Skin Care
How to Prevent Acne: Effective Ways to Reduce Pimples
Synopsis
- Introduction
- What is Acne?
- Types of acne
- What are the symptoms of acne?
- Why do you REALLY have acne?
- All Natural Acne Remedies that work!
- Lifestyle changes you need to adopt!
- Medication Options
Let us first understand that acne is quite common skin condition that is predominant among the teens and adults. It is so common that it is witnessed by most of the teenagers during their teenage life. Infact it is fascinating to see or come across someone who has not been affected by “Acne.” If you are one of them, I am jealous now. It is no secret that even I suffered from an awfully bad case of acne during my teenage days. Of course, over the years things have improved drastically as I’ve learned more about skin care and methods for dealing with issues like this.
All that I could tell is to “Trust your Body’s Natural Healing Mechanism.” You must be patient and wait for your skin to heal. We do have a lot of treatment options for acne these days, including the laser treatments for which people do eventually opt for. But before you go for something like that, let us try some of the natural remedies to deal with this health condition and understand what the several types of acne are and what is the underlying cause of it.
What is Acne?
Your skin has tiny holes called pores that can become clogged with oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt. When this happens, you might get a pimple, which is also sometimes called a zit or blemish.
If you get pimples often, especially several at once, you may have acne. In other words, acne is the skin disorder which causes pimples.
Acne usually begins during puberty or adolescence, when the body produces more of a hormone called androgen. This hormone makes the body secrete more of an oily substance called sebum, which mixes with dead skin cells and hair in skin openings called hair follicles. This build-up of skin cells, oil, and hair all clumped together causes pressure, which can lead the pores to burst open and cause skin inflammation.
According to Research, 9.4% of the people get affected with acne, ranking as the eighth most prevalent disease in the world.
ACNE TIP: Avoid touching your face often!
Types of Acne
The Non-Inflammatory Acne types include:
- Whiteheads–Pimples that are small and white in colour.
- Blackheads–Open, small, black bumps with excess oil.
The Inflammatory Acne types include,
- Papules – small red pimple or swelling on the skin.
- Pustules –like papules but having pus.
- Nodules–painful lumps under the skin’s surface.
- Cysts – Deep pus-filled pimples and nodules which can cause scars.
Symptoms of Acne
The symptoms of acne include both the Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory types that causes breakouts, which can be seen anywhere on your body.
The symptoms of acne are commonly found on the face but can also show up on the back, chest, shoulders, or neck.
To find out whether acne is present on your skin, the first sign to look for is a blackhead.
| ACNE TIP: Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. |
Why do you REALLY have Acne?
- In acne, multiple factors work together.
- The most significant cause might lead to the genetics.
- Dramatic swings in adolescent sex hormone levels are also one of the primary causes.
- The accumulation of dead skin cells in the pores is a further contributing factor. Normally, the skin cells shed constantly which is not noticeable. Whereas in acne, the skin cells stick in the pore openings and clog them.
- Heavy makeups are also one of the leading causes to have acne since it can block the pores. Hence, makeup items that are mineral based and powdery in form are considered better for the skin.
- Acne can be triggered by using a greasy hair conditioner or a very thick moisturiser.
What could be the reason for the sudden rise of acne if you have not had it in the past?
- It is a sign that you are suddenly becoming prediabetic, which means your sugar levels are high and needs to be managed.
- It also means that you are under a tremendous amount of stress.
All Natural Acne Remedies that Work!
1. Wash Your Face Properly!
As a general rule, you should wash your face no more than twice a day since washing your face too many times may make your acne even worse. Use warm water and a mild cleanser to wash your face as using a harsh soap causes more irritation.
| ACNE TIP: Wash your face not more than twice a day. |
2. Use a Honey Mask
Honey has been used to treat skin problems for thousands of years, which has a lot of antioxidants that can help clear out clogged pores.
Use a clean finger or a cotton pad to rub a little honey into pimples. You can add the honey in any of your facemask, including with cinnamon and make a honey-cinnamon mask.
3. Moisturize with Aloe Vera
The amazing benefits of Aloe vera is surely to be noted. Aloe vera has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which means it may help reduce the appearance of acne and prevent it from breaking out. Aloe vera has sugar molecules, amino acids, and zinc, which make it a wonderful way to protect and moisturize skin. It works great especially for those who gets dry skin from all other acne treatments.
