Ok so I'm not gonna bore you with the usual. If you're reading this then you've probably read
a lot of other articles on how to clear up your poor skin. You know the usual drill: drink water, find the facewash to suit you, get sleep, eat your fruit and veggies etc. but I wanted to share with you personal tips.
1.) See a doctor
I have had acne since I can remember really and not a day has gone by since I first got it where I have not had a spot on my face. So that's since about 13 or 14. To begin with it was only mild, but at the age of 15 I was already getting cystic acne. I could feel it pushing it's ugly lump up through my face as I sat at school until when I was about 16 and got 11 cystic spots over 3 days. I cracked and went crying to my mum (who herself had acne until 35 when she took proaccutane (an extremely high does of vit.a)). She told me to go to the doctors and although it sounded silly after I went it was the best thing I could've done. They gave me antibiotics with zinc to apply to my face. At this time I was gettng acne around my mouth where to this day I still get painful acne there. This cleared it up until one day it decided to stop working...After that I tried oral antibiotics and cremes. You have to bear with the system as it is a gradual one. They put me on the pill for 3 months and it did nothing. However the doctor put me on for 3 more months and I'm glad they did because it is working really well (although atm I have a painful spot) because I changed my facewash. Facewash + pill and I had only rarely those small tiny spots which go away quickly and mean nothing if you've had to bear with any form of painful acne. The only problem with the pill is it actually intensified my period pains. I'd also like to mention as people think the pill increases cancer it does not really. For Dianette, in their study of 6000 women out of the 3000 not taking the pill 16 of them had breast cancer by the time they were 30, and out of the 3000 taking the pill 17 of them had breast cancer. It is also said to reduce certain cancers but idk what to think about that. But yes. The best thing I'd reccommend is go see a doctor! I felt so relieved just seeing one.
2.) What does your skin want?
I was confused about facewash. As my acne was large, inflammed and painful I though my skin was sensitive. But I was wrong. I noticed my sin was oily towards the end of the day and swapping from a thick, moisturising cream clenser for sensitive skin to a foam for sensitive oily skin made all the difference! So think about what your skin really wants.
3.) Calm
It's not so much the appearance but the pain that spots cause. What appears small feels like a massive golf ball swelling in your face. You can try various creams to calm them but one remedy I have tried recently is mint, green tea! Using an organic (pepper)mint green tea bag hold it under the warm tap them rest it on the painful area. I find the peppermint really soothes the area and green tea is also meant to be calming. I do this when I have just (ok it sounds gross) cleared out a massive painful spot (if you completely drain it may leave a scar but the pain is gone by the next day. I would not reccommend this though as it will leave scars).
4.) Food does not cause acne
It's true. So take out that chocolate bar it doesn't matter. But eating the right foods can help acne. Basically that's fruit and veg. Zinc helps skin as well as your vitamins so eating these will help your skin, but seriously there is no link between certain foods causing acne. It is mainly down to your genes (unless you have a habit of smearing butter all over your face which would be the cause).
5.) Follow all that other stuff
Of course yes it does help to drink water and get sleep. Sleep means more time for calm, healing and growing, whilst water means your body is not dehydrated and stressed out. A body that has is daily needs met has energy to repair and help itself. And that could be your skin! So eat enough & eat vitamin/mineral abundant food and drink plenty of water. According to the doctor stress does not effect your skin but we all know that's a lie. Try to avoid stress and try to smile (unless it hurts because of your acne D: you can just imagine a smile or think of fluffy kittens!). Oh and don't touch your face, it makes it hurt even more and irritates it! They mention bacteria spreading but tbh if bacteria is causing your acne then facewash would have sorted that out for you by now (all they do is create excess fatty acids which clog your pores, so if you wash your face at the beginning and end of day you should reduce their numbers enough to stop this). Umm and don't overwash your face. Also moisturiser is not essential if you have oily skin. I know they say oily skin is caused as it's not oiled enough, but moisturiser doesn't make a difference although if it does work for you then just keep at it! Exfoliation can help as well, but if you have lots of acne opt for a very gentle exfoliator. An exfoliator can help stop spots developing so you will notice a difference later on if you exfoliate maybe twice a week. It certainly helps in oily trouble areas if you get lots of small whiteheads/blackheads. If you have cystic/painful acne then just go gentle on these areas.
I hope this helps!
