lot of hair care products with heavy oils and irritants in them. You should avoid leave-in conditioners, heavy pomades and other hair products containing various types of oils. This will help keep those outbreaks to a minimum. Fast fact: You can avoid an acne outbreak by using a face shield or file folder when applying your hairspray or other spray-on products.