a woman with acne on her face surrounded by water, a facial brush, a banana, and coconut oil

10 Tips To Help Acne

I’ve had problematic skin since I was 13 and continue to suffer with acne still now in my 30's. Although I’m yet to find the magical solution to acne, there are some things that have helped, and, at times, have completely cleared my acne.

1. Avoid panthenol

Panthenol is an ingredient that encourages your skin to retain moisture and is found in lots of products. A doctor recommended I avoid it and, although it hasn’t stopped my acne, I always notice an increase in breakouts if I use a product that contains it.

2. Drink water

Water won’t stop hormonal acne, I used to say! Silly me! Water is very important for our bodies and can prevent numerous problems. With acne, water flushes toxins out of the body and can reduce breakouts, blemishes and pores. However, too much water can be dangerous, as it can flush out essential salts that our bodies need to function. I aim to drink 2 liters a day.

3. Eat a healthy, varied diet

It’s true that we are what we eat. My skin always feels and looks better when I eat well. Some people avoid dairy as that is believed to cause acne, but I think it’s a case of finding out what works for you.

4. Remove your makeup

It’s really important to clear off all the makeup and dirt from the day that’s clogging your pores and preventing it from breathing.

5. Avoid acne products

Ditching acne products was a massive turning point for me. They never reduced my breakouts, but they did sting and dry out my skin. Taking a gentle approach and comforting my skin rather than stripping it made a big difference.

6. Wash your face with water

Face washes can be very drying. It can feel totally alien to use just water, but there are many benefits.

7. Add coconut oil to your cleansing routine

Coconut oil is high in fatty acids that kill the bacteria that cause acne. I use it to remove my makeup and cleanse my face. My skin just loves it! It’s gentle and moisturizing. It isn’t recommended for people with very oily skin as it can clog the pores, but there are so many benefits to using it.

8. Use a facial brush

I use a silicone facial brush when I wash my face. Facial brushes stimulate blood flow. They also penetrate your pores thus removing more dirt and grime than using your fingers or a washcloth alone.

9. Don’t touch or pick

This is so important - and also quite difficult to resist! But, do not pick or constantly touch your face. It can damage the delicate skin, causing bruising, possible infections and scarring.

10. Dermaplane

Dermaplaning is where you use a scalpel like tool to remove dead skin cells and fine hairs from the face. Removing these encourages the growth of new cells. Dermaplaning can help to reduce bacteria on the surface of your face, unclog pores and removes the fine hairs that stop products penetrating your skin. I’m new to dermaplaning, but I am already a convert! I wouldn’t suggest dermaplaning to anyone who has very bad, active acne though.



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