The affliction of acne can be worrisome, painful, and can affect self-esteem. Acne has physical, psychological, and emotional consequences. There are many tools that can be utilized to ease the condition. Acne requires a lifestyle shift in order to aid in getting it in control. The following are recommendations that will have a positive influence in treatment of acne.
Get more sleep: According to a study in Sleep, the risk of psychological stress increases by 14% for every hour of sleep you lose a night. So what does this have to do with acne?
“Stress increases glucocorticoid production, which can lead to abnormalities in skin structure and function,” says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist in Danville, CA. And that can make conditions like acne worse.
To get your beauty sleep, crank your thermostat down to between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. French researchers found that a cooler body temperature makes it easier to fall asleep after you’ve hit the sack. (WebMD)
Change your diet: Some foods cause your blood sugar to raise quickly, triggering a boost in insulin. Too much insulin in your bloodstream can trigger changes in your body that can lead to the growth of pore-clogging cells. It can also boost action in your oil glands.
So make some changes to your meals. A study in the American Journal of Nutrition suggests you may have fewer breakouts if you add more whole grains, beans, and veggies and cut back on pasta, white rice, white bread, and sugar. (WebMD)
Exercise: Exercise helps cut stress, which may contribute to acne outbreaks.
Physical activity also helps your skin by increasing your blood circulation, which sends more oxygen to your skin cells and carries away cell waste.
But keep in mind that sweat from exercise can also lead to breakouts by irritating your skin. So it’s important to shower right after a workout. (WebMD)
H2O: Increasing the amount of water you drink is a great way to flush out internal toxins and hydrate your skin from the inside out. Although there is no definitive research that shows toxins lead to breakouts. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that having about 2 cups of water significantly boosted blood flow throughout the body and skin. (WebMD)
Sunscreen: You may hesitate to put sunscreen on your face because you’ve noticed that after a day in the sun, your complexion looks clear and breakout-free. But the inflammation from sunburn can make your acne worse or cause more dark spots. Plus, staying out in the sun without sunscreen raises your risk of skin cancer.
Use sunscreen every time you’re in the sun. Read the ingredients list on the back of your sunscreen, and if you’re acne-prone, look for lighter chemical ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, octocylene, and zinc oxide. If you have acne, look for “non-comedogenic” on the label, which means it should not clog your pores. (WebMD)
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3s have been shown to control the production of leukotriene B4, a molecule that can increase sebum and cause inflammatory acne.
Omega-3s can be found in supplements or in foods like walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil, and salmon. (WebMD)
Cleanse 2X a day: The face has more oil-producing glands than any other part of the body, says Carolyn Jacob, MD, a Chicago dermatologist. Top that with a day’s worth of makeup, sweat, smog, dust, and dirt and you’re left with a pore-clogging concoction that, if not washed away regularly, will seep into and fill pores, resulting in blackheads and pimples.
Even if you don’t shower twice a day, it’s important to wash your face thoroughly — and gently — in the morning and at night. Look for cleansers that say “non-comedogenic” on the bottle. (WebMD)
Exfoliate: Sure, overzealous oil glands can lead to breakouts, but so can underperforming oil glands. Dry skin has tiny cracks in which bacteria can breed; plus, excessive flaking can lead to clogged pores.
The fix: Gently exfoliate your skin a few times a week with a scrub designed for the face and follow up with a non-comedogenic moisturizer. (WebMD)
Clean your phone: Several studies have shown that cell phones are breeding ground for germs. Throughout any given day your phone can be exposed to thousands of bacteria, which spread from your fingers (via texting) to your face (via talking) and vice versa.
In addition, the heat produced by your phone can help bacteria to multiply. To keep the germs from landing on your face, wipe the surface of your phone with a little hand sanitizer each day. It’s best to use headphones. (WebMD)
Help Treat Acne with these Lifestyle Tips
