Stop Acne In Its Tracks

When you are in the middle of an acne breakout, it may seem impossible that it will ever clear up. There is a lot that you can do to get it clear though – both in terms of lifestyle changes and medication.


The first thing to do is to do a bit of a life audit. Look at the food you eat, the clothes you wear and the way you cleanse your face. But first you have to start by throwing out any preconceived notions you may have had about the treatment of acne.


A lot of people think that acne is caused by poor hygiene – this couldn’t be further from the truth. The actual problem starts a lot deeper down in the skin in the sebum glands. In acne sufferers, these glands may be overactive. Skin cell turnover may also be out of whack due to hormonal changes and the combination can lead to blocked pores and unsightly acne.


People’s first reaction to acne is often to try and hit the acne with as much as possible but this is a mistake. Harsh chemicals that dry out the skin can cause even more damage and increase the risk of scarring. It is best to start off with products with the lowest concentration of active ingredient and work your way up if necessary. Do not cleanse your skin more than twice a day and use a gentle cleanser. Read this proactiv review to know more about products that will be best for your skin.


The main adjustment that will need to be made will be in terms of diet. What you eat will affect the amount and severity of breakouts. Make sure that you follow a low GI diet – high blood insulin levels are known to disrupt the hormonal balance which, in turn, affects acne. This means avoiding foods high in sugar and foods that cause blood sugar spikes. Dairy has also been shown to aggravate acne and needs to be avoided.


Next look at the clothes you wear – this is really only applicable if you suffer from acne on your back and chest areas. Acne can be aggravated by friction with clothes and also sweating. Wearing natural fibers gives the advantage of helping you to cope with the heat, reducing sweating and reducing friction.


Acne is a manageable problem, as long as you are willing to be consistent in your efforts and put in a bit of work.