Skincare is an important topic of discussion for every person. Rarely do you meet someone who can go through life only splashing water on their face and yet continually look youthful and radiant? It just doesn’t happen. There are too many factors that affect our skin, and some of them create a tendency toward acne. Here, we want to offer a few of the suggestions handed down by the American Academy of Dermatology to help you manage acne-prone skin with greater ease and success.
Be patient with your products.
We can understand the urgency that you may feel when your skin is red and irritated. Because acne typically occurs on the facial skin, of course, there will be a strong desire to get rid of pimples and blackheads. What this sense of urgency can lead to is a lack of patience with skincare products. Did you know that it takes a good 8 weeks for your skin to reveal the effects of whatever treatment you are doing daily? That’s two months! If you only give a product two weeks to work, chances are you are setting yourself up for unnecessary and prolonged struggles with breakouts.
Treat the entire face.
A mistake that many people make is to spot-treat acne. Applying acne cream or medication to a pimple seems logical. However, what experts recommend is that you apply medicated ointments to your entire face (or back, or chest, wherever you tend to break out). This way, you are taking proactive steps to minimize the chances of breakouts.
Think about haircare.
Haircare products can have a detrimental effect on the skin, clogging pores and causing unnecessary irritation. This is especially prevalent along the hairline. When acne is a problem, even what you put on your head and hair matters. Consider a quality baby shampoo, or create a habit of gently cleansing the skin after you do your hair.
Acne-prone skin can be a challenge, but it is not something you have to tackle alone. Professional dermatological care can make an enormous difference for your skin. To explore medical treatment for acne, call your Westport dermatologist at (203) 226-3600.