Breakouts can be depressing, especially if they are a permanent feature on one’s face or if they are a regular occurrence. Fashion and Beauty with Heather R
The occasional breakout is acceptable, but if each time you look at your face, there are hideous, “growths” staring back at you, it can be disheartening and a cause for concern. I know there are some people with terrible skin out there and when you look at them you have a million questions to ask, but before you do, here are a few things to take into consideration:
They actually own mirrors at home, therefore they are fully aware of the condition of their skin and it bothers them more than you think, so stating the obvious is cruel.
If all you are is curious and you are not genuinely concerned about their well-being, don’t ask. We can all detect sincere concern and mere inquisitiveness.
If you have no solutions, it is best you keep your comments to yourself.
Acne: Indications: Pimples on the face, usually with whiteheads.
Causes: Hereditary Advice: Visit your dermatologist who will diagnose you and treat you effectively. Hormonal (too much testosterone). Advice: You may need to visit a gynaecologist who may prescribe something to balance out your hormones or see your dermatologist who will prescribe something appropriate.
Wrong foods Eating oily and spicy foods can aggravate breakouts. Dairy products and sugar can have the same effect. Know what works for you. There are ladies I know that do not eat chocolate cake because they say it shows on their face the next day.
Over-production of the sebaceous (oil) glands A dermatologist can give you something to manage this.
Using the wrong skin product The skin is the body’s largest organ and it produces oil to protect itself against bacteria. It requires a balance of its water and oil combination. When we use the wrong products, we strip the skin of its oils and because it is not accustomed to having no oil on it, that triggers an increase in the production of oil.
Using too much moisturiser A pea-sized amount of moisturiser is what is advised, any more and the excess goes back into the pores and comes out as pimples so in this case, less is more effective.
Bacteria The skin is naturally dirty because of dying cells. For a good number of people, if you take care of dead cells, you will notice a reduction in breakouts especially if they are in the cheek area.
Dirty hands I have a bad habit of fiddling with my face or resting my face on my hands and given that our hands come into contact with so many unclean things, when we touch our faces we transfer the dirt onto our faces. Wash, hands often and keep them off your face.
Cellphone I now wipe down my cellphone with hand sanitiser. The dirt on our hands is transferred to our cellphones and subsequently to our faces. Keep it clean.
Dirty skin When I went to a dermalogica’s face mapping day, I was enlightened about cleaning my face. When you apply your toner after washing your face, the pad should be clean because the cleansing phase should have cleaned your face effectively. My dermatologist suggested, I wash my face with a mild soap to clean my face. Dermalogica has a two-step cleansing process that cleans your skin thoroughly, after all toner is meant to be dabbed on, not rubbed on and used as the second cleansing step.
Dirty make-up applicators Wash your facial pads, powder and blush brushes regularly so they are clean and you are not contaminating your skin each time you apply make-up.
Wrong make-up according to dermatologist Whitney Bowe, “oil-free doesn’t mean anything when it comes to acne. Look for the words “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic” when you buy your make-up kit.
Reaction to prescription medication Your body may be reacting adversely to an antibiotic or prescription prescribed by your general practitioner or other doctor.
Get worried if pimples appear on the forehead
Pimples on the forehead may indicate problems with your liver and kidney. For instance, if you drink too much alcohol regularly and not enough water, you strain your kidneys and liver and they will not function as effectively as they should. Drinking that prescribed two litres of water a day aids your body in flushing out toxins. Pimples on the jaw line and neck are caused by reproductive hormones usually round about the time of a menstural period and sometimes during or post pregnancy. The best solution for these is to let it pass because after your period the hormones settle. Pregnancy- related ones require organic treatments because the chemicals in the products go into your system and are passed on to the child, which is not recommended. Visit your dermatologist for more information. For severe cases visit your dermatologist who will assess your condition and prescribe accordingly This may be hard for most of you but avoid squeezing and picking your pimples. Apply a spot treatment that contains a minute quantity of salicylic acid. You can go for a salicylic peel; a qualified specialist can do this for you at a beauty spa. This peel contains high quantities of salicylic acid and should not be administered at home.
Secrets to beautiful skin
The single best thing that you can do for your skin is to wear sunscreen. Ultraviolet radiation damages the skin and can lead to wrinkles, premature ageing, age spots, and cancer. Take extra precautions to make sure your skin is not exposed to the sun’s rays. Use a natural sunscreen, or a moisturiser that contains sunscreen (at least SPF 15) everyday. Also drink lots of water. That means at least eight glasses of water a day. Drinking water is one of the best ways to keep your skin healthy. Water helps to hydrate the skin and move waste and nutrients through the system. Aside from the sunscreen and the water consumption, exercise, rest, and good nutrition lay the foundation for beautiful, healthy skin. A proper diet is not only good for your overall health, it also helps to ensure that your skin will receive all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that it needs to maintain and repair cells.
Ways to combat the dry skin that comes with age Older skin has fewer sweat and oil glands than younger skin. Dry skin may be caused by frequent baths, certain cosmetics or medications. Avoid using harsh soaps when bathing, and if possible, cut back on the number of baths or showers each week. A sponge bath with warm water may help to clean and revive skin without stripping the skin of its valuable moisturisers. When you do use soap, try using a natural very mild soap that does not contain any dyes, parabens or perfumes. Follow up the bath with a moisturising lotion concentrating on problem dry areas. A good all-natural moisturiser is one of the foundations for a healthy skin care regimen. Continue moisturising throughout the day to keep skin healthy. Your hands and face are particularly susceptible to daily damage, and may need to be moisturised several times.
