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Having acne from a young age can really ruin your confidence. No matter what I tried to help my acne, nothing seemed to work. As an adult, I continue to suffer from regular breakouts, partly due to the PCOS that makes my skin create excess oil. With all the variety of methods I’ve tried, some have helped temporarily, which I am happy about. However, when I was younger, using certain products or popping my spots (before I knew better) left with me scarring.
My experience with acne has given me plenty of tips to offer on treating acne, and most importantly what not to do when experiencing this common skin problem.
3 things to do to help your acne:
Use medicated creams
I’ve tried so many different products that claim to reduce spots and their redness, and none of them are anywhere near as effective as a cream that can be purchased over-the-counter called Acenecide. This is a 5% gel Benzoyl cream that helps to dramatically improve the appearance of acne, even overnight. I was originally told about it by my doctor, however, you can now buy Acenecide over-the-counter. In Superdrug and Boots, it comes in at £10.49, which is a little bit more pricey than your typical acne-fighting gel. However, you only need a tiny amount and a tube can last you ages.
Look into cosmetic treatments
As I mentioned previously, some of the techniques I’ve used, and the build-up of excess oil on my skin, left me with plenty of blackheads and scarring from popping my spots (all of the time). Because of this scarring, I’ve been looking into having a chemical peel. It sounds a lot scarier than what it is, but essentially it removes a layer of skin to help with skin rejuvenation. Depending on the peel you have will determine the outcome of how your skin looks, as well as how much downtime your skin will need afterwards.
When looking for a chemical peel, you’ll want to use a professional to find out what peel is best suited for your skin problems. Many clinics in the UK offer a range of chemicals peels, like an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) peel, which are supposed to be good for acne, pores, blemishes and scarring. They work by removing the unhealthy layer of superficial skin to reveal a new collagen-rich layer of skin.
It is recommended that you get four to six treatments of this type of peel, one to two weeks apart for the best results. With mild redness and a few days of possible flaking being side effects of a peel. You’ll see amazing results over time with the added benefit of reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Regularly use masks
It is recommended to use masks one to three times per week, depending on what you’re using the mask for and what type of mask it is. Superdrug has created a useful guide on the type of masks to use for your skin type.
4 things not to do when treating acne:
Pop your acne
One of the worst things you can do for acne is pop it. Despite it looking horrible and probably making you self-conscious, allowing the spot to go down on its own means it is less likely to spread or leave a scar.
Stop buying expensive creams and lotions
A lot of creams and products claim to treat acne and often come with a hefty price tag. Before buying expensive products, look at the ingredients and what they do. Read reviews and I suggest getting advice from a dermatologist if your acne is severe.
Give up on treatment after a few days
Sadly acne isn’t going away after a few days of treatment. It can take weeks or even months to settle down. With acne, it has to get worse before it gets better because all the “bad stuff” needs to come out of your skin before a treatment can be successful. Use the treatment as suggested to get the best results and be patient with yourself.
Cover it with makeup
Although acne can make you self-conscious, covering it up with makeup can make it worse. As makeup like foundation can clog your pores further, creating even more problems when it comes to acne.
Hopefully these suggestions on what, and what not, to do when you have acne is helpful. If you have any questions, let me know!
