It is not uncommon to see people peering closely at the mirror and picking at the skin on their faces, trying to get that stubborn swelling to reduce. Some people even have their friends pick at it for them. Have you ever had to do it? Not having clear skin can be frustrating and extremely inconvenient. One of the most common enemies of clear skin is acne.
Acne results from hair follicles clogged with dead skin cells and an oily substance called sebum. It is very common among teenagers and young adults in puberty, but it can also happen to anyone regardless of age. Acne can be short-lived or may last for a frustratingly long time. Sometimes it can seem like the harder you try to get rid of it, the more resilient and aggressive it becomes.
Puberty is not the only reason people get acne. Some of the other causes include bacteria, inflammation or just having excessively oily skin.
Acne can appear anywhere else on your body, not just on your face. You can get acne on your back, shoulders, chest and neck.
Some simple lifestyle changes can help protect your skin from acne and even help manage it if you already have the condition. Here are five (5) lifestyle changes to prevent acne;
Drink lots of water
Water keeps your skin fresh and soft. It also strengthens the tissues in your face to increase the skin’s elasticity. Skin elasticity is its ability to return to its original shape after being stretched. Dehydration can cause your skin to dry. Not only does dry skin look unflattering, but it also triggers your glands to produce more sebum. Remember what clogs your pores and causes acne?
Be conscious of your diet
When you say “skincare, ” most people envisage buckets of creams, lotions, and skin oils. This is important sometimes, but can you make your food part of your skincare routine? Eating the right foods can work wonders for your skin. Avoid foods high in sugar, as they can increase sebum production. Become more friendly with foods like avocados, egg whites, tomatoes and fatty fish.
Wash your face before you sleep
After a long day, it can be very tempting to come back home, kick off your shoes and just go to bed, but you need to wash up. Apart from the fact that waking up with yesterday’s makeup is gross, substances like oil and grime from the previous day can accumulate on your face. This can block your pores and cause acne.
Manage stress
While stress does not cause acne, it can worsen it. Generally, you may find that your breakouts become a lot worse when you deal with stress from work or your personal life. Research has shown that stress can make healing wounds, including acne, take longer than they should.
Stress makes it harder for the pimples to heal.
Limit your time in the sun
Being sun-kissed looks great in pictures, but the sun is not always your friend, and you should not spend too much time basking in it. Excessive sun exposure can dehydrate your skin and encourage the glands to produce even more sebum that can block the pores.
Acne can be challenging to cope with and can cause you a lot of emotional stress. In preventing it and managing it, you need to be conscious of the health of your skin and be consistent in your preferred methods. However, if you need medical attention or are worried about the state of your skin, you can always speak to a doctor on Doctall.
