Many people have had this experience: when they are under a lot of work pressure, they become tense, unable to eat well or sleep well. As the pressure mounts, pimples start popping up on their faces like mushrooms after rain. At this point, many people tend to resort to desperate measures.
Six misconceptions about acne treatment to avoid
Using birth control pills to treat acne
Some young women tend to take birth control pills to treat acne, but blindly using birth control pills can cause certain side effects such as breast hyperplasia and reduced menstrual flow. Therefore, acne medication should be done under the guidance of a professional doctor.
Excessive use of topical medications
Corticosteroid creams such as Dermovate can stimulate sebaceous gland hyperplasia, leading to excessive sebum secretion and secondary damage to the skin. The main side effects include skin thinning, pigmentation, blood vessel dilation, and steroid-dependent dermatitis.
Squeezing to detoxify
Some people believe that squeezing out blackheads will "detoxify" the skin. However, excessive squeezing can leave scars and worsen infections.
Excessive facial cleansing
In general, people who are prone to acne tend to have oily skin. Excessive sebum secretion makes the skin appear greasy. As a result, many people focus on cleansing the skin, but this actually has no effect on removing acne. Regardless of whether your skin is prone to acne or not, it is necessary to wash your face once in the morning and once at night. However, excessive facial cleansing can damage the protective layer on the skin's surface, making the skin more prone to acne. Therefore, excessive cleansing for acne-prone skin actually harms the skin.
Using astringents
Some people use astringents to help tighten the skin when they have acne. However, if the acne is already inflamed or purulent, using astringents will stimulate the sebaceous glands and promote the growth of acne.
Excessive use of "fire-clearing" remedies
Many people believe that pimples are caused by "excessive heat" in the body, so they take "fire-clearing" remedies without considering the underlying causes. As a result, they may experience aggravated diarrhea, mental fatigue, and the pimples remain on their faces. In addition to common causes such as heat and stagnation, there is another cause called phlegm. These patients often have symptoms such as loose stools and poor mental state due to imbalance in the spleen and stomach, resulting in the formation of dampness and phlegm that stagnates in the skin, leading to the formation of pustular acne. If they take "fire-clearing" medications, it will inevitably worsen the symptoms. Therefore, the treatment should focus on resolving phlegm and softening hardness. Eating foods that benefit the spleen and eliminate dampness, such as Chinese yam and coix seed, can be helpful.
How to eliminate acne
Avoid high-sugar foods
Acne is related to diet. Especially for girls, various types of sweets and fried foods, which are high in sugar and carbohydrates (bread, fried dough, biscuits, candies, cakes, and fried potato chips), can cause hormonal changes in the body and lead to acne. It is important to pay attention to diet and avoid high-sugar foods. Eating more vegetables and fruits can help alleviate acne to some extent.
Proper facial cleansing
To effectively clean the skin, it is important to thoroughly cleanse the face. Before washing your face, make sure to wash your hands. Do not directly apply the cleanser to your face. Instead, squeeze the cleanser onto your hands, rub it to create foam, and then use the foam to wash your face. This will not only avoid irritating the skin but also make it easier to wash. It is also important to use warm water to wash your face, as hot or cold water can irritate the skin.
Relieve stress
Stress can cause hormonal imbalance and lead to acne breakouts. It is important to relax and relieve stress. Deep breathing exercises can be helpful. Choose a comfortable posture (such as leaning against a wall with a cushion or sitting upright in a chair) and breathe in for 4 counts, hold your breath for 7 counts, and exhale for 8 counts. Also, avoid consuming stimulating foods, as they can put the body in a heightened state of alertness and stimulate the growth of acne.
Consume foods rich in zinc
As someone who is fighting acne, it is beneficial to include foods rich in zinc in your diet. Zinc can help control sebum secretion. Foods such as fish, lean meat, and eggs are rich in zinc.
Supplement with vitamins
Vitamins have skincare and nourishing effects and can be very helpful in treating acne. It is advisable to consume foods rich in vitamins, such as dairy products, eggs, vegetables, animal kidneys, and fish, as they have a positive therapeutic effect on acne.
