A Guide to Clearer Acne Free Skin

I've pretty much battled acne since my teens. I'm 25 now - So, it's been about 10 years. Maybe it's not as long as others have spent trying to find what "works" for them, spending a fortune on useless acne products and trips to the dermatologist, but 10 years is plenty long enough for me.

I've finally accepted that there is no cure for acne. I did always believe that once you "became" an adult, it would just disappear. That didn't happen. I think it depends on a variety of factors: your diet, your hormones, your stress level, your lifestyle, your skincare routine, and unfortunately, your genes. There may not be a cure for acne, at least not right now, but, there are ways to manage your acne. I'm not saying my routine will work for everyone - but, it's a guide you can follow. I think it is worth giving it a try. It's not anything that's time-consuming or outright strange, it's just a few simple steps you can follow daily to help improve your skin.

1. Healthy Diet - The most important thing you need to know is what you eat reflects how you look on the outside. It's like the old saying, "You are what you eat." It's true. You want that shiny hair and glowing skin - then you need to eat healthy - eat your fruits and veggies everyday! In the morning, after I eat my breakfast, I take one multivitamin, one 1000mg fish oil pill, and one 500mg Vitamin C pill. This step is a must. Your skin needs these essential vitamins. Let's face it, most of us don't eat the recommended amount of servings of fruit and veggies daily, so we need a supplement.

2. Good Skincare - At this time, I am using University Medical's, "Severe Acne Free System." I decided to try this because it was affordable and convenient. You can buy it at Target or Walmart for about $25. It comes with the benzoyl peroxide antibacterial cleansing wash to kill bacteria and clear away dead skin cells, the corrective toner to help rebalance the skin by removing dead skin cells and excess oils, the maximum strength benzoyl peroxide repair lotion that helps kill acne bacteria and prevent new acne lesions from forming, and last, a retinol renewal complex cream that stimulates cell turnover for softer, healthier looking skin. I basically follow the steps that the kit comes with. The only thing I do differently is in the morning after I cleanse and tone, I rub a dab of Neutrogena's "healthy defense daily moisturizer untinted with spf 30", and then I apply the benzoyl peroxide repair lotion. It moisturizes my face while adding sunscreen protection. This kit can be a strong and irritating at first, but eventually your skin will adjust to it. If you find that you just can't handle it, then try using the retinol cream every other night instead of every night and/or skip using the face wash in the morning. Instead, just splash your face with water, and follow with the toner and lotions. As with any acne product, you have to stick with it to see the results. You will most likely go through a breakout period. Just be patient. It took me about 6 weeks of using this kit to see the results. My face is now clearer, and I only get about one breakout a month. So, it manages my acne pretty well.

3. Clean Lifestyle - Another step to help manage your acne is to make sure you change your bed sheets at least once a week. When you sleep the oils and dead skin cells from your face rub off on your pillow, so every night you are asleep, these dead skin cells and oil keep layering on your pillow case. Be sure to keep your hair away from you face when sleeping. I usually put mine up in a high bun. Also, make sure you change out your bath towel often. These too can carry dust, oils, and dead skin cells. And keep your hands away from your face. Your hands are dirty and oily, no matter what you think.

4. Drink Filtered Water - Another interesting tip for the management of acne: do not drink tap water. I noticed that my face would breakout more if I drank tap water. I thought it was crazy, but decided to do a bit of research on it and found out that it's all the chlorine they use in tap water that is not healthy at all for the body and therefore, the skin. Chlorine can be the cause of some of your acne. So, I just eliminated tap water for drinking purposes and bought one of those Brita pitchers, so I can drink clean, filtered water. A water/ice dispenser on your fridge will work just fine, since they usually work with a disposable filter. So, give it a try - stay away from drinking unfiltered tap water and see if it helps. It did for me. It's amazing how much my face started clearing up after the switch.

5. Drink Lots of Water - As you've probably heard, "water does the body good." You need to make sure you are drinking lots of water daily. Carry a water bottle wherever you go. Eliminate soda and sugary drinks from your diet. Water flushes the toxins and wastes out of your body and helps hydrate your skin, improving the quality of it. Another tip: try drinking a cup of hot green tea daily, preferrably in the morning. When I started drinking it, I noticed an improvement of my acne. It seems to help keep it calm, and not only that, it is good for you.

6. Prescription Acne Medications - And if you still find that your acne is out of control and you can't take it anymore, then you could always try accutane. It's prescribed by dermatologists. Now, I've never used it, but I've heard it's harsh on your body. My husband used it as a teen, and it cleared up his face. He still got breakouts every once in a while, until he hit 25. Now, I swear, he never gets breakouts. At 30, his face is perfectly clear. And you could never tell he had an acne problem as a teenager. I'm jealous.

7. Birth Control Pills - If you don't want to try accutane, as I'm sure I wouldn't even try it, then there is the birth control pill. If you are female, and haven't tried it already, Ortho Tri-Cyclen is often prescribed as a skin treatment. I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen in the past, and it cleared up my acne right away. It puts those hormones to rest! But, I will warn you, each person will experience different side effects than others, so read up on it and talk to your doctor if interested. I always had a problem with fluid retention while taking the pill, and therefore, unfortunately, weight gain. So, it has it's goods and bads.

I hope this article has given you some insight on ideas to help manage your acne. I know how frustrating it can be, trying to find something that works for you. Just be patient, start a routine, and stick to it. And try to manage your stress. Good luck everyone!