12 Ways You’re Encouraging Your Acne

Anyone who has suffered through the anguish of severe facial acne knows how socially restrictive it can be. It's hard for anyone not to notice when a huge pattern of zits your face and neck. If you're trying to get rid of acne, consider these ways you might be hurting your chances of becoming acne free.

Washing Your Face Too Much

It seems logical to wash your face as much as possible to rid yourself of the ugly blemish of acne. The problem is, washing your face too much strips your skin of the essential oils you need for healthy skin. This often leads to the body responding by producing more oil which only compounds your acne problem.

Washing Your Face Incorrectly

Don’t exfoliate too often or too intensely. Too much rough stuff on the face can lead to irritation that allows acne to get a hold on your face. Washing more than twice a day also can cause skin irritation.

Picking and Popping Zits

It’s tempting to pop zits to get rid of at least some of the disgusting thing that’s on your face. The problem is, it can lead to scarring. Spot treat with a quality acne treatment.

Too Much Acne Treatment

It’s also tempting to apply zit cream in a liberal manner all over the face. This is another way to cause irritation to your skin. One dollop about the size of a pencil eraser is all you should use.

Too Much Candy

There’s no certain proof that candies and sugar laden foods cause acne, but limiting sugar intake is a good thing for anyone’s general health. Limit sugar and do your body a favor. You might get the extra benefit of a clearer face.

Hair Product on the Forehead

Things like gels, hair spray and greasy kid’s stuff can make your hairline a breeding ground for acne. Use the least amount of hair product you possibly can, and keep it away from your face.

Not Enough Exercise

It seems counter intuitive to try to make yourself sweat more, but exercise keeps the blood flowing to the skin for faster cell repair, and sweating is one of the ways to cleanse your system of impurities.

Not Enough Vitamin D

There’s no doubt too much sun leads to all kinds of problems like sunburn and possible skin cancer. Ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure to skin with no sunscreen helps produce vitamin D that helps to keep your skin healthy.

Sunscreen Irritation

Sunscreen is an absolute must if you’re going to be exposed to sunlight for an extended length of time. The trouble comes when the sunscreen blocks the pores and irritates the skin. Look for a formulation that’s easier on the skin. Whatever you do, use some kind of sunscreen.

Giving Up

It takes some time to get your face cleared up once you start getting acne. Try drug store treatments for at least a month. If you don’t see any results after that length of time, consult a dermatologist.

Using a Dirty Phone or Earphones

Any time you place something with bacteria on it on your face, there’s close to a one hundred percent chance you’ll irritate the skin or, at the very least, drive dirt and grime into your pores where it ends up making an ugly zit.

Unhealthy Eating

It’s hard to stay away from fast food, but a good healthy diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables is a good way to provide your skin with some zit fighting ammunition. A healthy diet is also a good way to keep you fit in both mind and body.