Those of us who are prone to acne can live in fear of the next breakout. It’s hard to put your best face forward, after all, if acne has got you hiding your face! Learning about acne and what you can do to minimize your chances of breaking out can make a big difference.
Avoid wearing makeup constantly if you suffer from acne. You need to keep your pores as clear as possible. When they become clogged with makeup, it only contributes to the creation of more blackheads and pimples. Wear a water-based makeup when you are going out, but on days when you don’t have to, give your skin a break.
Caffeine found in various beverages and foods can have an adverse effect on the skin and can lead to acne. Cutting caffeine out of your diet may improve the appearance of your skin.
Tretinoin, a topical retinoid, is a popular medication used to treat comedonal acne, blackheads and whiteheads. It is the acid form of vitamin A and works by increasing skin cell turnover and clearing blocked pores. The medication is available in cream or gel from under the following brand names: Stieva-A, Aberela, Atralin, Airol, Retin-A, Avita, Refissa and Renova.
To reduce the redness that often comes with acne-irritated skin, stay cool. When your body overheats, it gets rid of the extra warmth by sending heat into your capillaries, where the heat can escape through your skin. Unfortunately, this creates a flushed look that can emphasize already-reddened pimples or broken capillaries. Have a cool drink, turn on the fan and avoid steam rooms and sunburns if you want to keep redness at bay.
When you are in the shower and washing your hair, tilt your head back when cleaning off your shampoo. Shampoo can sometimes stick to your face after your shower, irritating your skin and creating more acne. Alternatively, you can wash your hair in the sink to establish more control and eliminate the soap from hitting your face.
If over-the-counter treatments haven’t improved your acne breakouts, a dermatologist can prescribe more advanced treatments. A cream that might be prescribed for you is Retin-A, which you apply to your skin daily. While effective for many patients, it’s important to understand that it does take several weeks to achieve improvement.
Drink plenty of water to help keep your skin clean and clear of acne. This will help to clear all the bacteria off of your face, as well as keep you looking young and fresh. Try to drink around ten glasses of water a day to get the full effect.
If you are using medicated creams or gels to fight acne, don’t forget to use a moisturizer regularly. Most acne medications contain drying chemicals and alcohol. These drying formulations can lead your skin to overproduce oil, which can then lead to further and more aggressive breakouts. Make sure to work a moisturizer into your skin care regime to keep your skin’s oil production balanced.
Acne need not ruin your life. Effective treatments are available and you can find a course of action for your acne that will work for you. We hope that the up-to-date information presented in this article has been helpful to you. Here’s wishing you a clear, healthy complexion!
