So you thought dry skin would save you from the perils of getting acne at any point in your life. When you think about it, it makes sense because dry skin means no oil to clog up your pores, right? Wrong! You see, underneath that dry surface there are still sebaceous glands and bacteria, and you still shed dead skin cells everyday. These are the main ingredients that make up acne, whatever type of skin you have. Having dry skin alone is uncomfortable enough since it makes your skin flake, itch and easily get irritated, and the formation of acne definitely just makes it worse especially during winter when the air is dry. However, it’s not totally hopeless. There are dry skin acne treatments that can lessen the discomfort of acne breakouts. It’s not always easy to change your environment, but there are several ways to make acne and dry skin more bearable whatever the season:

Keep yourself hydrated. We’ve always been told to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and there’s more than just one reason for that. Dehydration has been pinpointed as one of the reasons for having dry skin since the skin is not getting enough moisture to keep it healthy and supple. If you haven’t made it a habit to drink plenty of fluids, start doing so now. Water not only helps in moisturizing your skin from the inside, it also aids in cleansing by flushing the toxins out of your body and lessens your chances of having clogged pores.

Minimize contact with water. No, this is not a contradiction to the previous step made to confuse you. If you think that a faster way to hydrate your skin would be to apply water on it as much as possible, think again. Water may be moisturizing your skin while it’s still wet, but once it dries up, it also strips away the natural oils and leaves you even drier than before. This can lead to more skin flaking off, accumulating in the pores and leading to more breakouts.

Cleanse your skin. Remove dirt, oil, makeup and other irritants that may have made their way to your skin throughout the day. Try using oil-free toners or hypoallergenic skin cleansers. Always remember to clean your face before bedtime, otherwise you’ll only be allowing more bacteria to accumulate and more pores to get clogged.

Moisturize constantly. Moisturizers might not be the first thing that will come to your mind when thinking about treating acne or at least preventing further breakouts, but when the acne is appearing on dry skin, applying the right moisturizer can help alleviate the irritation and won’t worsen your acne. There are already different types of moisturizers to choose from: creams, gels, water-based, oil-free, and more. Once you’ve found the one that suits you best and does not worsen your skin condition, apply it everyday right after showering since it is at this time when it’s easiest for the skin to absorb the moisturizer.

Reconsider your acne treatment. Have you been using the same medication for your acne for a long time now? If you find your acne and your dry skin getting better throughout this time, well and good. However, if you’ve found that some of your conditions are getting worse, it might not just be the changes in temperature and season that are causing it. Perhaps it’s time to set another appointment with your dermatologist and have him check if your current treatment is still working as effectively as you expect it to.

The main purpose of dry skin acne treatments is to keep your skin free from irritation and aggravation to prevent it from flaking, cracking, and becoming more painful than it already is. Just make your own effective regimen to clean and moisturize the skin and follow it religiously. Sooner or later, you’ll find that your winters won’t be as cold and drying as it used to be anymore.

That acne is an exclusive teenage dilemma is a common misconception. Some people think that having acne attacks in the adolescent years automatically disqualifies them from developing adult acne. Similarly, those who did not have acne before are thinking they’ve skipped the acne stage. Wrong. Acne can recur or strike in adulthood. Statistics says that 20% of the adult population suffers from acne. Specifically, acne affects 50% of adult women and 25% of adult men. Some have them in their 20’s or 30’s. Others experience adult acne way later in life, usually in their 40’s.

Adults face the same trouble as teenagers do. Their self-esteem is as badly slighted. They get the same sideward glances. They equally get bothered with one new zit. Though it is not a fraction as serious as other health problems, adult acne can be hugely bothersome. Suddenly, socializing has become more of a task and fronting the mirror is an avoided experience. As if that’s not enough, they have to put up with acne scars, which, most of the time, stick around for life.

What went wrong?
Acne develops when the skin follicles are blocked by sebum—the oil produced by the sebaceous glands—dead skin cells, and bacteria. A blocked follicle is usually triggered by using bad cosmetics, birth control pills, and some medicines. Heredity, hormonal imbalances, and allergic reactions can also lead to acne breakouts, although unlike the others, these factors are specifically out of the sufferer’s control.

The face is the most commonly affected, but acne can also appear in other areas where units of follicles and sebaceous glands (pilosebaceous units) are most numerous. Examples are back, chest, arms, neck, and shoulders.

