6 Simple Things You Can Do To Keep Your Face Clean & Minimize Acne

Like most of you, I started having acne around my teenage years. Ever since,  I cannot remember a time when my face was 100% acne-free. If it was not a big red pimple on my chin, it was a lot of small bumps on my forehead, or a funny looking blackhead on my cheek.  They would come and go as they pleased. Acne can be unattractive and down right embracing. It can be very painful, too. Acne is not a one size fits all problem, but any hormonal changes in the body can cause it to produce excess skin oil. This oil, mixed with bacteria,  can cause your skin to break out and result in acne.  Smoking, birth control pills, and other medications can also cause acne. The only time I get medication related acne is when I take biotin, which is an OTC supplement.

6 Simple Things You Can Do To Keep Your Face Clean & Minimize Acne

Aside from my regular monthly, women related pimples, my acne issues were due to carelessness. By that I mean not washing my face properly and not being patient enough to do things that could help minimize my acne. If you suffer from any kind of acne, below are some tips and tricks that you can use to improve your condition. These steps have worked for me. I hope they work for you too.

1. Wash your hands before rinsing your face

It may sound like common sense, but I did not have a whole lot of that two years ago. Rinsing your face with your dirty hands is the same as not washing your face at all. You don’t want to transfer any germs from your hands to your face. It may seem like you did a good job, but germs travel and they travel fast. So make sure you wash your hands before touching your face anytime during the day.

2. Only wash your face with clean wash cloths 

I used to say that I have oily skin, but I don’t say that anymore.  I am not sure what I did or what happened, but now I have combination skin. My T-zone is still oily, but the rest of my face is normal. I still use a clean wash cloth to clean my face to make sure I remove all the extra, unnecessary oil from my face before rinsing it. Dirty wash cloths can harbor bacteria. You don’t want that on your face.

3. Clean your makeup brushes and remove your makeup before going to bed 

Can you imagine removing your makeup after a long night of partying? Ain’t nobody got time for that, right? But sleeping with your makeup on even once can cause major damage to your skin. Your pores can get clogged. Your skin can get irritated and dry. You can also mess up your pillowcase. Not removing your makeup properly can also cause the same problems.

4. Change your pillowcases often

I have to admit. I was not too good in that department. I started changing my pillowcases two times a week after I read somewhere that dermatologists recommend that people with acne prone skin should change their pillowcases twice a week. I have made great progress, I tell ya! Anything that touches the skin should be clean.

5. Keep dirty hair away from your face

This one is not for everybody. If you are allergic to synthetic hair, you should keep your braids or your twists away from your face, or don’t use synthetic hair at all. This kind of hair can be very irritating and can cause skin breakouts. Dirty hair is also detrimental to the skin. Wash it or keep it away!

6. Drink plenty of water

While water is not a miracle cure for acne, it does help the skin stay hydrated. Beauty starts on the inside. Eating properly and drinking enough water to carry the nutrients and vitamins is a great way to give the body the tools it needs to carry out toxins and bacteria. According to Dr. Christina Lee, a dermatologist from Walnut Creek, CA, skin cells require water to function properly. Dehydration causes damage and accelerates aging.

These are simple steps that you can take toward clear skin. The best thing is that you don’t even have to spend extra money. All you need is time and patience.