10 Changes in Lifestyle that Help Overcome Acne
Acne is a normal skin condition that affects many people. Acne is an inflammation of the skin where the oil glands are infected with bacteria, swell, and clogged with pus. Acne generally occurs on the face, neck, back and shoulders. Although not a critical condition, acne can make a person depressed because of their appearance. No wonder there are so many medicines and facial care creams that give you the lure to eradicate acne quickly.
Actually, there is no need to bother spending enough to treat acne. There are many natural methods that can help you deal with stubborn acne.
1. Get enough sleep
Stress is an important factor causing acne. Not only can it make you sleep less and reduce your stamina, stress also causes an increase in the production of glucocorticoid hormones that trigger a number of skin problems, including acne.
Staying up late causes increased cytokine inflammation. Increased foreign substances in the body will increase the tendency to produce inflammation. Acne is one form of inflammation triggered by an increase in the number of cytokines in the body. In addition, lack of sleep causes increased insulin resistance. The body will be forced to produce more insulin which causes inflammation and sebum (oil) production to increase, so that it has the potential for acne formation.
Sleep helps the body and face detoxification process. To help you get enough sleep at night, situate your bedroom as comfortable as possible. Get rid of any distractions (cellphones, tv, laptop), turn off the room lights, and set the air conditioning temperature (18-22ºC). Cool temperatures will help you sleep faster and longer.
2. Fix your diet
Avoid foods and snacks that can increase blood sugar levels and trigger excessive insulin production in the body.
Too much insulin in the body will cause changes in body metabolism that slows the healing of existing acne. Insulin will also trigger the production of excess sebum (oil) as a cause of acne.
Stubborn acne will gradually disappear as you change your diet with a healthier diet. Exchange white rice, pasta, fresh bread and sugar with whole grain products, nuts and seeds, and fresh vegetables and fruits.
3. Wash your face before exercising, then afterwards
It may be a bit difficult to see the relationship between removing acne with exercise. It's simple, exercising regularly will reduce stress and improve mood as a cause of stubborn acne. Solid physical activity can increase blood flow throughout the body and facilitate the spread of oxygen that evenly reaches the skin's facial cells. In addition, exercise will trigger the production of sweat from the pore gland to rinse away dirt and dust that clog pores.
But many people know that washing your face before exercise turns out to be as important as washing your face after exercise. Why? When you sweat when exercising, the pores will open and make it easier for bacteria, makeup, dust, and other dirt trapped in the skin and cause acne in the future. So before you sweat, make sure your pores are clean.
4. Drink lots of water
Water can help the detoxification process and keep the skin moist from the inside. Although there are not enough studies that prove that toxins in the body have a role in inflaming acne, researchers conclude that consuming enough white water at least two glasses a day will help improve blood circulation which might be the cause of stubborn acne.
5. Use sunscreen
Sun's ultraviolet rays can increase inflammation, redness, and the appearance of black spots on the face. Lingering outdoors without sunscreen protection also increases the risk of skin cancer. Always use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher in a minimum period of 20 minutes each time before you leave the house.
If your facial skin is prone to acne, use a sunscreen that contains mild chemical compounds, such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, octocylene, and zinc oxide. Choose a sunscreen labeled "noncomedogenic" to reduce the likelihood of new acne.
6. Consumption of omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to control the production of leukotriene B4, a chemical in the body that can increase sebum production and cause inflamed acne.
Omega-3 is commonly found in vitamin supplements, or foods such as walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil, and salmon.
7. Diligently wash your face
Your face is a favorite location for breeding bacteria, especially after a full day of outdoor activities. Sebum produced by the face will mix with all kinds of dirt residues, street dust and makeup, and potentially clog pores. This is a perfect combination of the cause of acne and blackheads.
It is important to regularly wash your face twice a day in the morning and evening, especially if you live and do activities in high pollution areas. If you only have indoor activities, don't wear makeup, and don't sweat too much, just rinse your face with warm water at night.
Does this mean you can skip washing your face in the morning? Certainly not. When you sleep, your facial skin performs a self-cleansing ritual, pushing waste and residual dirt out through the sweat glands and pores. There is still residual waste left on your skin in the morning. So yes, you should wash your face twice a day.
8. Exfoliation
Excess oil production is one of the risk factors for acne. But that does not mean people who have dry skin are immune from acne attacks. Dry skin causes cracks and fine lines arise where bacteria can perch and multiply. Peeling skin can also clog pores.
The solution, exfoliation needs to be done regularly about 1 to 3 times a week in order to restore the skin's elasticity and elasticity. For best results, massage a scrub or exfoliant product in a circular pattern gently starting from the neck and slowly moving up. After that, apply a special noncomedogenic moisturizer.
9. Clean the cellphone
Mobile is the best place for bacteria to live and breed. Every day, your cellphone is exposed to thousands of bacteria that move from your hand (when you type) to your face (when calling), or vice versa.
Moreover, heat produced by cellphone batteries is the right medium for bacteria to breed.
The solution: always ready to be available for anti-bacterial wet tissue and clean the surface of your cellphone every time you use it.
10. Be careful with hair styling products
Various sticky and oily hair products are very dangerous for facial skin. This product will react with facial skin when you fall asleep. These hair product particles will clog pores and cause acne.
In addition, bangs hairstyles also affect acne. Dust and sweat easily stick to the hair. Friction between dirty hair and facial skin will cause bacteria to move places and cause acne.
The solution, when taking a bath, shampoo and use conditioner first, and wash your face, to avoid the remaining hair products "fading" on the face. After dirt and products from the hair are cleaned, facial soap will rinse away any residue that may be left on the skin. We recommend that you select a range of products that are oil free and use natural ingredients so that they are not harmful to the skin.
To get around acne due to bangs, you can pin your bangs back when relaxing or when exercising to avoid sweat and dust sticking to your forehead. Or if you don't wash your hair every day, wash only the bangs every night before going to bed.
