Narrowing down your acne problem
Sure, vitamin B5 acne treatment will solve most people’s acne problems within a few weeks, but what happens if you’re one of those who either doesn’t respond to acne vitamins or has blemishes that have alternative causes. While rare, these problems can occasionally crop up and prove a real hindrance to your peace of mind. Acne is bad enough when you know what’s causing it. When you don’t, well that’s even worse.
So you’ve got a stubborn acne problem and the traditional solutions aren’t working. What steps should you take to narrow down what’s causing your acne? Let’s first narrow down the type of acne: is it locational acne (a certain trouble spot on your body) or general acne (everywhere)?
If you suffer from widespread general acne - the type that effects both your face and body and just doesn’t seem to stop, the first things you should consider are your diet and general hygiene. Do you eat a well-balanced diet? Are you getting enough leafy green vegetables (you should - those veggies are a great source of skin-healthy vitamins, more readily absorbed than in typical supplements)? Maybe you’re eating something you shouldn’t be. Eat a lot of dairy products? Dairy foods are a problem for many people with acne-prone skin. Try cutting down on them. Processed grains are another potential area to cut back. Eat more berries and other fruit, and, as always, drink a lot of water.
As for general hygiene, you know I’ve said repeatedly that, in almost all cases, acne is not caused by that little amount of dirt and bacteria on the surface of your skin. However, that doesn’t mean you should live like a total slob. If you are not regularly taking a shower, if you are not washing your face at least once per day (with a gentle cleanser), then you may be inviting trouble. It’s not just about the dirt. Washing helps you exfoliate dead skin cells - cells that may otherwise clog your pores.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe you’re washing too much. Some people get obsessive over skin care (you know who you are!) , and end up with drawers full of topical creams, cleansers and toners which they wash with 4 times per day, constantly irritating their skin and preventing the skin from accruing a natural, healthy level of protective skin oil. They may use overly harsh products and nuke their skin on a daily basis. This is just as bad as not washing at all. Here’s a hint: those people you see with clear skin? They’re not constantly washing their face with some 5-step system whenever you’re not looking. They don’t have to - and neither do you! Give your skin some time to breathe. Don’t wash more than twice per day. Don’t constantly fuss over your skin. Get away from the mirror. And when you do wash, make sure you’re using gentle products that won’t irritate.
Tune in next time for some advice on locational acne!
