Distressed about your acne-prone skin? Couldn’t find the perfect solution for it? Don’t worry, as we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ll try to provide you with every information to help you get smooth and glowing skin.
A good acne skin care routine is crucial when your skin is prone to breakouts. Thus, the daily skincare routine for acne-prone skin will help you in several ways like, removing excess oil and keeping the pores clear.
How do I stop acne-prone skin?
Acnes can be prevented by following several simple steps. These include regular exfoliation by using a light, natural scrub once or twice a week. Unfortunately, several people stop exercising as they believe that sweating worsens acne on face. But, you must not stop exercising as it will keep your body healthy and unblock your pores. Also, make sure to wash your face straight after the exercise, before the sweat dries up.
Foods like blueberries, avocados, and almonds can also help reduce and prevent inflammation. Apart from this, other suggestions include drinking a lot of water and not showering more than once a day.
What causes acne-prone skin?
Acne can be caused due to oil, bacteria, or even hormones. When dead skin cells or oil clog the follicles, sebum can’t make its way out, leading to acne. According to research, the frequency and severity of acne depend upon the strain of bacteria.
Causes of acne include:
1. building up of bacteria in your pores
2. follicles producing too much oil
3. dead skin cells accumulating in the pores
Overproduction of oil is mainly caused due to hormonal changes, like:
1. the menstrual cycle
2. puberty
3. pregnancy
4. menopause
What exercise is good for acne?
Endurance sports like swimming, running, cycling, skating, etc., are the most recommended exercises for acne-prone skin. Apart from this, some asanas have been proved beneficial for acne-prone skin. These include;
1. Pranayama – Pranayama has been described as a cessation of breathing. It is practiced as an exercise to control your breathing, either in synchronization with other asanas or on its own.
2. Matsyasana – Matsyasana, or the fish pose, is where you lie on your back and then lift the region of your heart by balancing the body on your elbows.
3. Sarvangasana – Sarvangasana or the shoulder stand pose affects the limbs in your body. It is a helpful Asana for pimples and acne. Here, you have to lie down on your back and raise both of your legs towards the sky.
At what age is acne worse?
Commonly, acne begins during puberty, around the age of 10 and 13, and worsens in people with oily skin. Teenage acne lasts about 5-10 years and goes away during the early twenties. Although it occurs in both ages, teenage boys tend to have severe forms.
Acne is more common in males during adolescence than in females. While, in adulthood, acne marks tend to be more common in women than in men
How can I clear my acne naturally?
There are several home remedies that you can use to clear acne naturally.
1. Use apple cider vinegar as it contains organic acids, which reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and improve the appearance of acne scars.
2. Honey and cinnamon masks also have anti-bacterial properties that help fight acne-causing bacteria.
3. Tea tree oil is another great option with anti-bacterial and inflammatory properties to treat acne.
Is salicylic acid good for acne?
Salicylic acid is a common skin care product used to treat acne. It is a beta hydroxy acid present naturally in plants like willow bark.
Acne appears due to the blocking of pores by excess oil and dead skin cells. Salicylic acid treats acne by unclogging the blocked pores and breaking the bonds between dead skin cells. It also breaks down oils like sebum and even decreases the production of sebum in your skin, leading to fewer breakouts.
Let’s know more about Acne-Prone Skin and its Care
Blemish-Prone Skin and Acne
Blemish-prone skin is the one that is oily and prone to acne, pimples, and blackheads, due to the excess of oil and sebum. While sebum production in the body helps protect the skin and keep it moisturized, excess of it can lead to blemishes and inflammation. Acne is referred to as the appearance of blemishes or inflamed bumps on the skin. It is a condition wherein the hair follicles are plugged with dead skin cells and oil.
Causes of Acne
The main causes of acne are:
- Excess oil (sebum) production
- Bacteria
- Inflammation
- Hair follicles blocked by oil or dead skin cells
Acne commonly appears on the forehead, face, chest, upper back, and shoulders as these areas have the most oil glands.
Acne and Skin Type
The five basic skin types include; normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. Acne can appear on any skin type, depending on how your skin keeps itself balanced. Understanding your skin type is an important part of establishing a skincare routine. Oily skin is the one that is most associated with acne, pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads.
Several precautionary steps must be taken in order to avoid breakouts. These include;
- Washing your face regularly and properly.
- Using a good moisturizer
- Know your skin type
- Stay hydrated
- Limit makeup
Steps you must follow
- Wash your Face Twice a day, and after Sweating
In order to help prevent pimples, it is important to wash your face regularly to avoid excess dirt and oil. This is especially important after exercise. In addition, you must wash your face after exercising as sweating increases inflammation.
Price : 245₹
Rating : 4.5 Star
- Being Gentle with your Skin by Avoiding Harsh Scrubs
You must try to avoid harsh scrubs as they can irritate the skin and cause inflammation, worsening acne. Therefore, make use of natural, gentle scrubs or cleansers instead.
