There are many things that affect our skin and how prone we are to breakouts, including diet, water intake, and medication. Did you know that some of your skincare habits could cause you to have acne or worsen it? In this article, we explain some of these 'habits' with tips to help counteract them.
Trying Several Treatment Methods Back-to-Back
You likely know what this means...you try out one product, and the following week you try another one. Unfortunately, you're not giving the treatment time to work and you're putting your skin at risk for irritation. Not to mention it could worsen your acne.
What you should be doing is giving a single treatment method time to work. It takes most acne medications approximately 6 to 8 weeks to show any difference or improvement. It depends on the instructions for the product or method you're using. After that, if there is no change, then you can try another medication. For complete clearing of acne, it usually takes anywhere from 3 to 4 months.
Using Skincare Products With Clog-Poring Ingredients
Pay attention to your skincare products, hair care products, and makeup. This is a big one. Many products contain oil or other irritants that can cause your skin to break out and become more irritated. You should look for products that say “non-comedogenic” or mention that they will not clog pores. These products work for most people to prevent additional acne or flare-ups.
Sharing Skincare Applicators & Makeup
You should not be sharing your makeup, brushes, or applicators with anyone else. While acne is not contagious, bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells can be transferred back and forth which can clog pores and irritate the skin.
Your makeup brushes and applicators should be cleaned often and it's important that you remove your makeup before bed every night. All makeup poses a risk of causing acne if slept in. If you do not feel like washing your face you can use a makeup remover wipe.
Over-Washing Your Face or Scrubbing
Do not wash your face repeatedly throughout the day. This will dry your skin out and lead to irritation. You should wash your face twice a day. When you wake up and when you go to bed are great times to wash. If you get sweaty, then you might wash your face gently. Do not scrub your skin. Scrubbing causes irritation as well. You should use a mild cleanser and gently wash your face with your fingertips in a circular motion. After rinsing you should pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Not Using Moisturizer
Avoid drying your skin out. People who suffer from acne tend to have oily skin and it is very tempting to scrub with some astringent or rubbing alcohol because you think drying the acne out will make it go away, but this is not the case. Drying your skin out will make your acne so much worse. Use your acne medication the proper way, and you can apply a moisturizer after cleansing your face if your skin is feeling too dry.
Touching or Picking At Your Face
Another big habit to break is popping or squeezing your acne. This can push the bacteria further into your skin and cause inflammation and possibly even scarring. Instead, use your medication or see a dermatologist for acne that is painful or deep into the skin. If these tips do not help, then seeing a dermatologist is a good idea. Some people need to use prescription-strength acne medication to see results.
It can be a tedious process when dealing with acne but with patience and proper skincare, you can overcome it and enjoy your skin once again. If you're looking for a natural cleanser to help with acne, consider our Original Honey Eczema soap bar. We have had many people tell us it helped them and it's all-natural so there's no worry of clogged pores!