An estimated 95% of people aged between 11 and 30 suffer from some form of acne. While this common skin condition is more prevalent in teenagers and adolescents, adult acne is becoming increasingly widespread. If you have tried many methods to get rid of your acne but are still struggling with blemished skin, then the below regime is just what you need.
Keep reading to find out how you can effectively get rid of acne in 7 simple steps with long-lasting solutions that are gentle on the skin.
What causes acne?
Acne appears when tiny holes in the skin, known as hair follicles, become blocked. The sebaceous glands are attached to your hair follicles and are designed to stop the skin from drying out through the production of sebum. When your body produces too much sebum, it mixes with the dead skin cells and forms a plug in the follicle.
If this blocked follicle is close to the skin’s surface, it bulges outwards, forming a whitehead. Alternatively, if the plugged follicle is open to the skin, it causes a blackhead.
As mentioned briefly above, acne in teenagers is particularly common, which is caused by increased levels of a hormone known as testosterone. Acne can run in families, so if your parents suffered from acne, you are more likely to. In adulthood, women are more likely to experience acne than men.
How to get rid of acne
Here are 7 simple steps to get rid of your acne:
Step 1: Be patient
While you understandably might want your acne to miraculously disappear overnight, this is very unlikely to happen. Most acne treatments take at least four weeks before they start to clear your skin and, in some cases, take even longer. You might have to try multiple treatments before finding one that works for your skin.
Try to think of a clear complexion as a journey rather than a race, and be prepared for your skin to get a bit worse before it gets better.
Step 2: Wash your face twice daily
Skin that is prone to acne is often oily but also sensitive. This means that, although you may be tempted to wash your skin multiple times a day, this can inflame your complexion and make your blemishes worse.
Instead, only wash your face twice a day. Wash it when you wake up and before you go to bed. If you have been exercising or are prone to sweating, giving your face a quick wash to refresh it is also okay.
Step 3: Choose the right skincare products
There are skincare and cosmetic products that are specifically designed for acne-prone skin. These are often labeled as non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, and oil-free.
These products are not effective for everyone, and it can be a case of trial and error to see what works best for you.
Step 4: Use an acne treatment
There are lots of acne treatments on the market, so it can be difficult to choose the right one for your skin type. It is always worth seeking the help of a professional to determine an effective treatment.
Epiduo Gel at Chemist Click is a highly effective acne treatment that works by getting rid of dead skin cells and excess oil. It also works to reduce redness, swelling, and inflammation.
Make sure you follow the directions on the packaging carefully for optimum results. In most cases, it will recommend that you apply the treatment on all your acne-prone skin, not just the blemishes themselves.
Step 5: Consult a dermatologist
If you struggle with severe acne, you may want to consider booking a consultation with a dermatologist who will be able to create a bespoke treatment plan based on your skin problems.
It is important that, if your dermatologist prescribes more than one type of medication for your skin, you use all of the recommended skincare products. A failure to do so may result in your acne not clearing up completely or your skin flaring up in other ways.
Step 6: Do not pop or pick
Although the urge to pop and pick your spots can be overwhelming, this is the worst thing that you can do to your skin. Every time you touch, pop, or pick at your acne, you make it worse, and you also run the risk of transferring it to other areas of your face.
Instead, apply a thin layer of your preferred acne treatment to the affected area, and wait patiently for your skin to clear up.
Step 7: Stay positive
Having acne, especially when you are an adult, can be very distressing and can wreak havoc on your self-esteem. Although it can be hard to have faith in a new treatment, especially if you have tried many before with little success, you will eventually find the right medication and skincare routine for your skin.
Try to stay positive and envision your clear and glowing complexion because it will come!
Also Read: