Many people think that acne is all about hormones and similar things. Acne is more than this however. The skin specialists at SGD Body & Beauty offer tips for avoiding acne. It can be related to diet (excessive oily and sugary food, leading to a better environment for clogged pores), environment (too much dirt and not cleansing your skin enough), as well as hormones causing excess oil or sebum production. Not to mention, at the moment, you may be frequently wearing a mask too. You may wonder what these factors have to do with acne, but when you realise that the skin is actually one of the body’s key detoxification mechanisms it all becomes clear. When your pores become clogged with dirt, your skin can’t function as it should, and the excess oil and toxins that the skin is trying to remove can’t get out, leading to blocked pores. Bacteria then get to work, and we end up with the ugly, red, infected pimples of acne.
- Start by making sure your skin is kept very clean, cleansing at least twice a day, or more often if time permits. Finish off with a toner or cool water to close the pores.
- Ensure you moisturise with an oil free moisturiser as well. You don’t want your skin to be producing excess oil to try and combat the effects of dry skin. This goes against what most people would do when struggling with acne, but it works.
- That being said, make sure your skin is also sufficiently hydrated. Breakouts and acne can also occur in dry skin. If your skin is left stripped and dry, it will often over-react and produce excess oil to counteract the dryness, possibly leading to an increase in breakouts, which does seem counter-intuitive.
- Also look at your diet, and make sure you are not putting excess sugar, oils, and other toxins into your body.
- Drink plenty of water. This helps your skin to detox, as with the rest of our bodies.
- If you are unlucky enough to have acne already, also consider your stress levels, as stress won’t help you to get rid of acne. Gentle exercise like yoga can also help reduce stress levels.
- Don’t run for the nearest Proactive counter. Listen to what we’ve had to say about celebrity endorsed skincare. Some of the major anti-acne brands can be very drying, and strip your skin of its natural protection. This doesn’t actually help, and while the surface of your skin may look better, its actually causing damage to your skin, so the surface looks clear, but the acne lurks in the deeper layers, and as soon as you stop using the product it all comes back out again.
- Look for a nice gentle solution that will work with your skin. There are natural ranges out there with anti-bacterial properties, that will assist your skin to destress, and detoxify, and this is what you want.
- If you’re frequently wearing a mask, and find that this is impacting your skin, and causing breakouts, consider minimising the makeup you wear under your mask. We know this isn’t always possible, but the friction from the mask, is like sleeping with your makeup on, the mask can rub makeup and any other impurities further into your pores. If you are wearing makeup under there, make sure it’s skin friendly, and has a pure formulation, and won’t clog your pores.
- Be patient. If the products are doing their job, and your acne is bad, your skin may actually look like it gets worse before it gets better. This is because all of the impurities are actually coming to the surface, and your skin is starting the healing process. Stick with the program, and you will be rewarded with clear skin.
If you’d like some personalised recommendations and tips for avoiding acne, perhaps consider a private consultation, or contact us for more information.
