Prevention is always better than cure. Thus, if you have an oily skin, make use of herbal face packs that are oil free. Wash your face with water to avoid accumulation of dirt. Maintain a good hygiene along with proper diet to restrict the appearance of acne. These simple tips for an acne free face will not only boost your confidence and self esteem, but will also provide you with delicate, smooth and a glowing skin.
There are various ointments and lotions available in the markets that help in fighting acne. Most of these products contain benzoyl peroxide that is a bleaching agent. These may be effective for a short-term cure but they may damage your skin and make it dry and rough if the bleaching content is too high. If you are still keen on using these bleaching products take care to use only the mild ones.
Adolescent girls or even adult women may be faced with aggravated acne problems during the commencement of their menstrual cycle. The occurrence of pimples, whiteheads and blackheads are generally heightened about 10 days before menstruation begins. This is due to the hormonal fluctuations in the body. The effect can be reduced and controlled to some extent by the use of specific contraceptive pills. (Again, please consult your doctor before using any prescription medicines.)
Be it an herbal mask or a chemical one, always remember to avoid the lip and eye areas while you are applying the mask. Let it dry and rinse it immediately. There are various homemade acne treatments that make use of herbal masks made out of kaolin, mint, lavender, and cucumber. You also can make use of herbal toners like lemon juice to get an acne-free face.
You can even take multi-vitamins, with great nutritious value, everyday for your health. Some people swear that a chromium supplement daily will work wonders when it comes to curing your acne. Also Vitamin A is said to have great virtues in taking care of the skin. It defends the skin against bacterial attacks and helps in the deterrence of pimples. It effects in the minimization of the production of sebum. (Please consult a doctor before trying either.)
Bacteria, hormones and clogged pores on the skin may lead to the formation of acne. Acne may also be a result of heredity. The action of bacteria and dead skin leads to pimples. When pores get blocked and closed and finally protrude out, whiteheads are formed. On the other hand, when the blocked pores remain open but the top area becomes dark, they lead to the formation of blackheads.
Exercising is a good way to stay healthy. But remember to take a wash after exercise. The moisture and heat trapped against the skin becomes a perfect breeding ground for spreading bacteria. Avoid wearing makeup during exercises and do not wear garments made exclusively with nylon.
It is also good if you can avoid the use of moisturizers, lotions and creams. It is best for your skin if you can avoid the use of make up. However, this is not always possible for everyone. Hence, if you have to use makeup it is best for you to use oil free water based products and moisturizers instead of using oil based ones. Make sure you remove the make up before you retire for the night.
Water is considered to be very helpful in reducing oil in the skin and in protecting the skin against acne. The goodness of water can be utilized not only by washing your face with it but only consuming it in a large quantity. A minimum of 8 glasses should be taken everyday. Water helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body and in hydrating your skin. Exercise also flush toxins and maintains blood circulation.
Rinse your face with lukewarm water and use a mild soap to cleanse the dirt away. Washing you face also helps to remove plugs from your skin pore, which is a mishmash of bacteria, sebum and dead skin cells. The accumulation of dirt only increases the infection by working together with oil and skin debris. But avoid excessive washing of your skin as over washing can stimulate production of extra oil and irritate the acne prone areas.
Never try to pick or squeeze the acne in any way. Instead of bringing the bacteria out, it rather pushes it back deeper into the skin and makes the area appear red and inflamed by spreading the infection. Squeezing pimples -- or "popping zits" -- can also leave behind permanent blemishes even after the acne dries off.
The market is full of a wide variety of cosmetics that have numerous types of chemicals in them. These chemicals are harmful for the skin as they take away the natural oils that are there in our skin. The natural defensive technique that works in our body starts functioning and tries to protect our skin by producing more oil. This oil clogs the pores and results in pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. Hence, you should opt for natural cosmetics and skin products.
Hormonal activity is another major factor for the occurrence of acne. Excessive output of hormones from the adrenal glands and activities like the menstrual cycle are chief causes. Using medication containing halogens, exposure to high level chlorine compounds, use of antibiotic steroids, accumulation of dead cells of the skin, scratching and skin irritation are other general causes for the appearance of acne.