Whether you are a teen or adult, acne-prone skin needs special care

Statistics show that between the ages of 11 right up to 30% of people will be dealing with this issue. This will be a short-lived issue for some people, but others have to put up with severe acne for years. Having acne on a more severe basis is problematic; it can be excruciating and cause swelling of the face. Thankfully there are treatments out there that can help, but it might take some time to find the best for you. You need to guard against doing anything that makes it worse.

Here is a list of the do’s and don’ts for living with acne and keeping it under control as best as possible.

acne

Be kind to yourself

As mental health is increasingly under the spotlight, we’re going to start with this important message. Having severe acne can be incredibly bad for your self-confidence but try to be kind to yourself. Remember, you are not alone, and if anyone has anything negative to say, ignore them.

Keep your hands away from your face

Just think about all of the things you touch throughout the day. Even if you wash your hands, there are still plenty of bacteria on there that can irritate your skin. The less you touch your face, the better.

Cleanse gently

It is imperative that you clean your face twice a day with warm water and either some mild soap or a cleanser specifically designed for problematic skin. You need to be gentle, not scrubbing at your skin, and also for the males out there, be careful when shaving and ladies never go to bed in your makeup. You should also be washing your face if you have been sweating, as this is when oil emerges from the skin and potentially makes the problem worse.

Apply a sulfur-based cream

Look for over-the-counter remedies with benzoyl peroxide or sulfur and resorcinol that can reduce your blemish. You may not get immediate or dramatic results, though. Treatments may dry or irritate the skin. Check with your dermatologist before combining products or using more than the product label recommends.

Use sun protection

Although most of us love sunshine, it can act as an irritant if you have skin prone to acne. If you are taking medication for your problem, you may also have been warned that this makes your skin even more susceptible to getting burnt. Sadly, this means that you need to stay out of direct sunlight, but you could use a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sign off your face and neck. It’s essential to use sunscreen, but again putting cream on riddled skin could make the problem worse, so do check which sunscreens are less irritating.

Reduce swelling with ice

For swollen pimples, gently apply ice for a minute or so. It doesn’t work for everyone, but there’s no harm in trying. Just don’t keep the ice on so long that it irritates your skin.

Seek professional advice

If none of this seems to be working, it may be time to consult a dermatologist. Sometimes, a severe acne breakout requires a little more intervention, perhaps in antibiotics, steroid injections, and various other medications and procedures.

Don’t overdo things

While it can be tempting to cleanse your face more than twice a day, you should take care that you are not washing or scrubbing as this can make things worse. Also, do not squeeze spots; it is tempting, and everybody’s done it occasionally, but actually, it can make things worse and cause infections and leave scars.

Don’t accidentally irritate

You need to be careful with any area of your body that suffers from acne; for example, if your bag strap is resting across your shoulders and chest where you suffer from acne, you can accidentally irritate it. The same can apply to mobile phone use, earbuds, helmets, and anything else that may come into contact with these problem areas.

Don’t use certain products

While it may seem obvious, we have seen many people try and rectify acne and make it worse by using certain products. Whatever you do, never use alcohol, exfoliants, toners, abrasives, astringents, or any fragrances on irritated skin. In addition, it would be best if you stay away from cosmetic face masks, facial scrubs, and tanning products.

Don’t get a facial for a quick fix

Although facials, light chemical peels, and other spa treatments can sometimes improve acne, the results are not immediate. In the short term, your skin may look more irritated. A special occasion is not the time to try a new treatment. If you have a big event coming up, schedule your facial treatment several weeks ahead.

Don’t stress

Excessive physical and emotional stress is not good for your health, and it may aggravate your condition. Stress can destroy skin cells, and this may lead to oily skin. Stress-related hormones may also cause your skin to become inflamed.