Acne is frustrating, especially for teens. Even though you wash your face, do your daily skincare, and so on, it’s not easy to get rid of acne.
The thing is, that’s totally normal! In this article, I’m going to be sharing 6 tips that are essential in significantly IMPROVING YOUR ACNE, speaking with experience!
Make sure to read everything so that you don’t miss any useful information:)
1. Eat Fruits and Vegitables
You might think that eating fruits and vegetables is not at all related to improving your acne. However, that is a misconception!
In fact, fruits and vegetables are rich sources of all sorts of vitamins that are essential for your skin. For example, have you ever experienced bad acne after eating so much sugary unhealthy food?
That might be because you have been eating so much sugar which can have negative impacts on your skin instead of vitamins which are really really good not only for your skin but for your overall health.
Here, I’m going to share super useful information on **WHAT KINDS** of VITAMINS you should take and **WHAT FOOD** to eat!
What foods should I eat?
| Nutrients | Function | Foods |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | ・Heals skin faster ・Promotes the production of collagen ・Restores epithelial structure(layer of skin cells) ・Regulates oil production | ・Orange and Yellow fruits and vegetables – Carrots, mangos, sweet potatoes, pumpkin ・Leafy green vegetables – spinach, broccoli, pea ・Animal sources – liver, egg, some milk products |
| Vitamin C | ・Promotes prevention in UV damage ・Protects cells ・Stimulate collagen synthesis | ・Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit and others such as strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes |
| Vitamin E | ・An antioxidant that protects skin cells from damage | ・Almonds, peanuts, peanut butter ・Red bell peppers, pumpkins |
| Vitamin D | ・Plays a role in immune function and may help reduce inflammation | ・Fatty and oily fish – salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel ・Egg yolks ・Fish liver oils ・Mushrooms |
Lastly, I have one story that may convince you enough to take in vitamins more often. About 1 year ago, I went to my father’s side of the family for Christmas vacation. My family cooked a lot of good food including sweet desserts with tons of sugar. What I did was I mostly ate my favorite dishes that contained almost no vitamins. As a result, I started getting a bunch of big pimples on my skin over the break. I actually regretted that so badly and learned a lesson to eat more vitamins.
2. Home Made Green Tea Face Mask
Did you know that green tea can help calm your skin down? Welp, now you know! This homemade green tea face mask is super easy to make and is effective when you wake up in the morning and see red spots on your face. Moreover, It helps reduce the redness of your acne and calms your skin down. This hack is really useful when you don’t have time in the mornings to use those expensive facemasks.
Follow the steps below to make your own!!
How to Make Your Own Green Tea Face Mask
- Make green tea by putting in green tea teabag in water.
- Put it in the fridge overnight.
- Prepare cotton pads and soak them with green tea
- Place the soaked cotton pads on your face and wait for about 10 minutes (make sure to wash your face before this step)
- Take off your cotton pads and moisturize your face immediately
3. Stay Hydrated To Protect Your Skin
Not only hydrating your skin using moisturizers and those kinds of beauty products but it is crucial for you to stay hydrated from the inside too. Now you’re wondering why because it’s just water. What’s it going to do? Well, the reason why hydration is important is not only to live but because staying hydrated can prevent dry skin and will boost the function of your immune system which will ultimately protect your skin from getting acne easily.
How much water do I need?
According to Harvard Health Publishing, it is recommended for most of us to drink about four to six cups of plain water per day which may depend on other sources of fluid such as coffee, juice, tea, salad, and so on.
As one strategy to keep track of how much water you have, you can consider using these clear aesthetic water bottles that allow you to track the amount of water you’ve had.
4. Wash Your Face Gently
As you may all know, washing your face is essential in keeping your skin clean and hygienic to avoid acne bacteria. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (2024), it is recommended to wash your face 2 times a day with a gentle cleanser. Instead, they persuade using the tips of your fingers and make sure to wipe your face with a soft towel and moisturize immediately.
As a tip for washing your face without scrubbing, I love using foaming mesh nets. This literally will make your foam softer which will lower the damage on your skin from the friction. In addition, don’t use dirty towels after washing your face. This is because it might have bacteria that you definitely don’t want on your skin since it can cause acne.
5. Avoid Oily Skincare Products
As a person with oily skin myself, this particular tip helped me a lot. often times when I use heavy and oily creams and moisturizers, I notice that I get pimples on my skin. The thing is, it means that you have enough oil in your skin that your skin doesn’t require additional oil.
Oily skincare products should generally be avoided when combatting acne because they can inflame the condition by clogging pores and increasing sebum production.
In the first place, the reason why acne is often caused is because of the overproduction of oil, and bacteria buildup, which leads to inflammation within the pores. Using oily skincare products on top of that can add an extra layer of oil onto the skin further blocking pores and creating an environment where acne-causing bacteria thrive.
What products should I use in stead?
Instead, if you are struggling with acne and have oily skin, it is recommended to use non-comedogenic or oil-free skincare products that won’t clog pores and lead to new breakouts. These products are made to be lightweight and water-based, helping to keep the skin clean and free from additional oil that can worsen your situation.
6. Go to a Dermatologist
If you are having some trouble with acne for a while, then you should definitely see a dermatologist since sometimes, even if you treat it well and use non-oily products or even over-the-counter medicines, you might need extra help. Furthermore, if you are having a breakout, you should immediately consider going to the clinic. This is because there are several causes and it is crucial to treat it with the medicastion that suits your condition the most.
This is are the factors the dermatologist will consider.
- What kind of acne (e.g., blackheads, pimples) you have
- Where the acne shows up on your skin
- The treatments you’ve attempted before
- When the breakouts began
- Your current age
- Whether acne has resulted in dark spots or scars
(American Academy of Dermatology Association, 2016)
Therefore, the dermatologist might look at your acne from different causes and will treat you with the right medication which will speed up the recovery.
This article was about how to improve acne for those of you who are struggling with acne. Most of us had or will experience acne sometime in our lives, and note that everyone is on your side. It’s a completely normal thing to happen especially in your teenage years and there is no problem with it!!
I hope the 6 tips I introduced here helps you:) Thank you for reading! And LOVE YOU SO MUCH <33
References
American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Face Washing 101.” Aad.org, 2024, www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/face-washing-101. Accessed 12 Feb. 2024.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Acne: Diagnosis and Treatment.” Aad.org, 2016, www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/treat. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.
“How Much Water Should I Drink a Day? – Harvard Health.” Harvard Health, Harvard Health, 6 Sept. 2016, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink. Accessed 12 Feb. 2024.
