My skin has been misbehaving over the past few months. Luckily for me, the breakouts have been contained only to one area of my face, the forehead. I have not had this kind of skin-care nightmare since high school and immediately went into panic mode. And by panic mode, I mean buying a whole bunch of different products and trying different at-home do it yourself remedies in effort to get fast results and return skin to its clear and healthy state as quickly as possible. However, what usually happens is that by using all these different products, you may end up with counter results, end up irritating the skin more and making the problem worse. Therefore, I had to step back, focus on the basics and what I do know for sure works. Before I share my tips for achieving clear, youthful and beautiful skin, I think it’s important for me to remind you that beauty is truly skin deep. While experiencing breakouts can affect your self-esteem, you should always remember that you are beautiful regardless of the condition of your skin and having a beautiful heart and soul is way more important!
With that said, if you are experiencing skin care problems like me, below are my suggestions for improving the overall appearance and health of your skin:
Diet—you’d be surprised how a poor diet can reflect poorly in the outer layer of your skin. Eating cleaner and healthier can have a positive impact on your skin in the long run. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and limiting sugary beverage intake.
Know your skin type (e.g. oily skin, dry skin, combination of dry/oily and sensitive skin). Depending on your skin type, you may need a different type of skin care regimen.
Once you know your skin type, you can research to find a good face cleanser and make sure to thoroughly cleanse skin every night before bed to remove make-up and toxins that you may have been exposed to throughout the day. For acne prone skin, be sure to use a cleanser with salicylic acid or gentle foaming cleanser. Also, make sure that you are using a good moisturizer with SPF sunscreen protection daily.
And do not, I repeat do not sit around popping every single pimple and bruising/irritating the skin even more. You may end up with more bruising and scarring than the typical hyper pigmentation and dark spots. If possible, it's always best to try to leave the skin alone and give it enough time for the acne to clear on its own. Also, try to keep hands off your face throughout the day in order to avoid introducing more dirt and germs into your skin. If you have acne prone skin, popping pimples sometimes will result in bruised skin and blemishes may appear worse.
Lastly, try to relax and reduce stress—some of the stress may be due to seeing the breakouts on your face but remember that the problem may be only temporary and by stressing you are delaying the process for your skin to clear up. Get a good night’s rest. Sleep is rejuvenating and renewing of energy that will help to rebuilt nutrients in the skin.
If any of the above steps does not improve the overall health of your skin, know that it's time seek the advice of a professional, in this case a dermatologist. Some are better than others but do your research and find a dermatologist that not only accepts your health insurance but will also recommend a good skin-care regimen and medication that is tailored to your specific needs.
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