Pimples are unsightly conditions on anyone's face. It leaves
insecurities and lack of confidence to anyone who are prone to it.
There are many factors affecting the eruption of pimples in one's face.
One of which is hereditary. There is nothing you can do about it. If
your parents are prone to pimples, there's a big chance you'll be like
that too. But you do not need to lose hope. You can prevent the
appearance of pimples or at least minimize its eruption.
There are a lot of available over the counter medicines and topical solutions that you can try to prevent pimples. However, how would you know which one is effective for you? Even if a product have a high positive feedbacks, it does not guarantee hundred percent to be effective on you since everyone have different skin conditions.
I have a very pimple prone face because I have a combination skin: oily on the T-zone area and dry on the other parts. Like anyone else, I have tried a lot of topical solutions and did self medicate to combat the eruption of pimples on my face. However, nothing seems to last. My face has a tendency of getting immune to one product too soon. It can be effective for one to two weeks but after that, pimples keep coming back.
But just this year, I finally kept my pimples at bay. With that, I will share with you some of my personal tips in achieving a pimple free skin. Read on to know how.
This is one product that most people disregard as an essential part of everyday regimen. Even if the weather is cloudy or even if you'll be staying indoors most of the time, it is still essential to apply a sunblock. Once you step out of your house, sun's rays are already penetrating through the clouds down to your skin. For oily skin, it is suitable to find a water-based sunblock. I got mine from a dermatology clinic.
Tretinoin is famous for treating pimples or for the more severe ones, acne. There are a lot of topical solutions that have tretinoin content as its main ingredient. Although this must be used with precaution as it can be drying to the skin, it is effective in clearing your face with pimples. Some apply it all over the face while some apply it only as spot treatment to pimples. Thin application will be enough especially if you have sensitive skin. The tretinoin I've been using came from a dermatology clinic. I'm applying it all over my face every other night. After applying tretinoin, it is best to follow it up with a moisturizer to minimize the dryness on your face. Also, when you're on tretinoin treatment, it is a must to apply sunblock at day time then a water-based moisturizer after.
When a dermatologist get to checked on my face, she prescribed me with an antibiotic called Tetralysal. She prescribed me to take it everyday for 3 months. For me, it was really effective. The appearance of pimples on my face lessen and they seldom occur even if I fail to wash my face at night. Most especially, cystic pimples were no longer present. Knowing it is an antibiotic, I stopped taking it after 3 months. Unfortunately, pimples, even cystic ones, came back. I read through research that that is one of the side effects of Tetralysal. Pimples will really come back or even worsen once you stopped taking Tetralysal. So I consulted again the dermatologist. She told me that it is ok to continue taking Tetralysal to prevent pimples from coming back. So I followed her again but I did a little modification. After 3 months, I took the medicine every other day instead of everyday. With this regimen, my pimples were still at bay.
For spot application and quick fix solution to cystic or just erupting pimples, I spot apply acne cream on it. The cream came from the dermatology clinic but I find benzoyl peroxide creams (5% concentration or less) to be effective as well in drying up pimples fast. The only disadvantage of this is that it can leave pimples marks after the pimple has dried up. I read that the brand Benzac AC contains benzoyl peroxide but does not leave pimple marks afterwards. Same goes with Tea Tree Oil. Tea tree oil is another effective spot application treatment to pimples without leaving any marks afterwards. But in my experience, tea tree oil takes longer to effect in minimizing the redness and swelling of pimples than in benzoyl peroxide cream.
Yes, you read that right. Garlic. It is one of the most effective home remedy in treating pimples. I have tried that myself when I do not have the acne cream yet. Garlic have antibacterial properties that makes it effective in clearing out pimples. The juice in the garlic is the one that can make your pimples go away. The effect is fast even for cystic ones. If you apply it at night, the next day, the pimple size will be significally reduced. But be cautious in applying garlic on your face as it may sting and makes your face red, especially if you have sensitive skin (I wouldn't recommend that). Garlic can also be crushed so you can chew. It's effect is like taking an oral antibiotic, similar to Tetralysal.
Regular application of scrubs (whether for the face or body) helps remove dead skin cells to reveal a new, younger looking skin. By regular, it does not necessarily mean everyday as it may make your skin thinner. My regimen is to at least scrub my face/body at least 3 times a week. I'm using an organic facial scrub from Human Heart Nature. The beads from the facial scrub are not too coarse when applied to skin and yet it does leave a smooth and clean feeling. Regular facial scrub is beneficial in minimizing pimple marks. It is not recommended to scrub your face if you have an inflammed pimple as it can aggravate and worsen it.
I'd like to reiterate again that even if you have oily skin, you still need to hydrate and moisturize your face. A dry skin makes your oil glands produce more oils thus prone to clogging of pores which will result to appearance of pimple. A water-based moisturizer is best for oily face as it is not too thick and creamy which makes skin look more oily. I'm using Celeteque facial water-based moisturizer for my oily skin. Another way to keep your skin hydrated is by taking lots of water. 8 glasses of water will work wonders as it helps regulate your system to flush away toxins from your body.
There are many other pimple fighting regimen and products such as apple cider vinegar, erythromycin solution, etc. but the ones I have mentioned above were the most effective for me. I've been pimple free (though not yet flawless skin) for the last 8 months. And good thing, my face does not get immune with these regimen.
There are a lot of available over the counter medicines and topical solutions that you can try to prevent pimples. However, how would you know which one is effective for you? Even if a product have a high positive feedbacks, it does not guarantee hundred percent to be effective on you since everyone have different skin conditions.
