One of the most common reasons for you to feel a little less self-confident is the presence of acne. Yes, it’s a real tragedy for any woman or man to have to go out and mingle with others with a pimple or two popping out, more so if there are more than just a couple.
Others may dismiss it as something superficial or trivial, but to those who want to make a good impression, it could well be the end of the world.
Unfortunately, for some people, the growth of acne goes way beyond their teenaged years.
Acne is a skin disease that is triggered when any girl or boy’s sebaceous glands come to life. Although it may go away after puberty, it could also leave visible scars that last even longer than the acne itself.
Acne and What Causes It
There are four main factors that trigger the growth of acne – oil or sebum, dead skin cells, clogged pores, and bacteria.
Which areas of your skin are busiest when it comes to oil production? That’s definitely your face, neck, back, chest and your shoulders. This is why acne usually grows in these areas. Basically, your hair follicles (or pores) become clogged when dead skin cells and oil are combined. From here, bacteria starts to grow inside these pores, and the area becomes inflamed.
The inflamed pore will start to bulge, and will appear as a whitehead. In other cases, the mix of oil and dead skin cells are exposed, which can be seen as a blackhead. If this blockage becomes worse, they become pimples.
There are different things that cause acne to develop even faster and in a worse state.
- Hormones
During puberty, boys and girls experience a heightened release of the hormone called androgen, which makes the sebaceous glands more active. This causes these glands to release more sebum, which heightens the possibility of pores clogging up.
The same scenario is applicable for pregnant women, as well as for anyone who takes oral contraceptives.
- Medication
There are a number of medications that either trigger acne growth or cause an existing condition to become worse. Some of these are those containing lithium, androgen or corticosteroids.
- Diet
There are certain foods that could trigger or worsen acne. Some examples are dairy products, chocolates and foods rich in carbohydrates.
- Stress
Stress triggers the release of more sebum, which leads to more acne. Also, it is noticeable that people under pressure often take to a number of comfort foods that trigger the growth of acne.
- Genetics
Believe it or not, genetics actually play a role in the occurrence of acne. If your parents had a hard time fighting acne, then there’s a huge chance that you’ll end up with the same problem, too.
- Friction
Any kind of friction or pressure on your skin can cause acne breakouts. Your phone always pressed on your face, that helmet you’re always wearing, those tight shirts you prefer – all these contribute to the growth of acne.
Also falling under this category would be – surprise, surprise! Washing your face too often. Constant scrubbing, constant washing – all these can irritate your skin.
Of course, knowing what causes acne would play a huge role in determining how to limit the risks. But in cases where the problem is there and a fix is needed, there are several routes that you can take.
Doing Things the Natural Way
Some rely on medicine, while some try different creams and ointments. For most, however, they would still prefer to do things the natural way.
Thankfully, nature was created to give solutions to human needs. There are a number of home remedies that you can try to make that acne go away.
Of course, it could take some time for some of these remedies to work. However, it also saves you from the bigger risks that chemicals could have on your skin.
- Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Just imagine. One of the most popular acne treatments is benzoyl peroxide, which has been proven to have a swift effect. However, 5% of it could be harsh on the skin.
So while it does get rid of pimples and other visible signs, it could also dry up the skin. 5% of tea tree oil has the same effect as far as treating acne is concerned, but without the harshness or the harmful after-effects.
Just mix a few drops of tea tree oil with around 20 drops of witch hazel. Apply it on the affected areas using a cotton swab no more than twice a day.
- Green Tea
Green tea does not just have antimicrobial compounds, it is a known antioxidant as well. This means that aside from addressing your acne issues, it can also help you out with anti-aging concerns.
You can either lay a bag of green tea over the affected area, or use a cup of its extract as a facial wash.
- Honey
Honey isn’t just a great addition to your desserts and drinks, it is also the perfect solution for your acne because of its antibiotic properties. Just mix half a cup with a cup of oatmeal, and use it as a mask. 30 minutes should be enough time for it to rejuvenate and cleanse your skin.
- Mint
Mint is effective in removing any excess oil that could cause the clogging of pores. This makes it perfect as a precautionary measure. Finely chop enough mint leaves for you to accumulate two tablespoons. Next mix it with plain yogurt and powdered oatmeal. Evenly spread it around your face. Then leave it on for around 10 minutes. Rinse it off with water afterwards.
- Chamomile
Chamomile is another herb that helps decrease inflammation. You can throw the contents of a tea bag into a blender, add some water, and form a paste. Apply this paste to the affected areas.
Seeing acne on your skin may be considered a tragedy, but it’s one problem you can solve naturally. Equip yourself with enough knowledge about what causes it and keep a few of these natural ingredients handy, and you should have no problem the next time it comes around.