How to get rid of acne
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Acne. So little, yet so powerful. A few tiny zits on our face has the power to make us insecure and bring our self-esteem down. Well, only if we let it. We all want smooth, clear skin, but most of us don’t have it whether it be from current zits, or from its scars.
How to get rid of acne is not the easiest thing to do since there can be many causes of why we are experiencing those annoying zits. Some of those reasons could be due to hormones, diet, or something more serious like your health.
Finding out your reason for why you are experiencing acne and getting rid of acne can be a little challenging, but here is a good guide to follow to keep your acne under control while you figure out your why.
Use a face wash for acne
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When it comes to those annoying pimples, prevention is key. Start now and take action on preventing them before more friends come and join the party.
What is one thing you do every day? Exactly, you wash your face. The first thing you should do is look for a face wash that has ingredients that help prevent acne. One of those ingredients being salicylic acid.
This ingredient is antibacterial, and since acne is made from bacteria and oil, this is ideal. Not only that but this ingredient will exfoliate the dead skin cells laying on your face that can clog your pores. Clogged pores equal more pimples.
If you wear makeup, then it is really important to double cleanse to ensure your face is squeaky clean. Although this is important for everyone to do, it is vital for makeup wearers to cleanse twice. Use an oil-based cleanser as one of your cleansers. The oil-based cleanser helps get rid of any excess oil on your skin, as well as dirt and other impurities.
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How to get rid of acne overnight: Use an on spot acne treatment
Okay so you have a face wash that fights acne, but you still end up with a zit, what do you do? No! don’t touch it, and don’t cover it with makeup. Use an on spot acne treatment to help dry out that pimple.
Personally, the best acne on spot treatment I’ve tried is balanceme congested skin serum. I put it on before I got to sleep and my zit is completely dry the next day! If you are afraid of the product smearing on your pillow, then use patches.
You can also use the on spot acne treatment during the day if you don’t put any makeup on. If you prefer the patches, I would recommend wearing them at night since they are noticeable. I wish I would have known about these amazing products in high school when my hormonal acne was at an all time high. I could have made so many zits be gone before seeing my crush the next day.
If you happen to have tea tree oil, then use that! The awesome thing about tee tree oil is that it contains properties that fight off bacteria that cause pimples.
Kayla McDonell, RD from Healthline shares how to use tea tree oil for acne. She suggests 1 part tea tree oil for 9 parts water to dilute it. Use a cotton swab to apply to the pimple 1-2 times a day. Moisturize your face if you feel the need to and that is it!
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Use a moisturizer for acne prone skin
Whether you apply tea tree oil or not, it is still recommended to moisturize your face. Do you remember how I said that tea tree oil fights acne-causing bacteria? Well did you know that not all bacteria is bad? I honestly didn’t until Carli Cardellino, former Cosmopolitan beauty editor said “lots of diverse bacteria on top of your skin actually makes for a healthy microbiome, which keeps skin calm.”
The reason hydrating our skin is so important is to avoid cracks on our skin. Cracks on our skin can let the acne-causing bacteria in. When you are looking for a moisturizer look for one that is oil-free to not add more fuel to the fire, this applies if you experience cystic acne as well.
Just make sure to apply your moisturizer for oily skin after the on spot acne treatment to not dilute the product. Of course if you have dry skin and are experiencing acne you should look for a moisturizer for acne prone skin that is specifically for dry skin
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How to get rid of acne: Sunscreen for acne prone skin
Sunscreen is a must no matter what skin care regimen you are following. When you are shopping for a sunscreen look for one that is oily free for the same reason I just mentioned above. If you are not sure if to pick mineral or chemical, choose the former.
Chemical sunscreen gets absorbed by your skin which can potentially irritate it. Mineral sunscreen on the other hand just sits on top of your skin. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for max sun protection. Since your skin is prone to acne, look for a sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide. It’s lightweight due to it having smaller nanoparticles compared to Zink oxide.
I go much more in-depth in this post which I highly recommend if you want to know which sunscreen can be more beneficial for you.
If you have the money to splurge, then I suggest buying the EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen. It is broad-spectrum so it protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays.
This sunscreen contains lots of goodies such as B3 which reduces redness, lactic acid which helps regulate sebum (oil) buildup and gently exfoliates the skin. Wait, it gets better. It also has hyaluronic acid which helps keep your face look plump and moisturized.
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How to treat cystic acne
If you experience cystic acne, then it is important to ice where you feel it’s coming before the unwanted visitor checks in. The reason for this is because “Applying an ice cube directly to your pimple will constrict the small blood vessels that are feeding the cyst and will immediately decrease the redness and size,” says Rachel Nazarian, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.
How to get rid of acne: Prevent redness and inflammation
Whether you experience cystic acne or not, applying hydrocortisone cream is a good step to add to your routine since it helps relieve redness and inflammation from your pimples. You can apply this over your spot treatment.
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How to get rid of dark spots
Okay so we can try to prevent pimples, but sometimes they still come out. What is worse is that they leave a scar as a memory. Or maybe you experience dark spots from other reasons, such as the sun.
The good news is that you can fade this memory. Getting rid of dark spots can be easy. Look for products that contain hydroquinone to lighten the scar. Be consistent and stay positive and it will be gone.
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How to get rid of acne: apply a clay mask on face
Adding a clay mask to your acne skin care routine is a good product to add since it can dry out the excess acne-causing oil. It also does a great job of drawing out impurities and just detoxifying your face in general.
