It is a great irony that we are most likely to suffer from acne in the years where we have an abundance of youthful beauty. Although acne can affect people of any age, it affects teenagers and young adults the most. Our skin is covered in hair follicles. These openings get clogged with oil and other foreign materials. The blockage causes redness, infections, blackheads, pimples, and even lumps and lesions deeper in the skin. Everyone has a different experience with acne, but because it affects our appearance, it can be a traumatic experience. It happens when we are going through many other changes, and our self-confidence takes a beating. Here are some treatments and strategies to limit the effects of acne.
- Medications and Treatments: The remedies available for acne treatment are too numerous to list. A doctor should prescribe medicines for serious acne problems. But for less severe cases, there are several over the counter options. These will all be topical medications to reduce infection and inflammation. Finding the one that works the best for you will be a trial-and-error- process, but if you have older siblings, likely what worked for them will work for you.
- Cleanliness: The best protection against acne is cleanliness, however, it is not true that the more you wash your face, the better off you will be. Washing your face damages the outer or horny layer of your skin. This layer is there for protection, and it needs time to recover. Deep cleaning and facial scrubs take even longer to recuperate from. These processes do work, but you must allow for recovery. It is best to wash with mild soap and water in the morning and before bed. If you do deep cleaning, leave several days between treatments.
- Diet: We all love to eat, but what we like is not necessarily helpful. They used to say that chocolate or fatty foods will cause acne, but the real problem is processed foods with saturated fats loaded with free radicals and other unnatural elements. Natural fats are actually good for your skin, especially fish oils and avocado oils. Nuts are good but avoid oils made from nuts and seeds because these usually have been altered chemically. Other foods that are good for you are peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, green tea, and red grapes.
- Makeup: Most makeup these days is formulated to avoid causing acne. But makeup is always going to cause some irritation. Cosmetics can cause a vicious circle where washed, and irritated skin gets clogged with impurities which cause acne. Then the acne gets covered with more makeup, and the cycle repeats, making it harder and harder for your skin to recover. If at all possible, give your face a break from cosmetics as often as you can.
Acne is never as bad as we think it is. Unfortunately, almost everyone has to deal with acne for part of their lives. Everyone understands what you are going through. It is best to take care of yourself regularly and not to get too stressed out about it. If you do develop a severe condition, your doctor will help you find relief.