Sucker Punch Acne

The first step of my routine is washing my face. I have oily skin and Neutrogena and Clean & Clear products seem to control my face from getting too oily. These products are also oil free and won’t clog your pores. After cleansing my face I use Witch Hazel as an astringent. Witch Hazel removes excess oils and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent to take the swelling down. When my skin gets a bad breakout I use Hydrogen Peroxide as a substitute for Witch Hazel. Hydrogen Peroxide kills germs and bacteria that causes acne. When applied to the affected area the hydrogen peroxide will oxidize or sizzle to clear out pores and kill bacteria. The last step of my routine is to moisturize. When looking for a moisturizer I look for a product that is oil free so it won’t clog my pores. I also make sure the moisturizer has SPF, to protect my face from the sun. I do this routine when I wake up and before I go to sleep.

Once a week I do a spa day for my face. This just includes a scrub and a mask. You can buy a face scrub cleaner or you can make your own scrub from salt and/or sugar. This home remedy is cheap and still effective. I simply add the salt and/or sugar with my face cleanser to exfoliate my face. Also if there’s a lemon lying around I’ll squeeze a slice of lemon juice to my mixture of salt and/or sugar. The lemon juice acidity disinfects and kills acne bacteria. Because the lemon is high in acidity it’s a natural exfoliate and helps lighten skin from acne scars. Baking soda is also effective used as a scrub or mask. Just add water until it makes a paste then apply. According to newhealthguide.org “It corrects the pH imbalance of the skin that contributes to acne formation. Baking soda also has mild anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that enable to lessen the irritation caused by inflamed acne.” Baking soda also removes oil from pores and fights blackheads.

Egg whites are an effective mask; this will help to shrink pores. To make the mask you take an egg and separate the white from the yolk in a bowl. If you didn’t add a lemon to the face scrub, add a slice to the egg white. You then stir the egg white and apply to your face. After 20 minutes, when the mask tightens, rinse your face with warm water and pat dry. There are days when I just don’t feel like creating anything so I pull out Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque. I have been using this mask for years. This mask draws out impurities from pores and absorbs excess oils from your face. You can pick up this product from almost any drug store. Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque cost about $3.99 for an 8oz. tube.

Drinking plenty of water is a big step for healthy skin. It is recommended to drink eight glasses a day. Water helps flush your body of waste and toxins. Another tip is to change your diet. Try eating more organic foods. The goal is to eliminate foods with hormones, from your diet. Eating foods with horomones can lead to a hormonal imbalance and can be one of the causes of your acne. Eating foods with A, E, C and zinc can help lead you to healthier skin. Vitamin A helps regulate skin cell growth and helps the skin heal. It can be found in eggs, carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, cantaloupe, pumpkins, and liver. Vitamin E & C are both antioxidants. Vitamin E is found in tofu, spinach, almonds, avocados, shrimp and trout. Vitamin C is found in foods such as; papaya, bell peppers, oranges, pineapples, strawberries, kiwi, and kale. Zinc helps fight the bacteria causing acne and works as an anti-inflammatory. Zinc is found in shell fish, beef, lamb, chicken, chocolate, pork, and even mushrooms. The key is to keep up your routine, and when all else fails see a dermatologist. Good luck on your journey to healthy looking skin.