Anyone who’s suffered with acne breakouts knows it’s more than just spots on your face or body. There is an emotional component to acne as well. Feeling ugly or embarrassed decreases self esteem and creates a bleak outlook to your personal life, attitude and relationships.  And, as if feeling unattractive while inflamed acne is on your face, the effects of scarring and discoloration add insult to injury.

Sadly, there is no cure for acne. However, acne IS preventable by using specially formulated products, and with no long term side effects!

It’s very important to know how acne forms. All types of acne (blackheads, smaller and larger pimples and cysts) are caused from the retention of dead skin cells in the hair follicles, which is a genetic disposition.  When oil and dead skin cells get trapped in the hair follicles, bacteria moves in and that makes the body produce a pimple to fight off the infection. No doubt, it’s probably surprising to hear the entire process of making a pimple takes about 3-4 months and sometimes longer for deeper, more cystic acne. Yes! You read that right….what you see on your skin today was forming several months ago.

To get your skin clear, you need to use a topical medication to remove the trapped dead skin cells inside the hair follicles and thus, prevent new pimples from forming. Along with topical medications, it’s very important to use non-clogging cleansers, masks, moisturizers and makeup. Of course, consistency is key because skipped topical treatment allows new pimples to form for the future,

Until we help you find the right combination of products to clear your skin (and trust us… it’s possible to clear your skin only using topical medications…we guarantee it!), here are several free tips to improve your complexion:

 

Tip #1:  Sleep!

None of us gets enough sleep. And if you think this isn’t a big deal, it IS!  Lack of sleep (at least 8 hours) increases your stress level, which in turn can cause acne breakouts. That’s because cells that produce sebum (skin oil) have receptors for stress hormones, so they will produce more oil which is typically more waxy and sticky. Sebum is the oily substance that mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog the hair follicles, causing a pimple or acne cyst to start forming.

We want to avoid unnecessary stress… and one way to do that is to get your full 8 hours EVERY NIGHT.

 

Tip #2: Stop eating junk! 

Although most foods you eat don’t immediately trigger acne breakouts (everyone has heard the terrible myth about chocolate causing breakouts right?!), eating too much junk food means that you are not supplying your body with the necessary minerals and vitamins it needs to stay nourished. When your body is deficient in minerals and vitamins it is very stressful and causes the stress hormone cortisol to increase. This makes the oil glands produce more waxy oil, leading to further breakouts. Higher levels of cortisol also reduce the rate of healing, so pimples become larger and last longer, therefore leaving behind a bigger mark when they eventually go away. 

So make your dietary decisions wisely, like your life is depending on it, because your body sure is!

 

Tip #3: Stop Smoking.

Smoking is bad for your entire body, not just for your skin. You could write a book on the number of side effects: premature aging, lung cancer, skin cancer, diabetes, heart disease, psoriasis, vascular disease, slower healing time, and the list goes on and on.

When it comes to acne prone smokers, the complications from smoking are further exaggerated.

In 2001, the British Journal of Dermatology conducted a highly touted study, in which it followed 896 people and found that smokers experienced more acne breakouts than non-smokers. In addition to this, it found that the more cigarettes a person smoked, the more frequent and severe their breakouts.

The most common type of acne, which most people experience in adolescence, is called inflammatory acne and is caused when the hair follicle becomes clogged and infected… and subsequently inflamed. Several studies have shown that smoking results in more non-inflammatory breakouts, namely blackheads which are clogged hair follicles that are not infected. This is so common, it is now known as “Smoker’s acne”. Roughly 42% of smokers suffer from acne, compared to 10% of non-smokers.

If all of this isn’t compelling you to stop smoking… think of the cost savings! Studies have shown the average smoker spends nearly $9,000 per year on this habit. That is a fantastic vacation to Hawaii! Mahalo!

 

Tip #4: Stop caking on the makeup.

Does it take you 30 minutes in the morning of concentrated artistry to put your face together? Applying mounds of makeup to cover pimples without a doubt, makes your acne breakouts worse. The “less is more“ philosophy definitely applies to makeup. This is because most makeup contains large amounts of very sticky oil to improve the “coverage” and longevity. These oils clog the hair follicles and guarantee more frequent breakouts in the future., which makes you apply more makeup, leading to more acne, and more makeup and more acne. It’s a vicious cycle.

Are you dead set on using makeup? There are a COUPLE over the counter loose mineral powders that will not aggravate your acne. And that’s about it. Other than that, Ninja offers loose mineral foundation and liquid makeup which are non-acne aggravating AND are custom blended to match your skin. Ninja also has pressed and loose setting powders to provide oil blotting and light coverage without the risk of making future breakouts.

Of course another alternative is to go makeup free if you’re able to do so.

 

Tip #5: Get Out Of the Sun!

There’s always been a crazy rumor that getting a suntan helps dry out your acne. Not true!

In fact, the opposite is true. More pimples form. Because pimples form from the retention of dead skin cells inside the hair follicles, anything that makes your skin produce MORE skin cells (like sun exposure) leads to the likelihood of increased clogging. And that of course leads to new pimples. Remember, it takes 3–4 months for a pimple to form, so a suntan in July shows up as pimples in October.

Best solution? Wear sunscreen on a daily basis and when you’re going to be in direct sun for more than 30 minutes, wear a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeves and of course, glob on more non-acne aggravating sunscreen!

 

Tip #6: Make sure your hormones aren’t affecting your acne!

Did you know hormones (such as progesterone and estrogen for females and testosterone for males and cortisol for both) are the number one acne aggravating factor affecting the skin?

Hormones are some powerful things – they control your moods, your internal body temperature and your skin tone, texture and clarity.

But how can you make sure your hormones aren’t affecting your skin?  For females, having a regular monthly cycle is an indication that things are in balance. If you suspect an imbalance then getting a blood test will determine if so and by how much. Often a birth control pill will be prescribed.  However the majority of birth control pills contain progesterone components that may exacerbate acne breakouts, so it is important to choose the best option for acne prone skin. Not sure which ones those are? Reach out to us and we’ll be happy to give you some non-acne aggravating recommendations for your doctor to prescribe.

For males, testosterone increases at puberty and stays pretty high. This hormone makes the skin produce more waxy oil. Washing your face another time during the day and applying your topical medication will help reduce the effect that testosterone has on your skin.

Cortisol is produced in all of us – and it’s the official ‘stress hormone.’ Cortisol decreases our body’s ability to fight off infection and interferes with healing. Pimples are larger and last longer. Get your sleep! Stay hydrated and eat a well balanced diet that is low in sugar to reduce over all stress.

 

Now you are on your way!

Doing one or all of these things will greatly help your general health as well as your skin and its ability to heal itself. But acne is not all about how much water you drink or how much sun you get. There are so many reasons why people are acne prone and have acne breakouts. If you or your loved ones suffer from acne breakouts, and want to stay away from the harmful side effects of prescription medication, please reach out to us here at Ninja Skincare. We can help you get the clear skin you deserve and keep it that way!  Call us at 925.933.8425 (or email at clearskin@ninjaskincare.com) for a free consultation today!

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