Having had acne for 6 years has definitely taught
me ways in which I can avoid creating acne, as well as what can trigger a
breakout!
Some of these things are commonly known and others
are tips I’ve personally found worked, as well as information I’ve found
throughout the Internet that really helps!
There are many different causes that can create
acne.
STESS, DIET, SLEEP, BACTERIA, HORMONES, OR
GENETICS. These are some quick tips and tricks to avoid producing acne, and or
maintaining healthy skin. By identifying these elements in your life, you’re
able to be aware of their effects and preventions.
Stress:
- If
you are in a high-pressure environment and are constantly under STRESS, this
can be a big reason to which you are breaking out. Frequent exercise can clear
the mind, which could include something as simple as a quick walk, yoga,
meditation or high intensity sports.
Keep a diary/notebook to schedule your life and to write down any ideas,
this way you keep your mind de-cluttered and organized.
- If
you are under an amount of stress that isn’t easily controlled, seek
professional help.
- Lavender
is also very calming. Lavender oil in a bath, pillow spray or of any other form
can help relax the senses.
Diet:
- Drinking
at least 1 litre of WATER a day flushes out any toxins sitting in the body and
revitalizes your insides! This is a great way to clear your skin from the
inside out. Drinking GREEN TEA is also hugely beneficial for cleaning and
detoxing.
- You
need a balance of good skincare for the outside, and a good DIET for your
insides. A well-known skin clearing diet (Dr Perricone Salmon diet) consists of
eating salmon and eggs everyday, along with greens, vegies, berries and nuts
(the usual!).
- Milk
is a big NO! As unscientific as I am, I do know for a fact that when I drink
milk, I break out; badly! I’ve read many articles online from other bloggers
and such, that they find this an issue too. It’s not all dairy though, Greek
yogurt and small portions of cheese are okay, it’s just that concentrated cow
milk which does something under my skin that just explodes the next day, and
then sticks around for weeks! Sorry everyone, but try opt for alternatives and
see if you notice the difference.
Sleep:
- SLEEP,
oh please just sleep! Let your body rest, and your skin will as well. Have you
ever looked in the mirror after a good rest and liked what you saw? Maybe it’s
time to do that more often. 10 hours would be ideal, but at minimum try aim for
8 hours a night! For a little extra effect, apply a face serum before bed and wake
up supple, nourished and well rested.
Bacteria:
- DO
NOT POP PIMPLES! I cannot stress this enough. If you pop a pimple, the bacteria
bursts underneath your skin and spreads only to create more. You can
often get away with blackheads but make sure to wrap your fingers in tissue so
as not to burst any capillaries (blood vessels). If anything, just avoid
popping all together!
- Having
a fringe, or any hair touching the skin can irritate it. Try keeping hair away
from the face; and any other problem areas such as neck, back and shoulders. If
you still want to wear your hair down, at least make sure you have your hair
tied back when you sleep, as this will ensure your product-loaded locks don’t
end up transferring bad chemicals and bacteria to your freshly cleaned face.
- Please
please don't use flannels. They are harsh on the skin and once you’ve washed
all the muck and makeup off your face, it isn’t always rinsed from the cloth
and lies damp in the warm bathroom to grow with bacteria, ready for you to use
it again in the morning (yum).
- As
with the face flannel, towels can build up with bacteria over time too. It’s
ideal to change to a fresh towel once a week. Especially if you’re using one
towel to dry your hair; that’s assumingly packed with comedogenic hair
products. Try using one towel for your face and other problem areas, and
another towel for wherever else!
- Sometimes
depending on the severity of the acne, some "CHEAPER" PRODUCTS aren't
as refined and effective on combatting acne. From my own experience I do not
like the way brands such as Clearasil clean my face. Opt for a gel cleanser
that contains acne fighting ingredients such as Salicylic acid, Glycolic acid
or Benzol Peroxide (But only in small amounts so as not to distress the
skin!!). These will give you faster results of clearer skin.
- Avoid
sleeping with your face against the PILLOW. Your pillow builds up with dead
skin, bacteria, and any hair products that transfer from your hair. If you
cannot sleep on your back or side, make sure to wash your pillow cases and
sheets often with a gently formulated washing powder (organic is ideal).
- Some
TOOTHPASTES aggravate the skin around the mouth and can often lead to
breakouts. Avoid products that say they control tartar or contain baking soda
as a main ingredient.
- Along
with your pillow-cases, MAKEUP BRUSHES can build up with bacteria and product
over time and frequent usage, so by washing brushes weekly at a minimum you
avoid transfer of bacteria from your brush to your face.
- MAKEUP
comes second important to skin care. What you clean and nourish your skin with
is the most vital and beneficial way to clear your skin, but if you smother it
with bad ingredients then you might as well not have cleaned your face at all!
This is a list of BAD ingredients found in makeup that I found on Acne.org
o
5 Isopropyl
isostearate
o
5 Isopropyl
myristate
o
5 Myristyl
myristate
o
5 Laureth-4
o
5 Oleth-3
o
4 Coconut
butter
o
4 Acetylated
lanolin
o
4 Acetylated
lanolin alcohol
o
4 Lauric acid
o
4 Isopropyl
palmitate
o
4 Isostearyl
isostearate
o
4 Myristyl
lactate
o
4 Stearyl
heptanoate
o
4 Cetearyl
alcohol + ceteareth 20
o
4 Cocoa butter
o
3 Mink oil
o
3 Soybean oil
o
3 Shark liver
oil
o
3 D&C red
#30
o
3 Stearic acid:
TEA
o
3 Myristic acid
o
3 Buytl
stearate
o
3 Decyl oleate
o
3 Isostearyl
neopentanoate
o
3 Glyceryl
stearate SE
o
3 Wheat germ
glyceride
o
3 Laureth-23
- Some
shampoos and conditioners can contain bad ingredients as well. When you’re
washing your hair, the product most likely leaks down on your face. If you
notice that you have breakouts around your hairline or down your back and
shoulders, this could be the reason. To avoid this either swap your current
shampoo and conditioner to an organic one, or one you’ve used before that
you’ve noticed hasn’t broken you out. (I find that Palmolive S+C don’t break me
out and are not organic). Another way to avoid breaking out from your S+C is to
wash you hair first, then wash your hands with soap, then proceed to wash your
face, neck and shoulders with a cleanser to remove any residue sitting on the
skin.
Hormones and Genetics:
- If
you have severe acne then it’s time that you take charge and opt for more
effective and permanent means of controlling acne. See a doctor or
Dermatologist that can give you professional advice on what’s best for your
skin, and what they see to be the main triggers.
- Prescription
medicine may be something that they suggest for you. This is a list of some
forms of medicine that are available.
o
Roaccutane capsules
o
Contraceptive pill
o
Laser
o
Epi duo gel
o Differin
gel
Random Tip:
- Icing
and massaging blind pimples can stimulate the blood around the acne that will
help speed up the process of it disappearing or forming a head. Applying tea
tree oil is also a way of combatting these types of pimples.
