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Wash your face daily and properly
Whether or not you have acne (also called pimples), washing your face twice a day to remove dirt, sweat, and excess oil is necessary. But avoid washing more than twice a day because this might do more harm than good.
How to wash your face properly?
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Wet your face with lukewarm water, not hot water.
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Use Stop Acne Sabonete, a bar of mild soap for washing your face with acne, pimples, and blackheads, or apply an alcohol-free cleanser in a circular and gentle motion with your fingers.
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Then rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel.
For emergencies, it is okay to wipe up your face with a stash of face wipes, i.e. when you get home too late and are exhausted from washing your face.
Know your skin type to select suitable skincare products
Acne can hit everyone, no matter your skin type. But oily skin is the most acne-prone because your skin’s sebaceous glands reduce too much oily sebum. Also, combination skin might cause acne since this skin type has both oily and dry areas.
By knowing your skin type, you easily select the right skincare products. For an effective product, you need to pay attention to these ingredients, including:
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Salicylic acid helps unclog pores, get rid of blackheads, and exfoliate.
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Benzoyl peroxide removes acne-causing bacteria.
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Retinoids activate cells to shed and prevent them from clogging.
You can buy acne products that have any one of these ingredients at a store or online without a prescription. Try 1 or 2 products and give them time to work (at least 6 to 8 weeks). Do not change a different one every few days, or it only irritates your skin and makes new breakouts.
Exfoliate gently and regularly
Gentle exfoliation helps deal with acne by removing the top layer of dead skin cells before they can join with oil and block pores. Although there are many kinds of exfoliation products, it is best to make a homemade one by using salt or sugar.
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Mix equal parts of salt (or sugar) and coconut oil.
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Gently rub this mixture on your skin with a soft and clean facial brush. Do not use a brush because it can keep bacteria.
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Then rinse well.
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Exfoliate up to twice per week.
In case you have delicate skin, you should consult your dermatologist before doing so.
Moisturize your skin
If your skin surface is dry and dehydrated, the oil glands easily produce more oil and this will make acne/pimples worse. Hence, hydrating your skin surface with a suitable moisturizer will rebalance the oil glands, control acne, and improve healing.
To help stop acne breakouts, you should find an oil-based and lightweight pH-balanced product. Use it after washing your face or whenever your skin feels dry. In case you prefer a natural remedy, aloe vera is the best choice because this tropical plant includes sulfur and salicylic acid, which are popular for dealing with acne.
How to use it?
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Scrape the gel from an aloe plant out
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Apply it directly to clean your skin. Or you can mix it with tea tree oil or tretinoin cream.
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Repeat 1 or 2 times per day or as desired.
You also buy aloe vera gel from the store, but make sure to check it is pure aloe and has no added ingredients.
Limit or skip makeup but remember to wear sunblock
It is alluring to use makeup to cover blemishes or acne; however, these beauty products are one of the most common causes of acne breakouts.
If possible, opt for natural products, oil-free cosmetics without extra chemicals and dyes. Select makeup that is labeled sheer, fragrance-free, and noncomedogenic. And remember to wash your makeup off at the end of the day.
Staying out of the sun is a must if you want to stop acne zone because some acne medication might make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Limiting your time in the sun and wearing protective clothing is an ideal way. Do not forget to wear a broad-spectrum sunblock with SPF 30 or higher at least 20 minutes before going outside. Always search for “noncomedogenic” on the label to make new acne less likely.
Avoid touching your face too often
Your hands easily encounter bacteria and grime constantly during the day. And when you touch your face all day, pore-clogging impurities might transfer to your skin. Do you know that you subconsciously touch your face during the day like rubbing your hands on your face when you are tired or simply resting your chin in your hand? Take time in a day and pay attention to how many times you touch your face.
Hence, it is important to wash your hands regularly and try touching your face as little as possible.
Another important note is not to use your hands to squeeze or pop pimples because these actions might make inflammation and blemishes worse. But sometimes, you cannot resist squeezing it, especially when it is ready to blow. Well, it is fine if it is a whitehead on the verge of releasing itself. You can press it with your clean hands, and remember to apply cotton-tipped applicators to prevent scarring.
Feed your skin with a healthy diet
If you wonder how to stop acne naturally, the best way is to tailor your diet. Do you know that high-protein and low-glycemic foods play a vital role in improving acne [1]? Let’s check out these top foods and add them to your diet to build up your skin’s defense.
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Kale: Make a cup of kale smoothie or saute it as a side dish for lunch or dinner. Vitamin C in this low-calorie superfood will help promote collagen formation and repair acne scars quicker.
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Lemon: Squeeze fresh lemon into a cup of warm water and drink it on an empty stomach every morning. This fresh juice works as a natural astringent, which helps blur blemishes and tighten skin texture.
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Sweet potatoes: A creamy soup of sweet potatoes or baked fries is an easy way to get good benefits for your skin all year.
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Papayas: These yummy fruits are fabulous in smoothies, salsa, or sorbet. You can try it topically to exfoliate dead skin cells, fade acne scars, unclog pores, prevent any breakouts, and hydrate skin.
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Pumpkin: A tasty soup of pumpkin or add pumpkin puree into pancake batter or roast their seeds. Loaded with good enzymes, this fruit can restore pH balance and regulate the amount of oil production effectively.
Also, you should cut down on junk food high in processed sugar, greasy foods, and some dairy products that might trigger acne. Or if possible, adding supplements for skin also helps nourish your skin and prevent acnes from forming.
Control stress
Stress does not create acne, but the hormones released during stress might promote sebum production and inflammation, making acne worse [2]. Moreover, stress badly affects gut bacteria, which might be linked to acne and slows wound healing, which delays the repair of blemishes.
Reducing stress is easier said than done. But you can try anything that makes you feel relaxed like listening to music, going to bed early, practicing yoga, taking a warm bath, meditating, or taking deep breaths.
Visit your dermatologist
If self-treatment is not enough to stop acne on your face, you should visit and talk to your dermatologist. They will troubleshoot your skin conditions and give a suitable treatment regime to prevent acne and clear your skin.
Now you do not ask yourself “how can I stop acne on my face” after reading all the advice above. And even if none of them show results in at least 2 months, you can visit your dermatologist for further recommendations.
