TEN HABITS TO BEAT ACNE

1. Wash your face twice a day.

We all wash our face in the morning to remove the excessive oil and bacteria that are accumulated on the skin at night, but we often forget, to wash our face at night, which is equally important as washing off our face at night helps us get rid of the impurities and dirt perch on the face, all day long.

2. Do cleanse your face but don't over-cleanse it.

Yes, it is important to wash your face to get rid of the excessive oil, dirt and pollution from the skin however, at the same time over-cleansing it is not a solution.

According to experts, washing off the face for more than 60 seconds can damage the skin lipid barrier by eliminating natural oils, required to maintain our skin's hydrolipidic barrier and keeps it hydrated and moisturized.

3. Do not over-rub your face with towel.

Rubbing of towel on your face may result in skin damage, it can dry out the skin by scrubbing away the protective outer layer of the skin, it always works to scrub the dead skin cells of the skin but scrubbing too much may result in skin irritation and rashes.(your face will remove the lipids, proteins and fatty acids that protect your skin from irritation). Thus, it is better to pat dry to keep your skin unhurt however, air drying your face is the best way to go!

4. Do not underestimate the power of a toner.

A toner is something, we usually forget to use in our daily routine however, it has proven to be a multitasking product for all skin types. It thoroughly cleanse the skin, helps in tightening of the pores, re balance the pH of the skin, keeps the skin hydrated, control production of excessive oil and exfoliates skin.

Dermatologists usually recommend to follow CTM (Cleanse-tone-moisturize) formula to maintain the youthfulness of the skin. 

5. Make sure your skin is well moisturized.

Moisturizer is said to be one of the important skincare routine products as it helps in keeping the skin smooth and supple. It is advised by the dermatologists to apply the moisturizer twice a day, after cleansers and toners, it maintains the balance of moisture in the skin and protect the moisture barrier as over-cleansing may result in skin damage.

 People with oily skin and acne-prone skin are recommended to use non-comedogenic and water based moisturizer.

6. Apply sunscreen everyday.

Sunscreens are mostly ignored by people in their daily routine however, they work as a shield for our skin to UV rays. It is suggested to use sunscreen even when you are at home, considering UV rays can penetrate glass windows. 

For people with acne-prone skin, it is advisable to use sunscreen SPF 50 in their daily skincare as UV rays may cause irritation to the skin and can worsen their acne. Also direct contact with sun may darken the pigmentation of your face.

7. Keep your hair clean.

Skincare experts suggests to keep your scalp dandruff free and non-greasy in order to get rid of acne. It has been seen that people with oily scalp and dandruff are prone to have acne on forehead, upper chest and the back. It clogs the pores of the skin and leaves zits and pimples on the face.

8. Use a separate towel for your face.

we use expensive products and techniques to make our skin flawless, but we forget to use a separate towel for our face, even after getting the timely reminders. It is not just a bacteria and hygiene issue, in fact the dead skin cells, fungus and bacteria pile up on the towel and cause irritation and acne to the skin.

9. Wash your pillowcase and towel daily. 

Washing your pillowcase and towel is as important as washing your face is. 

The oil produced and the bacteria of face collects on the pillowcase overnight. So, washing pillowcase will avoid acne breakouts on skin.

It is recommended to replace your face towel daily as the germs and bacteria may transfer back and forth between the skin and towel, which might result in acne breakouts for acne-prone skin people.

10. Eat healthy food.

Eating a high glycemic diet may cause acne. High glycemic foods and beverages such as chips, baked goods made with white flour, and soft drinks spike blood sugar levels and are often less nutritious than low glycemic foods.

Most experts agree that certain foods, like chocolate, don't cause pimples. Still it makes sense to avoid greasy food and junk food and add more fresh fruits,vegetables and whole grains to your diet. 

Dairy products and foods high in processed sugar may trigger acne. Avoid these.