Happy Acne Awareness Month!
June is Acne Awareness Month! But for some people, every month is Acne Awareness Month. These hot summer months are an especially difficult time for those who suffer from acne, thanks to an increase in oil production because of rising temperatures and humidity. So, contrary to popular belief, the sun does not help clear breakouts. To “celebrate” Acne Awareness Month, we’ve gathered some of our most effective tips and tricks to treat acne, and advice on how to prevent future breakouts.
Understanding the Different Types of Acne
The first step in fighting against your acne is to understand what type of acne you have – yes, there are different types of acne. Acne comes in many different forms, and each type of acne requires a different type of treatment.
Different types of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, cysts and acne rosacea. Each type of acne appears and reacts in its own way, and the best way to craft a treatment plan is to determine which type of acne you have.
Exercise: Your Skin’s New Best Friend
Not only is exercising great for your weight and health, but it’s also great for your skin! Who would’ve thought? When you exercise, you increase blow flow to the skin, which helps nourish your skin cells and get rid of excess waste from the skin.
Before working out, wash your face to cleanse your pores. This will allow your pores to release toxins when you’re exercising, and getting your blood flowing. You want to make sure your face is free of any makeup, dirt and oil because these things will clog your pores, and not allow them to release toxins.
How to Prevent Future Breakouts
There it is – the first sign of a breakout. Don’t panic! Stressing about your potential breakout will only make it worse. Isn’t that ironic? There are a few great tricks that can help fight against future breakouts, such as a good skin care routine, a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water.
Everyday Tips & Tricks to Prevent Breakouts:
- Wipe off your cellphone every day. Our phone screens carry tons of germs and bacteria, and we press it up against our faces every day without even realizing the damage we’re doing. Clean your phone every day with an antibacterial wipe before it goes anywhere near your face. Your skin will thank you.
- Eat Healthy & Stay Hydrated. Who would’ve thought that eating fruits and veggies would be so great for your skin? Instead of greasy or fatty foods, try having a balanced diet with foods that are rich in nutrients and vitamins. Don’t believe us? Try it out for a couple of weeks, and watch how your skin transforms.
- Use a fresh pillowcase. It may sound silly, but by simply switching out your pillow case every night, or every other night, you’re reducing your skin’s exposure to bacteria and makeup.
- Exfoliate. Many people tend to skip this important part of their skin care routine. It’s important that you exfoliate your skin a couple times a week to get rid of dry, flaky skin. After using a gentle exfoliant your skin will be glowing and radiant. But be sure not to exfoliate too much, though. Less is more!
What to Do About Those Stubborn Acne Scars
Acne scars – ugh. No matter how well you treat your skin now, those stubborn acne scars always come back to haunt you. But with new developments in laser treatments and skin care products, there’s a way to finally say goodbye to those acne scars we all know and loathe. There are different types of treatments depending on the severity of your acne scars, including Fraxel Laser Treatment, PicoSure Laser Skin Revitalization Treatment and more.
Stay educated on how to treat acne this Acne Awareness Month. Dr. Mary Lee Amerian and the Santa Monica Laser & Skin Care Center are more than happy to help you put together a customized skin care routine, and answer any questions you have about acne.