I have a very pimple prone face because I have a combination skin: oily on the T-zone area and dry on the other parts. Like anyone else, I have tried a lot of topical solutions and did self medicate to combat the eruption of pimples on my face. However, nothing seems to last. My face has a tendency of getting immune to one product too soon. It can be effective for one to two weeks but after that, pimples keep coming back.
But just this year, I finally kept my pimples at bay. With that, I will share with you some of my personal tips in achieving a pimple free skin. Read on to know how.
CLEANSE, TONE and MOISTURIZE
I know you have read this simple steps so many times. Just recently, I realized that it is indeed effective. I noticed that whenever I fail to wash my face before going to sleep, there's a big chance I'll have a pimple the next day or in the coming days. Since then, even if I'm already tired and sleepy, I see to it that I still wash my face to get rid of the oiliness and dirt I got from outside pollution. For oily skin, it is best to use a cleanser that is suitable for oily skin. I'm using Cetaphil Cleanser for oily skin. If I fail to wash my face, I tried my best to at least apply toner to clean it. Toners are like the final cleansing agent that takes away traces of dirt and residue that soaps/cleansers leave behind. Of course after the toner, you need a good moisturizer. Cleaning with soap and toning your face can make your skin dry that's why moisturizer is a must as a final touch. For oily prone skin like mine, a water-based moisturizer is better option, most especially at day time. It will make your face a little less oily with this type of moisturizer.
SUNBLOCK
This is one product that most people disregard as an essential part of everyday regimen. Even if the weather is cloudy or even if you'll be staying indoors most of the time, it is still essential to apply a sunblock. Once you step out of your house, sun's rays are already penetrating through the clouds down to your skin. For oily skin, it is suitable to find a water-based sunblock. I got mine from a dermatology clinic.
TRETINOIN
Tretinoin is famous for treating pimples or for the more severe ones, acne. There are a lot of topical solutions that have tretinoin content as its main ingredient. Although this must be used with precaution as it can be drying to the skin, it is effective in clearing your face with pimples. Some apply it all over the face while some apply it only as spot treatment to pimples. Thin application will be enough especially if you have sensitive skin. The tretinoin I've been using came from a dermatology clinic. I'm applying it all over my face every other night. After applying tretinoin, it is best to follow it up with a moisturizer to minimize the dryness on your face. Also, when you're on tretinoin treatment, it is a must to apply sunblock at day time then a water-based moisturizer after.
TETRALYSAL
When a dermatologist get to checked on my face, she prescribed me with an antibiotic called Tetralysal. She prescribed me to take it everyday for 3 months. For me, it was really effective. The appearance of pimples on my face lessen and they seldom occur even if I fail to wash my face at night. Most especially, cystic pimples were no longer present. Knowing it is an antibiotic, I stopped taking it after 3 months. Unfortunately, pimples, even cystic ones, came back. I read through research that that is one of the side effects of Tetralysal. Pimples will really come back or even worsen once you stopped taking Tetralysal. So I consulted again the dermatologist. She told me that it is ok to continue taking Tetralysal to prevent pimples from coming back. So I followed her again but I did a little modification. After 3 months, I took the medicine every other day instead of everyday. With this regimen, my pimples were still at bay.
ACNE CREAM
For spot application and quick fix solution to cystic or just erupting pimples, I spot apply acne cream on it. The cream came from the dermatology clinic but I find benzoyl peroxide creams (5% concentration or less) to be effective as well in drying up pimples fast. The only disadvantage of this is that it can leave pimples marks after the pimple has dried up. I read that the brand Benzac AC contains benzoyl peroxide but does not leave pimple marks afterwards. Same goes with Tea Tree Oil. Tea tree oil is another effective spot application treatment to pimples without leaving any marks afterwards. But in my experience, tea tree oil takes longer to effect in minimizing the redness and swelling of pimples than in benzoyl peroxide cream.
GARLIC
Yes, you read that right. Garlic. It is one of the most effective home remedy in treating pimples. I have tried that myself when I do not have the acne cream yet. Garlic have antibacterial properties that makes it effective in clearing out pimples. The juice in the garlic is the one that can make your pimples go away. The effect is fast even for cystic ones. If you apply it at night, the next day, the pimple size will be significally reduced. But be cautious in applying garlic on your face as it may sting and makes your face red, especially if you have sensitive skin (I wouldn't recommend that). Garlic can also be crushed so you can chew. It's effect is like taking an oral antibiotic, similar to Tetralysal.
FACIAL SCRUBS
Regular application of scrubs (whether for the face or body) helps remove dead skin cells to reveal a new, younger looking skin. By regular, it does not necessarily mean everyday as it may make your skin thinner. My regimen is to at least scrub my face/body at least 3 times a week. I'm using an organic facial scrub from Human Heart Nature. The beads from the facial scrub are not too coarse when applied to skin and yet it does leave a smooth and clean feeling. Regular facial scrub is beneficial in minimizing pimple marks. It is not recommended to scrub your face if you have an inflammed pimple as it can aggravate and worsen it.
HYDRATE AND MOISTURIZE
I'd like to reiterate again that even if you have oily skin, you still need to hydrate and moisturize your face. A dry skin makes your oil glands produce more oils thus prone to clogging of pores which will result to appearance of pimple. A water-based moisturizer is best for oily face as it is not too thick and creamy which makes skin look more oily. I'm using Celeteque facial water-based moisturizer for my oily skin. Another way to keep your skin hydrated is by taking lots of water. 8 glasses of water will work wonders as it helps regulate your system to flush away toxins from your body.
There are many other pimple fighting regimen and products such as apple cider vinegar, erythromycin solution, etc. but the ones I have mentioned above were the most effective for me. I've been pimple free (though not yet flawless skin) for the last 8 months. And good thing, my face does not get immune with these regimen.
