How To Deal With Acne: First-Timer Guide

Acne is a frustrating skin condition that often appears during your teenage years, but it can flare up at any point in your life. If you’re suddenly dealing with breakouts and blemishes then this first-time guide covers what you need to know about managing acne-prone skin.

Understanding Possible Acne Triggers

It’s a good idea to try and identify what’s triggering your acne and how you can deal with the cause. There are a number of different reasons and factors that can lead to breakouts, but some of the most common include:

  • Changes in hormone levels due to puberty, menstruation, pregnancy or menopause
  • High stress levels — this might not be the main cause but it can worsen acne
  • Diet — dairy products and high glycemic food, which can cause spikes in blood sugar levels
  • Certain medications such as corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, lithium, and some steroids.

It’s not always obvious what’s causing acne, but if you’ve made any changes to your lifestyle, diet, or skincare then it could be contributing to it.

Effective Acne Treatments

There are a huge number of different treatments for acne. From creams and lotions to face washes, toners and acids, it can be hard to know what’s going to work for your skin. These are a few of the key treatments and ingredients that many people find effective in managing and clearing it up.

Azelaic Acid

Azelaic acid is a topical treatment that’s used to manage skin conditions like acne, and it can also help to fade acne scars. But what does azelaic acid do to your skin? It’s antibacterial, which can kill the bacteria that cause acne, helping to prevent whiteheads and blackheads from forming.

It also reduces the production of keratin skin cells, which can block pores. As well as this, azelaic acid has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce redness and irritation caused by blemishes. Overall, azelaic acid can help manage acne and prevent future breakouts, making skin healthier and smoother.

Salicyclic Acid

Another effective way to tackle acne is by using products that contain salicyclic acid. It works best on blackheads and whiteheads as it can help exfoliate your skin by dissolving dead skin cells that might clog up your pores and cause spots.

When it’s used on a regular basis salicyclic acid can reduce the number of breakouts, but it can take several weeks before you see any noticeable results.

Benozoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is one of the best ingredients to help fight against all kinds of acne. It reduces excess oil and breaks down dead skin cells, but it also has antibacterial properties that help remove bacteria on the skin that causes acne. This means it’s another good way of treating current breakouts and preventing more blemishes in the future.

Blonde haired female in her late twenties. close up of the side of her face with bad adult acne.

Tips For Managing Acne

Alongside using effective acne treatments there are a few other things you can do to improve your skin:

Don’t Dry Out Your Skin

If your skin is feeling oily and breaking out, it can be tempting to wash your face more frequently or use products to dry out your skin. But this can actually make your acne worse. When your skin gets too dry it can end up producing even more oil and harsh products can irritate your skin causing blemishes to flare up.

You should only wash your face twice a day, or after you’ve worked out if your skin is sweaty. And make sure to use a face wash that’s designed for acne-prone skin.

It’s also important that your skin is well moisturized, even if it feels oily. Use a light moisturizer that’s oil-free so that it won’t block your pores but keeps your skin hydrated.

Keep Things Clean

Bacteria can build up quickly on things like your towels and bedding, especially pillowcases that are frequently touching your face. This can add more bacteria to your skin and cause further outbreaks. So it’s important to change your bedsheets and towels at least once a week.

You should also regularly clean your phone screen and make-up brushes and sponges, as these can also harbor a lot of acne-causing bacteria.

Avoid Picking At Spots

It can be really tempting to pick at spots and blemishes, but this will only make them worse. By touching your face and picking at them you’re more likely to spread bacteria. And popping a spot can lead to an infection or cause scarring that takes longer to heal.

If you’re suffering from acne for the first time then there are plenty of steps you can take to improve your skin and reduce future breakouts. But it’s important to remember that there are no quick fixes, so focus on getting into a good skin care routine and give any acne treatments time to work.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *