Most cases of pimples are harmless, unless, of course, they get severely infected. For most people, pimples are an aesthetic concern, especially when the breakouts appear all over the face. On top of that, pimples can be painful, too. In this article, we’ll talk about some practical pimple care tips.
Pimple Breakouts, An Overview
Usually, when we talk of skin breakouts, we refer to the condition where the skin surface feels rough and uneven. When you have pimple breakouts, you feel small, raised spots on the skin.
Breakouts can appear on any part of the body that’s covered with skin. Sometimes, you only have one or two pimples; however, there are instances where you have numerous breakouts at the same time.
The facial area that is prone to breakouts is the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). In addition, pimple breakouts can appear on the back, neck, arms, shoulders, and chest.
Causes Of Pimple Breakouts On The Face
Many things can cause pimple breakouts. Examples include blackheads, facial irritation, dermatitis, milia (small white/ yellow cysts or bumps found under the skin surface), folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles), and seborrheic keratosis (noncancerous overgrowth of skin cells). Of course, we cannot forget acne. If you have acne, chances are, you’ll have pimples.
Just like pimples, blackheads are formed from the buildup of dead skin cells and oil trapped in the pores of the skin . These clogged pores can be triggered by several things, such as:
- Hormonal changes
- Stress
- Excessive sweat production
- Use of certain drugs
- The use of cosmetics or skincare products that do not go well with your skin.
- Skin hygiene that is not maintained properly. For example, touching the skin with unclean hands.
Determining The Cause Of Your Breakouts
As mentioned above, many things can trigger pimples on the face. Therefore, to find out the cause of your breakout, consult a dermatologist. They will perform a series of assessments to find out if an underlying condition is triggering your pimples.
Remember that the right diagnosis is a prerequisite to a successful treatment.
Pimple Care Tips
The most effective way to get rid of pimples on the face is to have a skincare routine that matches your skin. The basics include.
1. Regularly Washing Your Face
Washing your face twice a day is an integral part of any skincare routine, hence it is the first on our list of pimple care tips.
Clean your face in the morning upon waking up and before retiring to bed. Don’t forget to choose a face wash that suits your skin type.
When necessary, you can also apply double cleansing, which means washing your face twice to make sure your skin is completely clean of dirt.
People who use makeup everyday can consider double cleansing. You can clean your face using a water-based makeup remover such as micellar water or an oil-based one to clean waterproof makeup on your face.
Make sure you clean your face until there’s no makeup left on it. The reason is, the rest of the makeup that sticks to it can be one of the triggers for the appearance of breakouts.
2. Moisturize
Next on our pimple care tips is to use a moisturizer regularly.
Everyone, regardless of skin type, must use a moisturizer. However, choosing a moisturizer can be tricky. If you’re having difficulty choosing your product, don’t hesitate to consult your dermatologist.
3. Apply Sunscreen
Do not forget to always protect the skin from exposure to ultraviolet rays by using sunscreen. It is especially important if you expect to spend your day outdoors.
Using sunscreen is not just a crucial part of our pimple care tips; it’s also important to protect your skin from skin cancer.
Use sunscreen every time you apply your moisturizer. Evenly apply the sunscreen, particularly to areas not covered by clothing. Reapply sunscreen all over the skin surface every 2 to 3 hours.
4. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is also an important part of pimple care tips as it removes dead skin cells that might accumulate and irritate the skin.
Exfoliating the skin can be done regularly, such as once a week, by using the right exfoliating product according to your skin type.
5. Don’t pop your pimples!
Lastly, don’t ever try popping your pimples by yourself, this can lead to unsightly scarring on the area. Popped a pimple? Here’s what to do next.
Treatment
While the above pimple care tips work well for most people, the treatment for breakouts still vary from person to person. Dermatologists usually adjust the type of treatment to the underlying cause of the breakout.
If the cause is blackheads, the dermatologist will usually prescribe certain treatment creams to soften the blackheads. This will make the blackheads come off easily and won’t clog the pores.
Pimple care tips on the face can also be combined with certain medical procedures such as blackhead extraction, microdermabrasion procedures, or chemical peels.
It’s not uncommon to get confused as to what skincare product or treatment to choose. After all, there are countless brands in the market. To prevent second-guessing, set an appointment with a dermatologist.
Learn more about Acne here.
