Skin Care Tips For Acne: Are You Dreading an Acne Outbreak?

Acne can be extremely painful, physically as well as psychologically, as it eats away at your self-esteem. If you have experienced a painful outbreak in the past or feel that something might trigger off a breakout soon, consider whether you have been:

- Eating a lot of spicy food

Chili peppers and bell peppers are a staple ingredient in spicy food. What gives peppers their unique flavor and kick is a compound named lycopene. Lycopene can cause skin irritation and breakouts in some people. If your skin is prone to acne, perhaps too much spicy food might be the cause.

- Taking too much stress

While some stress is unavoidable, experiencing excessive stress on a regular basis can result in an outbreak. Scientific evidence to explain the relationship between the two is scarce. However, there is a theory that the production of cortisol, the hormone that stimulates sebum production in the skin, is in greater quantities during stress.

- Exposed to chemicals

Chemicals are present in most things we encounter. They are in the makeup and personal care products you apply, the detergents and cleaners you wash your clothes and home with, even in the food you eat. The cause of your acne outbreak might be the skin irritation induced by these chemicals.

- Irritating your skin

Perhaps you have been punishing your skin too much. This includes poking your pimples, scratching your face too often, and letting your hair fall on your face too often. You can also irritate your skin when you scrub too hard when using a facial scrub or drying your face with a towel.

There is little reason to dread a breakout once you are aware of what triggers off an outbreak. Follow these steps to reduce the possibility of an outbreak:

- Avoid chemicals

If your acne problem is due to harsh chemicals, try to minimize their use. Substitute natural beauty products for those with chemical ingredients. The same goes for makeup, deodorants, household cleaners, and so on. There are many options available nowadays to help you phase out harsh chemicals from your life.

- Keep acne-prone skin clear and protected

Keep your skin clean as far as possible by washing it with water several times a day. Remove any makeup before going to sleep. During the day, wear shades or a hat when stepping out to protect the skin against harsh pollutants and radiation.

- Exercise

Exercise regularly to flush out the excess oil and impurities from your skin. This is best early in the morning when the air is relatively clean. Exercise boosts blood circulation and can help to unblock clogged pores and hair follicles. Remember to shower after every workout session to prevent sweat and dirt from building up.

- Eat healthy food, quit smoking

Improving your diet is the most important change you can make to reduce acne outbreaks. Reduce spicy food to the minimum to avoid irritating your skin. Also, kick the smoking habit to allow your skin to breathe more freely and to eliminate toxic chemicals from your body.

Beautiful and healthy skin is more than a one-time solution. It requires a great deal of attention to the skin on a regular basis. A combination of natural remedies, high-quality products, and makeup techniques come together to achieve that perfect skin.