BN Beauty: From Washing Hair to A Great Diet – Here are 8 Dos & Dont’s for Acne-Prone Skin!

If you are reading this, chances are you have had an encounter with acne at one point in your life.

With it affecting 90% of teens and almost 50 – 60% of adults, acne is a common problem that affects a lot of people, with few of them knowing how to fix it.

Generally, acne occurs when dead skin cells combine with the skin’s natural oil, clumps together inside the pore and creates an ideal environment for bacteria to flourish. Other factors that could also instigate acne are age, skin care products, weather, diet and even your skin regimen or routine.

One of the questions you may be asking yourself is “how do I know if I have acne prone skin?“. well, as much as there is no one reason set in stone, I believe anyone can get acne; it just depends on how. It could be because of the reasons mentioned above i.e: weather, skincare products etc; however, if you often get acne, then your skin is acne-prone.

So what are the dos and don’ts when it comes to acne prevention if you have acne-prone skin? See a few of them below;

Dos

1. Wash & maintain your hair properly
Hair carries dirt! And if your hair touches your face often, then it may be transferring that dirt to your face. That’s why sometimes, if you have a fringe hairstyle on, you’ll notice breakouts on your forehead. This is because dirt, sweat and the constant rubbing of hair on your face can lead to irritation and acne breakouts.

2. Wash your face regularly
If you have acne-prone skin then you should be careful of dirt. Wash your face often and be sure to cleanse after washing, to ensure your face is totally clean. A good sign of a clean face is when your fingers don’t run smoothly across your face – there should be that squeaky clean friction.

It is important to note however to not over wash your face. This could cause drying of the skin which has a list of side-effects attached to it.

3. Keep a clean pillowcase
This is very important as a lot of people fail to do this. A dirty pillowcase is a festive ground for dirt and bacteria and this can very easily get transferred to your face. So instead of waiting for a 2-week mark to change your cases, try every 2-3 days. This way you know your face is safe while you sleep.

4. Reduce the use of makeup
I know this can be hard, but it is great for your skin. Personally, I go without makeup at least once a week just to ensure my face gets a break from all that product. This reduces the amount of dirt and excess oils clogging up your skin’s pores and gives your skin the chance to breathe. Makeup greatly hinders this  process, so while your face may be beat, your skin is getting beaten out of shape.

Don’ts

1. Stop self-recommending skincare products
Your face is very important and sensitive, and using the wrong product on your face could lead to other problems if you use the wrong ones. So, it is important that you reach out to a dermatologist to figure out what product is best for your skin and what is not.

2. Do not squeeze, pick or pluck
This is one of the worst things you can do to your face when you have acne breakouts. Not only will they lead to scarring of the face and dark spots, they will also make the healing process longer because of the opened wounds and bruised surface.

Guys, this also goes for shaving. If you have acne-prone skin try hair removal creams instead of using a shaving stick.

3. Stop Tanning
Excessive sun exposure can be very bad or acne-prone skin. This is because acne treatments can cause the top layer of your skin to be thinner and more sensitive causing it to be more reactive to ultraviolet light. So, tanning either by artificial or natural light is a no-go for you while you have acne or are using acne medication

4. Say no to refined sugars and processed foods
According to Lisa Benest, MD, communities that eat little or no refined grain, sugars or processed foods as part of their daily diet experience little to no acne. She stated “A diet high in refined, processed foods such as breads, cereals, pastas and candy, creates an environment in our bodies that causes a cascade of adverse effects on our hormonal system” which is one of the key causes of acne.

She suggests that you take Omega-3 fatty acid supplements to calm inflammation.

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There are loads of tips for acne-prone skin out there, and we know you have some. Be sure to share them with us!

Photo Credit: Dreamstime/Arne9001