I really struggled throughout my teens and early adolescence with acne and so I thought I would share a few tips with you on how to reduce acne and improve your complexion. I hope you find it useful. I will be the first to admit that acne can really get you down and it can have a negative impact on your life. If you need any advice or just someone to chat to, send me a message! I will always be available to talk to people going through these sorts of issues.
Quick disclaimer: These are just a few of the tips that I found helped me and other people I know. I am not a skin care specialist and don’t hold any medical training.
Okay so here goes:
Don’t touch your face.
Even if your hands are freshly washed you are still causing dirt and excess oil that your skin has worked so hard to try and remove from your pores back into them.
Don’t pick and leave acne alone.
Similar to my previous point, if you are picking at your skin it will prolong healing time, cause more redness, blemishes & cause scarring! (A good tip for both these points is to inform those who you live/work with to stop you if they see you touching your face.)
Keep your hair clean & off your face.
I know this may seem like a no brainer but it is a point that I have to bring up if you’re struggling with acne. Wash your hair regularly, especially if you have a fringe (bangs). The dirt & oils from your hair can cause blockages in your pores meaning a breakout.
Ensure all your make-up is removed.
Nowadays there are so many cosmetics advertised with super-staying powers, we consider this to be a good thing however it can be a nightmare to remove properly. Providing your cleanser is gentle it may be a good idea to cleanse a couple of times to ensure all traces of your make-up is removed before bed. I found that I was having to wash then exfoliate and then wash again before my Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation was removed properly (obviously not good for my skin so I changed foundation.)
Change pillowcases every other night.
This is definitely worth doing if you’re having a lot of trouble with acne. Buy a couple of extra pillow cases so that you can change them as often as is convenient. And with reference to my previous comment, be sure that you never ever ever sleep with your make up on.
Exfoliate.
Exfoliating your skin is a good habit to get into. Either with an exfoliating wash, exfoliating sponge or even a regular face cloth – just don’t scrub too hard!
“You are what you eat!”
Think about your diet. What you eat has a direct link to what your skin is like. Did you know that 80% of your skin’s cells can only be reached through the blood stream- that really speaks for itself.
Drink plenty of water.
Need I say more? Oh okay then… It’s vitally important to keep our skin looking healthy. I recently met a man who I assumed was in his late 20s however he informed me that he was nearing 50! I couldn’t believe it and asked him what his secret was… He simply told me that he drinks lots and lots of water. So drink up people!
Could it be an allergic reaction?
Possibly you may have an allergic reaction to something you are eating or doing. Washing powder, dairy food, fluoride (like the sort in your toothpaste), chemicals & perfumes in cosmetics; these are some of the things that can cause acne based allergic reactions. It’s worth trying a few changes in your lifestyle to see if any of these make a difference.
Visit a professional.
If theres no change and you feel you need some help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Go and see your doctor/nurse or skin care specialist. They have seen this many times before can discuss other options available to you. A month or so ago I made an appointment to see my nurse because I was getting severe acne and it was really effecting my confidence. Nothing I did made any difference. She was so nice and she gave me a topical lotion to apply which has drastically helped reduce my acne and scarring! So hope is not lost!
Thank you for reading! Leave any comments down below please, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Don’t touch your face.
Even if your hands are freshly washed you are still causing dirt and excess oil that your skin has worked so hard to try and remove from your pores back into them.
Don’t pick and leave acne alone.
Similar to my previous point, if you are picking at your skin it will prolong healing time, cause more redness, blemishes & cause scarring! (A good tip for both these points is to inform those who you live/work with to stop you if they see you touching your face.)
Keep your hair clean & off your face.
I know this may seem like a no brainer but it is a point that I have to bring up if you’re struggling with acne. Wash your hair regularly, especially if you have a fringe (bangs). The dirt & oils from your hair can cause blockages in your pores meaning a breakout.
Ensure all your make-up is removed.
Nowadays there are so many cosmetics advertised with super-staying powers, we consider this to be a good thing however it can be a nightmare to remove properly. Providing your cleanser is gentle it may be a good idea to cleanse a couple of times to ensure all traces of your make-up is removed before bed. I found that I was having to wash then exfoliate and then wash again before my Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation was removed properly (obviously not good for my skin so I changed foundation.)
Change pillowcases every other night.
This is definitely worth doing if you’re having a lot of trouble with acne. Buy a couple of extra pillow cases so that you can change them as often as is convenient. And with reference to my previous comment, be sure that you never ever ever sleep with your make up on.
Exfoliate.
Exfoliating your skin is a good habit to get into. Either with an exfoliating wash, exfoliating sponge or even a regular face cloth – just don’t scrub too hard!
“You are what you eat!”
Think about your diet. What you eat has a direct link to what your skin is like. Did you know that 80% of your skin’s cells can only be reached through the blood stream- that really speaks for itself.
Drink plenty of water.
Need I say more? Oh okay then… It’s vitally important to keep our skin looking healthy. I recently met a man who I assumed was in his late 20s however he informed me that he was nearing 50! I couldn’t believe it and asked him what his secret was… He simply told me that he drinks lots and lots of water. So drink up people!
Could it be an allergic reaction?
Possibly you may have an allergic reaction to something you are eating or doing. Washing powder, dairy food, fluoride (like the sort in your toothpaste), chemicals & perfumes in cosmetics; these are some of the things that can cause acne based allergic reactions. It’s worth trying a few changes in your lifestyle to see if any of these make a difference.
Visit a professional.
If theres no change and you feel you need some help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Go and see your doctor/nurse or skin care specialist. They have seen this many times before can discuss other options available to you. A month or so ago I made an appointment to see my nurse because I was getting severe acne and it was really effecting my confidence. Nothing I did made any difference. She was so nice and she gave me a topical lotion to apply which has drastically helped reduce my acne and scarring! So hope is not lost!
Thank you for reading! Leave any comments down below please, I would love to hear your thoughts!
