Anyone with acne knows how much of a struggle it can be to try to heal your skin. But while you’re trying to soothe the pimples you have, you can also prevent new ones from forming, breaking the often vicious breakout cycle. Pimples can appear anywhere on the skin, but they most often occur on the face. While the skin microbiome is complex, scientists have identified a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes, appropriately named because it can cause acne breakouts. This bacterium causes inflammation when it turns sebum (the oil found naturally on our skin) into fatty acids.
What causes acne?
Breakouts can be triggered by hormones, specifically androgen, which stimulate trusted Source sebum production. Genetics, diet, overuse of skin products, and environmental factors (like pollution) can also cause skin irritation, including acne. Other common causes include:
- puberty, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle
- squeezing or picking at existing pimples
- cleaning or rubbing your skin too harshly
- pressure from things like hats, helmets, and backpack straps
- high humidity
- cosmetics, like oil-based products
- some medications
# Properly wash your face
To help prevent pimples, it’s important to remove excess oil, dirt, and sweat daily. Washing your face too much may make acne worse, however.
“When we strip our skin of its natural sebum with excess washing, it causes the skin to produce even more oil to rebalance your skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anar Mikailove, MD. “Thus, washing your face excessively can indeed make acne worse, as does use cleansers or astringents that dry out the skin too much.”
Use cleansers that are sulfate-free, fragrance-free, and gentle enough for twice-daily use, rather than using harsh physical scrubs or drying foaming cleansers.
To wash your face:
- Wet your face with warm, not hot, water.
- Apply a mild cleanser in a gentle, circular motion using your fingers, not a washcloth.
- Rinse thoroughly, and pat dry.
# Use a moisturizer
Moisturizers help the skin stay hydrated. Even if you have acne, moisturizer is important because if your skin gets too dry, it will produce oil (sebum) to counterbalance — and an excess of sebum causes pimples.
However, many moisturizers contain oil, synthetic fragrance, or other ingredients that may irritate skin and cause pimples. Be sure to check the ingredient list before purchasing a moisturizer and check that it’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. When it comes to any product for acne-prone or sensitive skin, the fewer ingredients, the better.
# Don't be a pimple popper:
As tempting as it may be to squeeze that larger-than-life whitehead on the tip of your nose, don’t. Popping pimples may cause bleeding, severe scarring, or infection. It may also increase inflammation and clog surrounding pores, making your pimple problem worse.
# Try stress-busting activities
Stress doesn’t cause pimples, but it may make them worse. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, research has shown that when you’re stressed, your body produces more oil-stimulating hormones.
Some options to help you manage stress are:
~ yoga
~ meditation
~ journaling
~ massage
~ aromatherapy
~ exercise
# Limit sun exposure:
Catching some rays may dry out pimples in the short term, but it causes major problems in the long run. Frequent sun exposure dehydrates the skin, which, over time, causes it to produce more oil and block pores.
It’s important to wear sunscreen to help protect your skin year-round. However, many sunscreens are oily. For both sun and pimple protection, opt for a noncomedogenic, oil-free sunscreen.
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