Nobody likes pimples or zits on their face, yet common acne can occur anywhere on the body at any age, even though it mostly affects teenagers as a result of puberty. Most of the time, acne will appear on people’s faces and backs, but it can occur in any area of a person’s body with a thin skin.
This being said, there are a few things one could do to prevent the appearance of acne or at least slow it down a bit, although as far as teenagers are concerned, there’s always going to be a risk of acne appearing on their faces rapidly and no prior warning. So let us explore the ways people could theoretically stop or at least slow down the appearance of acne on their faces.
First of all, maintaining proper hygiene is bound to work to some extent, as acne will generally thrive on an unhealthy skin. If possible, you should always try to use a cleanser that best fits your skin type, especially a hypoallergenic or an acne formulated product of sorts. We should point out that most of the time, perfumed soap will make acne much worse due to their concentrated formula and due to the dangerous chemicals they contain.
Another thing to remember is to always wash your hands before washing your face. Most people don’t realize this, but your hands contain much more bacteria than your face, which is why you can practically transfer some of that bacteria to the face when washing it with improperly washed hands. Furthermore, to help prevent the appearance of acne, you should wash your face at least twice a day.
It is also advised that you moisturize your face after washing it. This is because you scrub off oils and moisture from the skin when washing it, causing it to produce more oil and sebum to compensate the lack of moisture. In turn, this will help with the growth of acne along with a variety of bacteria resting on your face. Ironically, unless you wash your face properly and moisturize afterward, you could theoretically cause the appearance of acne.
Exfoliating also works apparently, a trick that many people who suffered from serious acne for years swear by these days. For those of you who are unaware, exfoliating involves gently wiping the outer layer of the skin in order to slough off dead skin, thus unclogging skin pores. It is said that exfoliating once a week will improve skin complexion over time, especially when using an exfoliating cream or any exfoliating-related product.
Many ladies out there don’t know this it seems, but removing all traces of makeup before going to bed will drastically reduce the risk of acne the following day. This is because makeup, by nature, works as a cover-up for your face’s imperfections, clogging pores in the process. If you’re a woman who suffers from acne, make sure to get into the habit of thoroughly removing all traces of makeup from your face before going to bed.
We already pointed out the benefits of good hygiene and this extends to your sleeping arrangements as well. For instance, remember to wash your pillowcases frequently and thoroughly. This is because pillowcases will gather all sort of oils and moisture over time, thus causing the spread of acne via grime, dead skin, and dirt. It is advised that you wash your pillowcases on a weekly basis, but you can do it more often than that if you have the possibility.
People don’t usually know this, but sunlight can cause all sort of issues over long periods of exposure. The danger or UV rays is well known at this point, as many people are aware of the many skin conditions they can cause, including cancer. On a lighter note, sunlight will also exacerbate acne if the skin is directly exposed to it over more than 20 minutes. If possible, try to use noncomedogenic sunscreen before you leave the house on sunny days.
Last but not least, diet and exercising also help with acne more than people realize. Strong scientific evidence suggests exercising and well-balanced diets are imperative to maintaining a healthy skin. For example, professional athletes rarely have to deal with acne and some believe this to be a result of them getting constantly hydrated. You always hear how important it is to stay hydrated, well as far as acne goes, it really is one of the best things you can do.
If you thought this was useful, check out our guide on how to get rid of ingrown hair.
