More Preventing, Less Curing?
Pimples, also known as acne, are the most common type of skin issues. Acne occurs when the oil glands under the skin are hyperactive and/or the pores of the skin become inflamed. Pimples can affect many people at any age, but it’s most dominant in teenagers. It’s the time they undergo hormonal changes in puberty, causing the skin’s oil glands to be hyperactive. Although pimples are free to grow on any part of the skin, they mostly affect the face. It’s difficult to completely prevent acne, but some cautions and tricks can keep it minimal and prevent the acne scars.
The best solution to any health issue is to prevent than "cure". There is NO CURE for acne, however acne can be treated and prevented. Here are a few effective tips & tricks to keep acne at bay.
Wash your face: Pimples grow better on a dirty skin. That’s why to wash your face gently twice per day to remove all the dirt, sweat, and excess oil. You can use lukewarm water and/or alcohol-free facial cleansers.
Exfoliate: Removing the dead skin cells prevents acne scarring, dry patches, and wrinkles. Exfoliating products contain microbeads to scrub off dead skin cells. ("The New Can't Shine If The Old Is Still Surfacing")
Wash your hands: Before you apply any cream, lotions or other cosmetics on your face, make sure to apply them with a fresh hand. An oily and dirty hand will make the pimple situation worse.
Shower: It’s important to wash away the bacteria, oil, and dirt from your skin. Instead of taking hot showers, you should prefer cooler water shower to help the pores close. This will prevent them from being blocked by dirt and bacteria.
Moisturize skin: The skin needs to stay hydrated. When applying moisturizer, make sure to avoid those that contain comedogenic ingredients, synthetic fragrance, and other irritating ingredients. Use non-comedogenic moisturizers. Choose products that have water-binding agents and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and glycerin. Avoid using cocoa butter, pigments and dyes (red in particular) in your face moisturizer, coal tar, and isopropyl myristate.
Don’t touch your face: Whenever you touch your face, the bacteria gets transferred as well, boosting the pimples. If you got a pimple, don’t touch it or the bacteria will spread throughout the face, causing more pimples.
Exercise: It’s always good for your overall health and can be beneficial for your skin as well. Don’t forget to take a nice shower afterward.
Avoid direct sunlight: The UV-ray in sunlight stimulates pigment-producing cells, increasing the risk of acne scars. If you need to, apply an oil-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen.
Wash your pillow cases, bed sheets, and towels: These are a great cultural media for bacteria, dirt, grime and dead skin cells. At the least, try to change them every a week or two. When washing, avoid using detergents with fragrance and dryer sheets.
Avoid certain foods: Foods play an important role in the skin. Avoid hot spicy foods and any high glycemic diet. Take a balanced diet with minimal refined sugar and drink enough water.
Reduce stress: Although stress isn’t a direct reason, it’s an indirect cause for pimples. Stress causes stimulation in oil glands, causing more acne.
Makeup: Too much cosmetics or makeup will make the situation worse. Use mild makeup and fewer cosmetics possible. Avoid oil-based makeup. Before going to bed, remove all the makeup as well.
Don’t squeeze, pick or pop your pimple: Each a pimple contains a large colony of the infecting bacteria. When squeezed or picked, bacteria will move deeper inside skin layers if not properly extracted. Harming the pimples will cause scars. If you have a pimple do not irritate it by touching it with dirty hands. If you decide to extract a pimple, the best time is immediately after taking a shower because your pores are open and hands are clean.
Most of the acne is due to hormonal issues and will be cleared up naturally. If things become serious, don’t forget to consult with the doctor for treatment. Consult an experienced dermatologist to spot and treat skin disorders. I believe that these tips will help you get rid of your acne problems. It’s the little things that make the difference. Cheers!