Price : 395₹
Rating : 4.5 Star
- Don’t Pick or Pop!
Avoid picking out piping acne as squeezing them can push bacteria into the skin and increase redness and swelling. It can even lead to permanent scars and pits.
- Using Non-Comedogenic Products
Non-comedogenic products are designed to do not cause pore blockage or breakouts. If you have acne-prone skin, then the use of non-comedogenic products will help you deal with it.
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- Checking your Hair Care Ingredients
Another acne-prone skincare routine is checking your hair care ingredients, as several hair care products can also trigger acne. For example, if you use hair care products that contain oil and make their way to your skin, this can cause the clogging of pores and acne. Therefore, check for clogging ingredients in your hair care products before using them.
- Staying Hydrated
Various toxins obstruct your skin pores, causing acne and pimples. By drinking more water, you can prevent your skin from developing acne; the more hydrated you are, the less clogging will be.
- Beware of Diet and Supplement Claims
You must also take care of your diet to prevent acne. Diets that contain high sugar can worsen your acne. Apart from this, you must also avoid taking too much pasta, rice, white bread, and other carbohydrates that are not much nutrient-rich. Instead, go for fresh fruits, vegetables, and oats to reduce the amount of acne on your face.
Ingredients to Look for
- Salicylic Acid
You can consider using salicylic acid to prevent acne and blackheads. If used regularly, it can also prevent future acne breakouts. It does this by drying out excess oil but can sometimes make dry skin unusually.
- Benzoyl Peroxide
As per AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), benzoyl peroxide is an effective acne-fighting ingredient that can be available without a prescription. It will work best if you have red pus-filled pimples. Benzoyl peroxide removes excess oil, dead skin cells and kills acne-causing bacteria.
- Retinoids
Retinoids are another effective solution for acne treatment. When applied to the skin, it unblocks pores and allows other medicated creams to do their work. Moreover, they also reduce acne breakouts by preventing dead skin cells from blocking the pores.
Anti-acne Skin Care Routine
Morning Routine
- Cleanser
In the morning, the first step involves washing your face with warm water or a gentle face cleanser suitable for your skin.
Price : 111₹
Rating : 4.5 Star
- Toner
Several people skip the toner part, believing that it will cause skin irritation. But, this is not the case anymore as the toners available today do not shrink pores but serve multiple purposes. First, they act as delivery systems for antioxidants and vitamin-B derivatives.
Price : 379₹
Rating : 4 Star
- Moisturizer
Even if you have oily skin, you will still need a moisturizer. It is an important ingredient that hydrates your skin after the havoc that sun, weather, and harsh chemicals create.
Price : 399₹
Rating : 4.5 Star
- Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the last step in your daytime skincare routine, especially if you use a mineral sunscreen that works to block UV rays. For those who use chemical sunscreens, try to find a product that moisturizes your skin and protects it.
Price : 460₹
Rating : 4 Star
- Makeup
After all these steps, you can apply your makeup without any worries. All these products will help your skin from getting damaged. Moreover, you can get a better base for it by applying sunscreen before makeup.
Evening Routine
- Makeup Remover
Removing makeup as soon as you’re done for the day must be the first thing. Make use of formulas that melt away your makeup easily and are still gentle on your face. You can even make use of an emulsifying oil to gently clean your face.
Price : 150₹
Rating : 4.5 Star
- Cleanser
After removing the makeup layer, the next step involves washing your face with a cleanser. A cleanser is basically used to get rid of pollutants, dirt, dead skin, and oil. Choose a cleanser that best suits your skin type.
Price : 289₹
Rating : 4.5 Star
- Spot treatment
Spot treatment ingredients work by reducing swelling, redness, and pain. In addition, they help dissolve the blockage within the pores that lead to acne formation.
Price : 423₹
Rating : 4 Star
As needed
- Exfoliant
Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from your face with the help of a granular substance or exfoliation tool. Some natural exfoliants include cinnamon, finely ground sugar, and coffee.
Price : 187₹
Rating : 4 Star
- Face mask
You can make use of a face mask to trap the moisture in your skin and create a film that will either hydrate, dry, or moisturize your skin. With the help of face masks, the ingredients will better penetrate your skin in a short period.
Price : 499₹
Rating : 4 Star
When to see a dermatologist about your acne
If you are slipping events or avoiding a meet with your friends, then it’s time to see a dermatologist who will help you deal with your acne. You must also see a doctor if any of the following five things sound familiar; the acne becomes severe, acne appears after taking a medication, non-prescription treatments not working, acne scars start appearing, or it affects your self-esteem.
This was a whole guide to help you deal with your acne-prone skin. In addition to this, you must also take care of your lip care routine, neck care as well as care for under-eye skin in order to get fresh, glowing skin.