Blemishes Be Gone!
Though commonly thought of as a problem for teenagers, blemishes don’t always go away when you get older. Unfortunately, adults can and do have blemishes too. Whatever your age, it’s wise to be careful what you put on your skin since it will be absorbed into your body.
Gentle Washing.
If you have blemishes, scrubbing your face isn’t going to get rid of them. In fact, if you rub your skin too roughly, it’s more likely to stir up more blemishes and aggravate ones you already have. That makes it important to gently clean your face.
Washing your face gently will help avoid irritation that will make acne worse. It’s best to not even use a washcloth. Instead, just splash some water on your face, then lather up your hands with the mild cleansing wash or mild soap.
Once you’ve washed your face, use a clean washcloth to gently pat the water off the skin until it’s dry.
Benzoyl Peroxide Is The Best Bet.
Make sure your skin is completely dry, then use an over-the-counter medication with benzoyl peroxide. This active ingredient is the best non-prescription medication you can use to control blemishes. Peroxide has long been used to cleanse skin, and benzoyl peroxide is also a mild drying agent.
Use 2.5% benzoyl peroxide as it has been shown to be just as effective as 5% or 10%, but doesn’t irritate your skin so badly. It’s a bad idea to irritate your skin and make acne worse instead of better.
It’s also important to start with a SMALL amount of medication. This medication is a drying agent and can cause redness and itchiness, so don’t slather on a bunch right from the beginning. In the beginning, use just enough medication to very lightly cover your skin the first time, then gradually increase the amount you’re using. After a couple of weeks you should be giving your skin a good coating of medication.
Make certain you stay away from the tender skin under your eyes. This skin is thinner and more easier irritated that the rest of the skin on your face, and not likely to break-out anyway.
Use Moisturizer.
It’s important to apply moisturizer, because benzoyl peroxide dries out your skin. Allow the medicine to soak in and wait for your skin to completely dry, then lightly apply moisturizer to your face. After the moisturizer has time to dry, if you skin still appears dry or flaky, add some more.
Be careful to apply the moisturizer even when first beginning to use benzoyl peroxide. This is to help your skin keep from drying out too much.
What About Your Diet?
The scientific community can’t make up its collective mind as to whether diet has any effect on acne. It’s known that too much iodine will aggravate blemishes, so don’t go overboard with the salt shaker if you’re using iodized salt. Also, dont eat too many iodine rich foods like beef liver, or clams, crabs or other shellfish.
Forget the scientific theories, however, and if you notice that your skin tends to break out more after eating certain foods, quit eating them. Scientists don’t always have the definitive answer since body chemistry and the effects of foods and other substances on our skin is so complex. (How many drugs have been okayed as safe, only to discover later they have bad side effects?)
Some More Quick Tips.
When you have a blemish and need help quick, try one of the following:
- If you run out of benzoyl peroxide and have a blemish, try using a little calamine lotion. It helps absorb excess oil, and can kill the blemish.
- Once you’ve got your face washed, use an ice cube for 60 seconds on any blemishes. The chill from the ice cube helps reduce the inflammation and make them less noticeable.
- Do NOT squeeze! It may seem to allow it to heal more quickly, but will irritate the surrounding skin and may cause more blemishes.
- Avoid oil based make-up. An oil based make-up is especially bad for blemish prone skin. If you want to wear make-up, make sure to use types meant for people with sensitive or acne prone skin.
The Desire Is For Clear Skin.
Considering no one wants blemishes, it’s helpful that but a good skin care regimen can usually help or totally eradicate the problem.
Clear skin is the clear goal.
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