It sucks, but they look far worse to you, than to those around you. Small comfort maybe, but true all the same…
It’s one of life’s cruel jokes – just when your appearance is really starting to matter, along come the spots to mess things up. What to do about spots and acne?
No matter how much people try and tell you spots don’t matter, they do, at least to the person who has them. So I decided to do some research and summarize my findings.
My main conclusion is that best thing you can do for yourself is to be proactive, look after your skin, and let nature take its course – they will clear up eventually.
Seek Help.
Acne rarely gets that bad that it can cause serious problems, but if you feel that yours is making you depressed there are people who can help. Your first stop should be your own doctor, who can then refer you to a dermatologist for specialist skin care. But, if needed, you can go to see a counselor who can give you coping strategies.
Prevention is better than Cure.
Hormones make the oil glands produce more sebum (oil), which causes the pores to become clogged, which then creates spots. So, it makes sense to cleanse your face – gently – once or twice a day to remove this excess oil. Use a mild cleanser specially formulated for the face.
Sunshine.
Sunshine boosts the body’s Vitamin D production, which in turn can help dampen the body’s oil production. However, the advice is to spend a maximum of twenty minutes a day in the sun before applying a good sunscreen. But it is a fine balance – too much sun will dry out the skin, which then encourages the body to produce more oil, and more oil = more spots.
Keep it Soft.
I read multiple times that skin needs moisture, which is not the same thing as oil. Keeping the skin moisturised with a gentle moisturizer will ensure the skin is supple and the pores stay open, meaning the oil doesn’t get a chance to clog them up.
Don’t Squeeze. Ever.
Spots are a pain, but truthfully they do look worse to you than to anyone else. That’s small comfort, I know, but take some solace in the fact that they will clear up, and most teenagers have them. It sucks, but relax and be gentle with your skin.
How have you dealt with acne and spots? Any hints or tips to share?
Further Reading:
http://www.teenvogue.com/story/does-sun-cure-acne
http://www.facingacne.com/squeeze-squeeze-pimples/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/acne/acne-and-depression-more-than-skin-deep.aspx
http://www.facingacne.com/face-acne/