Adult acne treatment
Though most of the acne treatments today are specifically created for teens, there have been a lot of treatments for adult acne available in the market. Thirty percent of them are purchased over the counter. Very popular today are the products with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which usually come as topical treatments like soaps, lotions, gels, and creams. Over-the-counter treatments, however, are typically limited to treating mild acne cases. Medications with strong effects, on the other hand, are available only with prescription. Experts usually advise against treatment combination as it may dry up the skin and cause irritation.

Oral medications are also administered to address certain conditions that lead up to acne. Women with hormonal imbalance, for instance, should take spironolactone and undergo hormone replacement therapy.

Acne treatments are as unique as the individual sufferers; no treatment is a cure-all. In other words, a treatment that went good with one person may not necessarily do as well with someone else. Which is why seeking the attention of a dermatologist is highly recommended, especially in serious acne cases, to determine the proper treatment based on the severity of the case, cause of acne, type of skin, and age.

Avoiding adult acne
In the case of an existing acne flare-up, treatment comes as top priority. However, there is something to be said about preventing a breakout. And prevention usually requires deliberate change of practices.

For one, hands should be kept off the face, as they can expedite the growth of bacteria. Acne thrives in a pool of bacteria, and a second of mindlessly touching the face can produce a zit in only a matter of days. Squeezing and picking pimples are also a no-no since they can push the bacteria back into the skin and cause more inflammation.

Use noncomedogenic and oil-free cosmetics and other skin products. These properties can prevent blocked pores and consequently future skin flare-ups. Some, however, may find these same products to be causing more aggravation. Therefore, it is important to be more critical of skin products and use only those that are necessary.

Finally, take extra care of the skin to prevent adult acne breakouts. Wash the skin with mild products twice or thrice a day, starting from under the jaw to the hairline. Don’t rub the skin too hard to avoid inflammation. The key here is not to over wash, as it may do more harm than good to the skin.

Dealing with acne is hardly a pleasant experience. It may probably be found scribbled in the topmost list of ‘most embarrassing moment’ in a teenager’s high school diary. For some people, it is a burden too irritating to carry. How does one really solve an acne breakout? Is there a fool-proof set of things-to-do that would shield one from being victimized by this skin disease? For those who are currently left clueless with this dilemma, read on the following random tips. Apparently, all it takes is developing a healthy lifestyle that factors in one’s dietary intake, hygiene, and daily activities.

You are what you eat

Starting the day with a healthy breakfast is always great. For an even healthier twist, include a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade or a tall glass of orange juice in the menu. And instead of the usual sugar or gum syrup for a sweeter taste, add maple instead.

It is not always advisable to skip lunch, even for those who are in a diet. But for the figure conscious ones, having fruits instead of bread or salad during lunchtime would make a big difference. An apple, a selection of berries or any other seasonal fruits available in the nearest grocery would do. If there is an organic version available, that would even be a better choice.

For dinner, enjoying a simple home-made salad is best. Dressing need not be too complicated or gourmet style to make the salad palatable. A combination of lemon juice, olive oil, and salt is a perfect match for those healthy greens.

Hygiene, exercise and lifestyle

There’s a good reason why the World Health Organization advises people to always wash their hands before eating. The most widely used rationale for this is that it avoids the transfer and ingestion of unhealthy organisms into the body. But the truth is, doing so not only ensures safety for the stomach, but also for the face. Unwashed hands carry harmful organisms and bacteria that could cause irritation to the facial skin, thereby resulting to redness and infection.

As sleep is part of an essential regimen in keeping one’s youthful looks, it should be done so religiously. But sleeping on dirty pillow covers defeats the purpose altogether. Pillow covers should ideally be changed every night to avoid irritation of the face. Make sure also that only hypoallergenic laundry materials are used to wash the covers so as to avoid having allergic reactions to them.

Regular exercise keeps the body healthy and aids in the process of detoxification and metabolism. In today’s fast-paced world, experts of various forms of exercise offer tutorial and even video manuals on how to survive an hour-long work out without the fuss of enrolling in a gym class. Yoga, one of the best used exercises these days, can be done within the comforts of a home.

The common perception about massage is that it provides comfort to sore muscles and aching joints. Truth is, massage also offers a soothing effect on the skin, especially when done gently on the face. A regular but gentle massage done on the face aids in cleansing it and offers an alternative way of firming up those unwanted lines and wrinkles. An alternate of upward and circular strokes on the face can help put off that daunting trip to the plastic surgeon for some time.

Peace is still the best kept beauty secret

This may not always be true, but no amount of treatment or routine can substitute to what inner peace can bring in a person’s life. Peace gives a priceless glow that no sum of money could buy. The cliché must be true. Acne or not, beauty always springs from within.