Every morning when you look in the mirror, what do you see?

A multitude of people notice the appearance of pimples, dark circles, and blackheads. Such breakouts can be frustrating, especially when you do not know what to do about them.

Acne is a common skin disorder that has affected approximately 85% of the world’s population at one point in their lives. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not only caused by bacteria infection.  There are various other reasons why acne would appear on the skin. For instance, pimples during adolescence are more like a rite of passage.

The reasons of having acne

Additionally, skin experts have identified three other reasons why you may have acne.

• Clogged pores due to overproduction of oil
• A buildup of dead skin cells
• Skin inflammation due to various factors such as the use of harsh skincare products.

With a dermatologist’s help, you can identify factors contributing to these outbreaks and come up with strategies on how to get rid of acne.

So how to get rid of acne?

As much as your dermatologist will prescribe a suitable treatment, there are various practices you could introduce into your lifestyle to keep the pimples and acne at bay.

Let’s delve into specifics.

Wash your face

A simple practice like washing your face could reduce the appearance of acne. It is not to say that acne is caused by a dirty face, but washing it allows you to remove excess oil and dirt that may clog pores.

For maximum results, wash twice a day. Use a mild cleanser and warm water, especially if you have sensitive skin. After cleansing, applying a moisturizer, preferably an oil-free one, to ensure the skin does not become too dry.

However, do not over-wash the face as it may irritate and dry off the skin, aggravating it causing more pimples to appear.

Keep hair clean

Moisturizing our hair ensures it grows healthy. However, the excess oil from the hair can worsen acne if it happens to travel to the face.

Regularly washing your hair will ensure these impurities do not reach your face and cause pimples to appear, especially near the hairline.

What’s more, ladies should refrain from wearing hairstyles that are styled towards the face. They should also not use hair gels or sprays that may affect their faces.

Avoid popping pimples

As much as it may be tempting to pick or pop a pimple as soon as it appears, do not. Popping pimples usually results in inflammation of the skin. In other cases, scarring occurs.

Additionally, picking pimples with your fingernails, pins or any other materials causes bacteria to sink deeper into the skin worsening the acne.

If you already have blackheads and other blemishes, you could use a topical treatment to improve their appearance. It may take a bit of time to show results but it will go a long way in preventing new pimples from forming.

Say no to alcohol

Ever wondered why heavy drinkers age faster?

For people who use toning products, it is best to avoid those that have high concentrations of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol. Alcohol is a powerful astringent that dries out the skin. This, in turn, causes the sebaceous glands to have an overproduction of oil leading to dry, reddish and probably more blemish.

Exercise

Exercises improve blood circulation throughout the body. It also helps you relax, increases your energy levels as well as reduces stress levels. The increase in blood flow and oxygen levels rejuvenates the skin

However, since exercises generate heat, you should always take a shower after exercising. The reason being, after exercises, the heat and moisture on the skin create the perfect breeding place for bacteria.

Also, remember to take off your makeup before an exercise session and wear loosely-fitting workout clothes if you have sensitive skin that is prone to acne.

Choose the right makeup products

The beauty and cosmetic industry is not well regulated. Unscrupulous businessmen are taking advantage of this and manufacturing skincare products that contain ingredients that are harmful to the skin.

As such, people have to be vigilant when shopping around for skincare products especially people with sensitive skin.

If you can go without makeup, the better. If not, going for oil-free makeup is a good idea as they will actively fight breakouts.

Overall, avoid makeup that contains sulfates, dyes, and petrochemicals among other harmful chemicals. However, remember to remove the makeup by cleansing before jumping to bed or hitting the gym. Leaving it on will clog your pores allowing bacteria to build up and cause acne.

Always wear sunscreen

A little sunshine will dry out pimples. However, in the long run, the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays will do more harm than good. Too much sun exposure dries out the skin, prompting it to produce more oil, resulting in breakouts.

Wearing sunscreen is one of the most effective ways to counter these harmful effects of the sun. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. For maximum benefits, wear sunscreen even when it is not sunny outside.

Make tea tree oil your friend

Another effective way to keep acne at bay is to include tea tree oil into your daily skincare regime. Tea tree oil is popularly known for its powerful qualities in eradicating pimples and improving the appearance of acne.

Tea tree oil can be used as a spot treatment to eradicate pimples. However, before using it, make sure you do a patch test to see if your skin will react to it. To do this, apply a few drops of it on your forearm and wait a few hours. If it irritates the skin, dilute the oil with water using a 1:1 ratio before application.

Conclusion

It is normal for a pimple to appear on the face now and then. Furthermore, acne is caused by a myriad of things such as hormones, stress, medication, and genetics.

Acne is annoying and in the worst-case scenario, can cause permanent scarring, low self-esteem, and depression.

Adopting the above prevention strategies will significantly minimize the chances of suffering from acne. However, they are not fool-proof. There are many ways on how to get rid of acne. You just need to find what type of acne you have. Only then you will find the best method of acne treatment.

Whatever efforts you put into your prevention plan, know that patience and consistency are key. The reason being, most treatments will take a couple of weeks for results to show.