WHAT CAUSES ACNE?
Contrary to what you may have heard, acne is not caused by dirty skin. Acne is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and a build-up of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, which leads to inflammation in pores.
Oil glands become stimulated when hormones become active during puberty, which is why people are likely to get acne in their teens.
Because the tendency to develop acne is partly genetic, if other people in your family had (or have) acne, you may be more likely to develop it too.
There's no sure way to prevent acne. But these tips might help to highly reduce the number and severity of your breakouts:
WHY WASHING YOUR SKIN IS ESSENTIAL
Washing your skin is essential because it helps remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells that can clog your pores, but washing too much can actually cause damage by over drying your skin or irritating existing acne.
The key is twice per day, at day and night times.
Since you can not remove impurities just with your fingers tips, it is recommendable by a dermatologist to use an Hypoallergenic device that removes all the unwanted impurities.
LUCE Beauty products such as Facial Cleansing Brush have deep cleansing devices that vibrate and remove all the clogged pores, and their devices are made of medical silicone and are hypoallergenic and antibacterial.
Remember to wash after exercising because sweat can clog your pores and make your acne worse.
If you work around greasy food or oil, or if you've been sweating from heat or because you've been working hard, wash your face and other acne-prone areas as soon as possible.
If you use skin products, such as lotions or makeup, look for ones that are noncomedogenic or non acnegenic, which means that they don't clog pores, as well use products oil free.
If you can't live without your hair spray or styling gel, be sure to keep them away from your face as much as possible. Many hair products contain oils that can make acne worse.
Try to use water-based products. If you get acne on areas such as your chest or back, avoid wearing tight clothes, which can rub and cause irritation.
TREATMENTS
For some people, over-the-counter (OTC) products work to help clear up acne. It may take some time to find one that works best for you — some may not do the trick and others may cause irritation.
OTC acne products come in different strengths. The most popular and effective OTC acne-fighting ingredient is benzoyl peroxide. Another ingredient, salicylic acid, can help to dry up pimples.
If you find OTC products aren't working for you, it's best to seek a doctor's advice. A doctor can prescribe special gels or creams, pills, or a combination of both. It may feel a bit awkward or embarrassing to talk about your acne with someone, but your doctor is trained to help get your skin looking its best.
What about pimples you already have? It's tempting, but popping or squeezing a pimple usually won't get rid of the problem.
Squeezing can actually push infected material and pus deeper into the skin, which can lead to more swelling and redness (not what you want before a big date!), and even scarring, which can be permanent.
If you're taking a prescription acne medication, finish your entire prescription even if your skin clears up, unless your dermatologist says you can stop. If you stop too early, there's a chance your skin could break out all over again.
Eating nutritious foods can help keep you healthy, of course, and your skin will benefit from getting enough vitamins and minerals.
But the bottom line is that you don't need to be obsessive about what you eat or how often you wash your face to control acne.
If you don't find an OTC product that works for you, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist for some advice on living through the acne years.
