Are you dreaming of the day when your skin will be flawless? Join us for an in-depth post on how to get rid of acne and have flawless skin. Acne is no fun. It’s damaging to how you feel and look, your self-esteem and it stresses you out.
First, what makes me (the writer) an expert on acne? And why should you listen to me? Well, you don’t have to, but I’ve helped thousands get rid of acne. The quest to rid me of acne can be found on the blog, but working with acne, especially adult acne is truly a passion. Helping you get rid of your acne is a challenge and super rewarding. Come along and learn.
Adult acne is very different than teenage acne. Adults don’t usually have the same oil production as teens. Adult acne is drier acne. Here is where our treatment (Mi Bella Reina) of acne differs from most estheticians and dermatologists. We determine the CAUSE of the acne while treating the SYMPTOMS. #bellaskin
How To Get Rid of Acne for Good
Examine the following factors and you will be able to pinpoint the cause of your acne. The causes and factors that affect adult acne include:
- lifestyle (physical (super athletic) or sedentary, recreational drugs, alcohol),
- nutritional (food intolerances, water intake, sugar intake, dairy intake),
- medical issues (example, polycystic, drugs, major illnesses),
- cosmetic & household products (what laundry detergent, hair conditioner, makeup brand)
- skin care history (what skin care products are you using)
All of the factors above affect adult acne (anyone over 16). By determining what could be causing the acne, you can work to solve the why of the acne. Then it is possible to proceed to getting rid of the acne. If the acne never comes to a head, it is caused by internal problems with the body (food, too much sugar or dairy for example). We like to call them the undergrounders.They hurt like heck and it feels like Mt. Everest is getting ready to erupt.
How to get rid of acne for good must determine whether the acne is coming from internal or external sources. Is it coming from something topical like makeup? or Is it coming from something that you are eating like too much sugar? Blackheads and whiteheads are usually from external sources. Exceptions happen in the case of recreational drugs like steroids or meth which can cause severe blackheads.
Adult acne can have a combined source of internal and external factors, but each case is individual and must be examined as such. What works for one person, may not work for another. That is why the ongoing recommendations for a prescribed antibiotic ointment, prescription, or skin care most often fails to get rid of the problem. Determine the cause of the acne and then proceed to treat acne.
Products that Help to Get Rid of Acne
Both salicylic and benzoyl peroxide work well on adult acne, but the percentage has to be low (2% or 2.5%). Most products on the market are much too harsh for adults. Adults do not have the same oil production as teenagers, therefore a product that has a high percentage of benzoyl or salicylic will overdry and dehydrate adult skin.
The adult acne walks a delicate line, because you don’t want to overdry the skin, but you need the cleanser or treatment to be antibacterial and kill the bacteria. We are really partial to our salicylic acid Organic cleanser.
It makes the skin feel super clean, exfoliates and keeps the bacteria away. Oxygen also works very well without over drying the skin.
Cystic acne is caused either from internal or external, but do not squeeze yourself. Tissue damage and scarring occurs and most cannot get anything out of the cysts. Masks work very well with warm/hot towels to help pull the blackheads out. Cold or ice can help the large cysts with inflammation. A great at home mask for acne is calamine lotion (yes the kind used for poison ivy) as it really helps with the inflammation.
Blackheads do need to come out, because if they do not, the skin will eventually force them out. The way most people pick (with fingernails and enough pressure to knock out someone is not okay). First soften up and prepare the skin. Cleanse the skin, exfoliate (with soft pumice – nothing harsh or vigorous), then massage in a serum or mask that has jojoba oil. Professionally we call this an extraction gel, but at home it needs jojoba or squalane. Believe it – oil dissolves oil.
Applying jojoba or argan oil will help the blackheads loosen up, and “fly” out of the skin. At the spa, we have a Rose Argan Oil, that works great for the at-home “pickers”. The next step is using gauze around the fingers and using the pads of the fingers to gently work out the blackheads. Sometimes the blackheads are in 2 parts, make sure you don’t leave anything, because the leftovers will become a new “problem” the next day. Stopping blackheads from coming back is through proper cleansing.
How to get rid of acne for good requires some attention to details at your house.
- Make sure makeup brushes are clean.
- Use a new washcloth morning and night.
- Change your pillowcase daily.
- Wipe off cell phone with anti-bacterial wipes.
- Use makeup that does not CAUSE acne. There are many ingredients that cause acne, especially in some of the biggest makeup brands.
- Exfoliate at least 2-3 times per week. A really easy way to exfoliate is to use a 2-in-1 exfoliant, face mask. Apply before you brush your teeth, then brush and jump into the shower. While in the shower, leave the exfoliant/mask on until the end and then gently massage in small circles all over the face. If the cystic acne has a head, do not break the head while exfoliating, as you will spread bacteria all over the face.
How to get rid of acne and have flawless skin must include a new regimen that includes internal, and external changes. It will take at least 2 – 6 weeks to determine food intolerances or yeast issues, while the topical regimen may take 4-6 weeks to make sure it is working. The most important part of adult acne is understanding the internal causes of the acne. Don’t just treat the symptoms, look for the causes.