There are three types of clay masks that you can shop for, depending on your skin. The first being Smectite, and the most used cosmetic clays in this group being bentonite. The benefits of clay mask that contain Smectite is that it has a high absorption of toxins. It dries very tight which helps pull out all the dirt and oil from your pores. This clay also exfoliates your skin. Just be aware that it is very drying to your skin.
The second being illite. This type is rich in minerals that help with blood circulation, healing wounds, preventing acne as well as exfoliating. This type is not as powerful as the previous one mentioned so it won’t draw out all your impurities.
The last being kaolinite. This is the least drying and preferred for those with sensitive and dry skin. This clay has a negative charge which allows it to draw out impurities that the other clays are unable to.
Although, since it doesn’t dry out the skin, it doesn’t draw out impurities from the pores. This great information is provided by Stela Nenova from Phyto essence bio cosmetics.
Protip: wash your face before the clay completely dries so it won’t dry off your skin, DO NOT wipe as you can create minor scratches to your skin. Moisturize right after!
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Don’t touch your face
I know that zit is annoying you. You probably just want to squeeze the puss out of it as if by doing so your zit would magically disappear as if it was never there.
The last thing you want to do is touch your zit, especially with unwashed hands since this can irritate and infect it. I have done this in the past causing my zit to look 10x worse ending up with more unwanted attention.
The worse thing is that it will most likely lead to scarring, making that 10 second temptation a reminder for a very long time. I still have lots of reminders. I don’t have any tips on how to stop picking your face, but maybe just try to remember that it can leave a scar… for a very long time.
How to get rid of acne: Do face massage
A lymphatic face massage has tons of benefits including reducing breakouts. I know I just said to not touch your face, but I was referring more to the zit rather than your face as a whole. This massage does wonders for your skin.
A lymphatic massage helps with undereye puffiness, fine lines and much more. I talk more about it in my how to get glowy skin post. Let me just quickly say that it feels amazing. At least do it for the oohs and aahs. You won’t regret it.
Don’t stress
Getting a new unwanted pimple can be stressful, especially if you have an important event. Giving a presentation, seeing your crush, or maybe even having more zits than you can count can cause a lot of stress. I totally get it, but this will only harm your skin.
Lauren Eckert Ploch, a dermatologist with Georgia Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center says “When you’re feeling anxious, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. Excess levels can signal acne to worsen.” So take a walk, read a book, mediate and let the stress melt away.
How to get rid of acne: Don’t wear makeup with pore-clogging ingredients
Okay, so you are doing everything you can to avoid getting new pimples and treating them accordingly when they do happen to come out, good job. Wait! Have you made sure none of your makeup is contributing to your acne?
Have you checked to see if your favorite makeup product contains any ingredients that clog your pores? I want you to go get your makeup products right now and check the ingredient list for the following: mineral oil and lanolin. Why should you avoid these two ingredients? They are “comedogenic, meaning they have a high likelihood of clogging pores and triggering acne,” according to Nazarian.
I’m sure you love that foundation, but your skin health comes first! While you are at it, go wash all of your makeup brushes. Try to do so weekly to avoid any bacteria to form.
Toxins in liver
Applying topical products can only get rid of acne temporarily depending on the cause of your acne. The reason you keep breaking out may be due to your liver not getting rid of toxins.
I want you to do a checklist and check if the following applies. Some of the symptoms of your liver not getting rid of toxins are bloating, digestive issues, restlessness, dark under-eye circles, and hives. If you are experiencing this might mean your toxin load is too high.
You can help your liver detoxify by avoiding toxins in food, water, enviro, beauty products, personal products, stress, and negative thinking. Other things you can do to support your liver is to drink a cup of warm water with lemon in the morning and start drinking milk thistle tea.
This is a naturopathic way of healing your lover which I learned in a masterclass hosted by Dr. Stacy Shillington, a naturopathic doctor. I do recommend seeking a professional to make sure this is right for you before you do it.
How to get rid of acne: Check your gut health
If you have an unhealthy gut, then you also have unhealthy skin. How do you know if you have an unhealthy gut? Well do you experience Bloating gas, constipation, diarrhea or stomach pain? If you do, then that might be your answer.
Did you know that 90% of diseases are linked to the gut and microbiome (the link between gut and skin)? Okay, so what things cause an imbalance in the microbiome? A lot of things, and I bet you consume/ experience at least 2 of the following: Sugar, stress, alcohol, pathogens, food sensitivities, drugs, antibiotics, and radiations.
This information is also from the amazing Dr. Shillington’s masterclass. Again, go see a doctor before diagnosing yourself. These are just tips to bring certain things to your attention to see if you have a bigger problem than just a zit.
Seek out a dermatologist if necessary.
Often your acne has more to do with your insides then with your outsides. If the previous tips don’t help your acne much, then it is very important to get to the root of the problem and seek help with a dermatologist or doctor. Here is a very helpful face chart to help you figure out the root of your problem.
Okay, beautiful it is time to take what you just learned and apply it. Trust me I experience horrible acne while I was in high school, I know what it’s like. Getting rid of acne is not as easy, but remember you are not alone in this journey, millions of people experience acne.
Try the tips I provided for you, and if all fails remain calm and go see a dermatologist or a doctor. I am not a professional so take what I say with extreme caution. You should especially take what I said about the gut and the liver as just things to be aware of and ask a doctor first before you self-diagnose.
It’s always good to do your own research before visiting any doctor or dermatologist to know what questions to ask. If you want to learn more skincare tips then sign up to my newsletter to the right! Best of luck on this journey!
Although a few zits can cause some insecurity, don’t let that diminish the wonderful, beautiful, and boss babe that I know you are!