Having healthy, beautiful, blemish-free skin is something everyone wants. In fact, there are some people willing to spend a lot of cash to make it possible. While skincare products and non-invasive cosmetic treatments can work (and are sometimes necessary), often the secret to getting rid of acne or reducing breakouts requires a few adjustments. Avoiding these bad habits listed below can dramatically improve the appearance of your skin.
1. Popping Pimples
You see a pimple on your face and the first thing you want to do is make it disappear. How do most people try to accomplish this? They start picking and squeezing the bumps until they pop. What isn’t realized, however, is that popping pimples can cause swelling, redness, and irritation while also leaving a scar. More importantly, it can cause the bacteria to spread to other parts of the body causing a breakout.
As much as you want to get rid of a zit the best thing you can do to stop your acne is avoid it.
2. Eating Greasy Foods
That fried chicken, pizza, and french fry might taste great going down, but if you have skin that’s prone to breakouts, the excess grease that comes into contact with your skin while you eat can cause pimples to form. It’s best to steer clear of these types of foods.
While giving up some of these comfort foods may be hard it’s not impossible. There are healthy alternatives to many of your favorite fast food and snacks. You can try oven-baked chicken or baked sweet potato fries instead.
3. Self-Treating
Taking care of a pimple or two on your face without medical assistance is common. However, when your acne spreads, flares up frequently, or causes you pain, it is probably not best to treat the problem on your own. You spend a lot of money investing in products that may not be most effective to treat the underlying cause.
If your acne is really out of control or uncomfortable, it is best to look for experts like those at Metropolitan Dermatology. A dermatologist will examine your acne and ask questions to try and get to the cause of the breakouts. From there, they have a number of solutions they can offer you including acne creams, medications, and non-invasive cosmetic procedures.
4. Touching Your Face
Your hands are exposed to all types of bacteria throughout the day. As no one washes their hands every time they touch something, this bacteria stays on your hands. When your hands come in contact with your face, (which happens more frequently than you may realize), it places the dirt and bacteria on your face increases your chances of breaking out.
When your hands aren’t occupied, they find their way to your face without you realizing it. While you should certainly practice keeping your hands off your face, you also want to make sure that you wash your hands regularly to reduce the bacteria and dirt that can transfer to other parts of your body.
5. Not Being Mindful of Hair Products
Your hair products can also affect your skin. Purchasing products that are very greasy or oily, for example, when you have oily skin can cause an acne flare-up. Not to mention, when you use grease, gel, mousse, leave-in conditioners, and other products if your hair touches your face, this too can clog your pores.
Be mindful of your skin type as it relates to the types of hair care products you purchase. If you have oily skin, avoid getting products with lots of oil. Also, try to keep your hair away from your face.
6. Overkill on Face Cleaning
A clean face will certainly help to keep your pores from getting clogged but too much cleaning can have the opposite effect. Scrubbing your face too hard with a rag, loofah, or other items can cause irritation which can cause a flare-up for those with acne-prone skin.
Try to stick to washing your face once in the morning and once in the evening. This is, of course, unless you’ve been working out or sweating in which case you should certainly wash your face. As for items used to wash up, try to use soft cloths and products that are gentle on the skin.
Your skin is very delicate and requires special attention and care to remain healthy. If you’re guilty of any of the above bad skin habits, there are simple solutions to turning things around. As you develop better habits, you’ll notice positive results as your acne fades away.
