I spent most of my life locked in my bedroom, miserable about my raging acne. ~~ Moon Unit Zappa
Acne vulgaris (commonly called acne) is a skin disease caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units. So that's the scientific definition of acne. But we all know what acne is and how embarrassing it is. There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning to find a nice big zit on your face. There are ways that you can help to get rid of acne, without using any medications.
Step 1 Don't pop any zits!
When you pop that zit you're only removing the visible, surface level problem. But zits are caused by a number of conditions, and not addressing those will only assure that more zits appear. So while popping a zit may seem like the fast solution, it is really only a temporary solution. Not only is it a temporary solution, but you will also be left with acne scars that may or may not go away.
Step 2 Remove stress from your life
Much easier said than done right? Well everyday stress is inevitable, try to avoid stressing out over things. Everyday stress will not contribute to acne. Stress from something like moving to a new house or dealing with your parents' divorce can cause your skin to produce excess oils, leading to acne growth.
Step 3 Wash, but don't over wash, your face
Washing your face is a great way to remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and dirt from your skin's surface. However, over washing or scrubbing your skin too hard will cause your skin to dry and actually make your acne worse. It is best to use a mild soap on your face.
Step 4 Don't touch your face
Our hands have oil on them and of course bacteria too, both of which can make acne worse. Be sure that other objects that come in contact with your face like cell phones, telephone receivers, eye glasses, etc are clean.
Step 5 Review Your Environment
Pollution, airborne grease (such as in a fast food restaurant), irritating clothing, etc. all these can aggravate your acne. Although you may not be able to avoid all the various irritants that may contribute to your acne, you can make educated decisions that may help to minimize their impact. Loosen tight, irritating clothing. Also, find fabrics that breathe better and don't aggravate your acne.
Step 6 Wash Your Hair Frequently
Washing your hair frequently will help to remove and reduce oils that are found in your hair. This is especially important if your hair is long enough where it frequently touches your face.
Step 7 Change your pillow case frequently
Oils released from your face often get onto your pillow as you turn throughout the night. It is important to change your pillow cases frequently so that your face is not rubbing around in these oils and spreading acne throughout your face.
Tips
- You may think that spending time outside in the sun will help to reduce or remove your acne. This is not true! Getting a tan may help to temporarily cover up your zits, however, when your skin returns to its normal color you will see the acne again. Make sure to always apply a noncomedogenic sun screen of at least 15 SPF to your skin before heading outside for a length of time.
- When you are washing your face, try to avoid using a wash rag. It is better to use your hands because using a wash rag will simply spread the infection around your entire face.
- When wearing makeup, always make sure the makeup is labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic."
- When applying hair gels or sprays, try your best not to allow any to touch your face as they can clog your pores.
