- November 11, 2015
- SKIN
HOW CAN YOU FIGHT ACNE BUMPS?
INTRODUCTION
Ah, acne, not cool. Let’s start with that right away. First of all, if you suffer from acne, you’re not the only one. Hormone-related skin problems aren’t something only teenagers struggle with either. Acne can appear not only on the face, but also on the back. Both can lead to insecurities. If you want to beat acne, you need to know what it is and why you have it.
WHAT IS ACNE?
Acne, medically called acne vulgaris, is a skin condition that affects the oil glands at the base of the hair follicles. Skin cells, sebum and hair clump together to form a plug. This plug becomes infected with bacteria, causing swelling. Acne begins to develop when this plug breaks open.
ACNETYPES
There are many types of acne. There are blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts, to name a few. The latter – cysts – are the most painful and risky. They can easily scar and lead to further infections.
THE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF ACNE
– Food as the starting point
– Saturated fats and sugars are usually the cause.
– Stress
– Hormones
– In women, periods stimulate hormones and can lead to more blemishes.
– Genetics
If you want to beat acne or put a stop to it, analyse your behaviour for the possible causes mentioned above. If you avoid foods with saturated fats and sugar, you can already tick that off. The next question you can ask yourself is whether you suffer from too much stress. Be as honest with yourself as possible about this question. If that is not the case either, then the remaining two come into question.
REDUCED TO THE ESSENTIALS
A few simple tricks that will definitely improve your skin and hopefully minimise acne:
– Eating a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits. Foods rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium help a lot.
– Exercise. When exercising, make sure you work up a good sweat. Sweating detoxifies the body. Wash the sweat off thoroughly afterwards with a soft shower sponge (change it regularly).
– Minimise the spread of dirt and bacteria. Wash your face no more than twice a day, change your bed linen and pillowcase every 2 days and, we know how hard this can be, don’t touch your face.
– Detox your face. Forgo make-up for at least a week. Makeup can clog your pores badly. Use a detoxifying mask that you know won’t harm your skin and doesn’t contain ingredients that are too harsh.
A tip on what not to do: Don’t use too many different treatments at once. Use something based on one brand and/or one line.
IT DIDN’T HELP?
Consider seeing a dermatologist. If your acne is more severe, a dermatologist will likely prescribe treatment. Prescription medications for acne come in many forms, such as creams, lotions, etc. Your dermatologist will decide what is best based on your acne.