Acne is a condition that many suffer from, especially those going through puberty. It can leave many feeling depressed and anxious, more so now than ever before, since we live in the age of social media and Instagram. Don’t worry though, we are about to explore some useful tips that will hopefully have your acne disappear in no time at all. Let’s begin.
Take a look at your diet
It seems fair to say that there are many contributing factors as to why we as humans get acne. It is probably different for each induvial to some extent. However, having a good diet is extremely beneficial to skin, so any acne sufferer should examine what they are eating and see if they can eliminate or introduce certain foods from their daily meal plan. For example, there is research pointing at the possibility that milk can make acne worse. Consuming too much sugar can stimulate hormones that increase sebum production, thus, you should consider a low carb diet and avoiding sugary deserts. Be careful with foods that contain huge amounts of vitamin B12 – a recent study points towards excessive amounts of this vitamin making acne worse.
Having fresh fruit and vegetables with clean-cut protein is the best option. Try not to consume foods that have large amounts salt, since this will dehydrate you. Drink plenty of water and avoid those fizzy sodas. Alcohol might be beneficial for some and not others, since it can dry the skin out.
Supplements
Many underestimate the power of nutrition and supplements. Of course, you should consult your doctor before trying out a new supplement. However, zinc appears to be very effective at treating and even curing acne in a large number of cases. Certain B vitamins can also be useful, but as mentioned earlier, avoid taking large doses of B12, since you’ll likely aggravate your acne. Vitamin A is another option, this makes sense too, since Accutane, a popular acne medication, is actually a derivative of this very vitamin.
Don’t over wash
If your skin is really oily, then you might be tempted to continuously wash the infected area. It is recommended that an acne sufferer should cleanse once or twice a day. This is because there aren’t just bad bacteria on your skin, but good bacteria too.
Using a simple soap is highly advised and with warm water. Have a towel at the ready and slowly tap it over the skin. You might even find that a moisturiser can be handy, you’ll need to pick the right one though, so avoid those with the pore-clogging ingredients – Cetaphil is a good option.
Other medications
Visiting your GP might result in you being referred to a dermatologist. This will depend how badly it is affecting you and your skin. A dermatologist will be able to prescribe a variety of medications. These usually include antibiotics and creams. Benzoyl Peroxide is one such cream that is popular with acne sufferers. If you don’t see positive results with these options, then you’ll possibly be offered Accutane, which comes with many side effects, but is highly effective.
Limit stress
Keeping your cortisol levels down is hardly easy when you awake to new pimples to deal with. However, getting a good night’s sleep will be good for your health and wellbeing. Try to listen to relaxing music if you have trouble drifting off. Don’t worry about what people are thinking and remember that acne effects the majority of people. Eventually it will pass and your skin with be free from what you are currently going through.
These tips should have you feeling better very soon, just ensure that you try them out. Good luck.