· tips to heal and prevent acne
- cleaning your face
When should you clean your face? In the morning, before applying makeup, after any work out or activity that causes you to become sweaty or oily, and before bed. Never sleep in make-up. Clean your face with a product that is mild, non-irritating, and alcohol free. Do not scrub too vigorously as this can irritate and dry out your skin, causing a rash and increased oil production. It is best to find a good daily skin care regimen. This is the skin care / acne treatment that works for us. - use moisturizer
Use an oil free moisturizer daily. Yes, even those of you with oily skin need a moisturizer! I know, it is tempting to want to dry out your oily skin, because that is what I did for years! It doesn't work, does it? You wind up with dry, scaley skin that is actually more oily than ever! Why? Oil and moisture are not the same thing. Drying out your skin actually causes your already over active oil glands to produce more oil. So even though your skin is dry, it is also oily. Using a good oil free moisturizer decreases the amount of oil your glands produce. Your skin will be more supple, have smaller pores, and be less oily, which means less pore clogging and less acne! - use sunscreen
Many people seem to think that tanning their bad skin will help it, but it simply is not true. UV rays from the sun or tanning beds damage your skin and actually make acne blemishes worse. - applying make up
When applying make up, you are most likely applying nasty acne causing bacteria to your face. You can't avoid bacteria all together, but you can cut down on it and decrease the acne breeding ground. Choose a make up that is oil free, like the make-up I use. Don't use old make up. Don't share make up. Replace the lids on your products as soon as you are finished with them. Make sure your face and hands are clean and free from any hair products before applying any product to your face. Clean your brushes and application pads regularly. If possible, use disposable applicators for foundation. - in the shower
Conditioners and even some shampoos often contain oils and other substances that clog pores and cause acne. This can promote acne on both your face and your back. To prevent clogging facial pores, wash and condition your hair before you wash your face. To decrease acne on your back, wash and condition your hair before you wash your back. Long hair should be put up on your head so the conditioner doesn't run down your back and face. Use one towel for your hair and a separate towel to dry your face and body. - hair styling
Hair care products often contain substances that clog pores and create an acne breeding ground. When using mouse, gels and other hair care products, avoid getting them on your face and make sure to wash your hands when you are finished with them. When using hair spray, cover your face, forehead, and ears. - daily living don'ts
Throughout your day, adding bacteria and pore clogging substances to your face is something you want to consciously avoid.
-Don't touch!- Don't rest your face on your hands, don't pick at your face (especially bumps!), don't even touch your face unless you have to. If you must touch your face, always wash your hands first. Never skip hand washing because you think your hands are clean...they aren't! You pick up bacteria and oils from everything you touch: keypads, light switches, phones, door knobs, etc. This bacteria and oil clogs pores and causes acne. Wash your hands!
-Don't pick!- Whatever you do, do not pick at your bumps, pimples, or zits! Picking and popping bumps creates a mess you do not want to live with. It will cause scarring and usually causes a spreading of the acne problem. The answer is in healing the acne not irritating it.
-Don't reapply!- Those of you with oily skin are undoubtly tempted to apply (or reapply) powder to get rid of the shiney t-zone...don't! Instead of adding fuel to the acne fire, try using a clean absorbant cloth to remove the oil from your skin. If this doesn't give the effect you want, seriously consider cleaning your face and applying fresh make up. It takes longer but it is worth it to reduce and avoid acne. If you feel you must apply powder, absorb the oil first with a clean cloth and discard it, use oil free, loose powder, use a clean applicator, and apply the least amount possible.
-Don't over-sun!- I know, we all want a great tan that gives us the appearance of a healthy natural glow. The problem is that UV rays from the sun and tanning beds actually damage our skin and make acne blemishes worse! To get a great tan the safe way, I recommend using a sunless tanning lotion. If you insist on sun-tanning, keep exposure to a minimum and use a sun-screen.
- bedtime
As you sleep, dead skin cells and oils, which can clog pores, are left on your pillow case. To prevent creating acne in your sleep- Never ever sleep in make-up and Wash your pillow case often.
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