Top Ways To Stop Acne Breakouts And Scarring
We all know how embarrassing acne can be, especially when you’re young and image is everything, but I bet you didn’t know that acne is nearly as common in adults as it is in children! No matter what your age, the main problem facing people with acne is the worry of scarring, nobody wants to be covered in scars, especially when some of them can be permanent, but they can be prevented. Acne is easily treated if you begin preventative methods as soon as a breakout appears.
Most acne can be easily prevented by keeping your skin healthy; an easy way to do this is to keep hydrated. Drinking the recommended 2 litres of water a day can help to moisturize your skin, preventing it from drying out and producing oil which in turn causes pimples. If you have already had a breakout of acne then ice can help to control it. Pressing wrapped ice onto your acne for around 10 minutes can help reduce swelling and put a stop to future breakouts.
Zinc and Vitamin C are both important in preventing pimples from appearing, eating food that is rich in these minerals such as meat, beans and fruit can strengthen your skin and protect it from acne damage. It is also important to minimize your caffeine intake, although we all like a cup of coffee or tea every now and then it does dry out the skin, causing pimples and can act as a stimulant to the oils that cause pimples. It’s best to avoid caffeine altogether when having trouble with acne and staying off it until you are sure the acne is cleared.
There are some medications which can be useful in healing and preventing acne. Benzoyl peroxide is the chemical which is often used in such medications, and is very effective in reducing inflammation and preventing future breakouts.
The state of your pores makes a huge difference to your acne problems, be sure to remove all make-up before sleep to stop it clogging your pores, and exfoliate your skin once a week to remove the dead skin cells that block pores and can lead to spots.
To stop your acne scarring badly it is essential to use an acne medication early in the breakout to end it before it gets worse. Although it can be tempting it is important not to squeeze, pick or pop the pimples. All of these methods provide immediate relief but end up causing further breakouts and can make the pimples worse. This is especially important for the bigger, more painful pus filled acne lesions. These tend to be deeper in the skin and irritating them in any way can lead to permanent scars.
The most important thing when dealing with acne is to treat it early on, as soon as it appears so it can heal properly and quickly, and reduce the risk of scarring. As soon as the first breakout appears you should start using preventative methods and if need be go to the doctor, who can help by providing more effective, stronger medication.
Would you like to learn more about what causes acne? Read other articles at acne treatment guide