You can use fresh aloe vera if available, rub it on your face after washing your face with a mild face wash. Aloe vera gels can also be used twice a day as a moisturizer after your face wash.
| ACNE TIP: Know your skin type and choose the right products for your face. |
4. Keep your Hair Clean!
Excess oil in the hair can travel to the skin in your forehead and increase the chances of acne. So, regular washing of the hair is necessary to prevent the acne.
5. Limit Heavy Makeups
Do not put on foundation, powder, or blush when you have a breakout. If you wear makeup, it is better to wash it off before bed. Choose cosmetics that do not contain any oil and do not have any added dyes or chemicals. Choose makeup that says "noncomedogenic" on the label, which means it should not cause acne.
| ACNE TIP: Let your skin breath! Avoid heavy makeups. |
6. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial, which means that it could kill P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne. It can help reduce the redness and swelling of pimples due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
7. Turmeric Face Pack
Usually, Indian brides traditionally use a turmeric mask before their weddings to make their skin look beautiful. This is due to the spice's anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to significantly improve the severity of skin conditions like acne, alopecia, atopic dermatitis, oral lichen planus, pruritus, and psoriasis.
For the face pack, mix turmeric powder and sandalwood powder with one tablespoon of honey along with half a tsp of raw milk. Apply the paste on your face and let it rest for around 10 – 15 minutes.
| ACNE TIP: Avoid oil-based makeup and greasy hair products. |
Lifestyle Changes you Need to Adopt!
1. Keep your Hands off!
Every time you touch your face, you transfer oil and dirt into your skin. It is a challenging routine to break, but it is a vital one to follow. And remember to wash your hands often with soap, particularly before and after meals.
2. Refrain from Popping at Pimples
It may be tempting to pop or squeeze your pimple. But doing so will not get rid of the problem. It pushes the bacteria and pus deep back into the skin which causes more redness and swelling.
| ACNE TIP: Do not pick or pop the pimples. Ever! |
3. Stay Hydrated!
When the skin is dry, it can get irritated or damaged, which can make acne worse. Staying hydrated also makes sure that healthy new skin cells form as wounds heal.
4. Reduce Stress
Stress increases the hormone androgen, which stimulates hair follicles and oil glands in the pores which makes acne even more likely.
| ACNE TIP: Just Chill! And reduce stress. |
5. Cut Down on Junks!
Acne is strongly linked to eating a Western diet that is high in calories, fat, and processed carbs. Fast foods such as fries, burgers, sodas, milkshakes, and dairy products increase a person’s risk of developing acne.
6. Limit Sun Exposure
Frequent sun exposure dries out the skin, which makes it produce more oil and block pores over time. Sunburn can also make too many oils, which can make acne worse.
Wearing sunscreen can help protect your skin all day round. Of course, you already know that sunscreens are usually oily. So, choose an oil-free, noncomedogenic sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun and pimples.
| ACNE TIP: Try to avoid prolonged sun exposure and remember to apply sunscreen always! |
7. Change your Sheets Weekly!
If there is dirt or oil on your sheets, it will rub off on your skin while you sleep. It is especially important to change your pillowcases since friction between your face and the pillowcase causes dirt and bacteria to enter your pores, which can lead to spots and acne, especially if you already have acne-prone skin. It is especially important to change your pillowcases since friction between your face and the pillowcase causes dirt and bacteria to enter your pores, which can lead to spots and acne, especially if you already have acne-prone skin.
Medication Options
Acne can be treated medically in many ways including medicines and laser treatments and many of them are highly effective, though they can have side effects and may not be right for everyone.
There are Over the counter medicines which can help get rid of pimples and sometimes even prevent them. But if you are not sure about the right product, it is better to consult a dermatologist since over usage of the OTC medicines can lead to irritation and dryness.
To all the skin related problems, the person you have to consult is a dermatologist. If over the counter or natural treatments have not helped, it is preferable to consult a dermatologist about the possible prescription medication or topical creams.
| ACNE TIP: Trust your Body’s Natural Healing Mechanism. |
Tags:
Yes, stress can trigger or worsen acne by increasing oil production and inflammation. Practice stress management techniques like exercise, meditation, or deep breathing to help keep your skin clear.
To reduce acne scars, use products with ingredients like vitamin C, retinoids, or alpha hydroxy acids, which can help improve skin texture and pigmentation. Sunscreen is also essential to prevent scars from darkening.
Wash your face twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed. Washing too often can irritate your skin and worsen acne.