Sometimes it seems like your skin is impossible to control, especially when you wake up and see a huge pimple on your nose or a “hotness” at the corner of your mouth in the mirror. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat the most common skin problems; here are some tips.
Acne
A pimple begins to appear when the pores of the skin become clogged with a type of grease called sebum, which normally lubricates the skin and hair. Acne is common during puberty, when hormones get out of control, causing the skin to produce excess sebum. Since many of the sebum-producing glands are found on the forehead, nose, and chin, this area – the T-zone – is where most pimples appear.
Here are some tips for preventing acne breakouts and getting them to clear up as soon as possible:
– Wash your face twice a day (no more) with warm water and a mild soap made specifically for people with acne. Gently massage your face using circular motions. Do not rub your face. Washing too much and rubbing your skin can irritate it. After cleansing, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends applying an over-the-counter lotion containing benzoyl peroxide.
– Don’t pop your pimples. It’s tempting, but here’s why you shouldn’t: When a pimple bursts, it can push infected material into deeper layers of your skin, causing more inflammation and redness and even causing wounds, which can leave small permanent scars. If you get a pimple just before a big event or celebration, such as a school play, a dermatologist can most likely treat it with much less risk of infection and scarring.
– Avoid touching your face with your hands or leaning on objects that tend to collect sebum and skin debris, such as the telephone handset. Touching your face can spread bacteria that cause pores to become inflamed and irritated. To keep bacteria at bay, wash your hands thoroughly before applying any products to your face, such as skin creams or makeup.
– If you wear prescription and/or sunglasses, be sure to clean them often to prevent oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.
– If you have acne on another part of your body, avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing that doesn’t allow your skin to breathe and can cause irritation. Scarves, headbands, headgear, and hats also tend to accumulate oil and dirt.
– Remove your make-up before going to bed at night. When buying makeup, choose products whose label or packaging says “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic. Throw away old makeup that smells or looks different from when you bought it.
– Keep your hair clean and avoid contact with your face so that oil and dirt don’t clog your skin pores even more.
– Protect your skin from the sun. A tan may look like it’s covering up acne, but it’s only temporary. A tan can make your acne worse instead of better. The sun also causes skin lesions that eventually lead to wrinkles and increase the risk of skin cancer.
If you are concerned about acne, you can come to our Spa. We can offer you various treatments that help prevent and control acne, as well as its marks or scars. We can help you find the treatment method that is most suitable for you and can give you many useful tips for controlling acne and caring for your skin type. At Lineth Skin Care & Massage we have skin specialists, called beauticians, who can give you advice and apply treatments to your skin.
