What To Do And Not Do To Get Rid Of Acne For The Holidays

Photo credit: bigstockphoto.com

Photo credit: bigstockphoto.com

As the holidays approach – or any special occasion for that matter – you always want your skin to look its best. Dressing up in a new outfit can only go so far to distract from a face that is riddled with acne. Luckily there are a few things you can do to help get rid of your problem skin quickly and in time to head off to your party with a glowing complexion.

 

1. Calm down

First of all, calm down. Stress will just increase the number of blemishes on your face. When you get upset about things, it will show up on your complexion. You may need to sit quietly for a little while or watch one of your favorite shows on television to get your mind off of things. A comedy will help you shift your focus and the endorphins will lift your spirits.

 

2. Try a steam bath

If you want to really clean your skin, create your own facial sauna. Get a large pot and fill it not quite to the top with water. Bring it to a boil and set it on a towel on a table. Get another towel and put it over your head as you hold your face over the pot. The hot water will open your pores naturally and help to flush any toxins or excess oils out. Once your face is steamed you can swab it with a cotton ball that has an astringent or refresher on it. If you have a cucumber in your fridge you could apply some cucumber juice on your face. The vitamin E in this vegetable will relieve your skin of the free radicals that are causing your acne in the first place. Apply a light moisturizer and your skin should be glowing.

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Cup of tea

Photo credit: bigstock

3. Drink tea

A nice cup of hot tea in a pretty tea cup will actually do wonders for your skin. Green tea, rooibos, and chamomile all have healing qualities that will begin to work on your acne problems. All of them have antioxidant qualities as well as serve as an antibacterial treatment and can help rejuvenate the skin while reducing the redness and inflammation that are causing your skin problems.

 

4. Exfoliate your skin

One thing you may want to start, and keep doing on a regular basis, is to exfoliate your skin. Oatmeal is a great natural product you can use to exfoliate your skin. Take one cup of oatmeal that has been cooked and add the juice of half of a lemon and a tablespoon of honey. Scrub this onto your face then let it sit for a half hour before washing it off. When you exfoliate your skin, you are gently removing dead skin cells in the same manner that a man does when he shaves his face.

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Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

5. Take your vitamins

There are a trio of vitamins that are not only antioxidants but they have been proven to improve your skin, from healing acne to making you look younger by reducing the effects of wrinkles. Vitamin A is what is used in retinol creams and vitamins C and E help heal troubled skin. You can get a cream with retinol in it that is up to 2 percent but prescriptions from a dermatologist run up to 5 percent. As for supplements, you can take up to 2500 IU of vitamin A, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 2000 mg of vitamin C daily.

 

6. Eat clean

You will find out quickly that what you eat is what will show up on your face. If you eat clean – lean meats, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, no junk foods – you won’t have troubled skin. But if you use a lot of salt, sugar, and eat processed foods, your skin is probably a mess. Try to start working your way to a more natural way of eating and you won’t have to worry about dealing with acne on a regular basis.

 

7. Try turmeric

This herb is used in many Indian dishes and has recently been recognized for its effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory. You can take as a supplement internally or you can make a mask with the turmeric and apply it to your face to deal with your skin problems topically. Just add a teaspoon of turmeric to some water to create a paste and apply it to your skin. Be careful not to get it in your eyes – this is a herb that is used to spice things up.

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Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

8. Use tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and an effective antifungal agent. It is able to kill the bacteria that is causing your acne and is considered an effective solution in treating acne naturally.

 

9. Get plenty of rest

During the holidays, or before any special occasion, things can be more hectic than usual. Running yourself ragged will not help skin that is already inflamed. Make sure you get plenty of rest so you feel better and give your skin a chance to refresh itself.

 

10. Have controlled splurges

Even if you eat properly 90% of the time, there are going to be times when you are going to fall off the wagon. Plan it in advance so you don’t worry about it causing more anxiety which is going to show up on your face. It’s not the end of the world – when you plan it in advance, just enjoy it and get back on your plan the next day.

 

READ ALSO: Vitamin C And Its 10 Unique Benefits For Your Skin Infographic

 

Additional tips

  • Make sure you keep your hands clean at all times. Carry hand sanitizer with you just in case you don’t have access to a sink when you need one.
  • Keep your hands away from your face (even if your hands are clean!).
  • Wash your pillowcase every day so you don’t keep exposing your skin to your previous breakouts.
  • If you just have a single pimple that is ruining your day, dab a little bit of toothpaste on it at night and it should be gone by the morning.
  • Another option that can dry up a single blemish is to apply some lemon juice directly to the acne. The vitamin C will work wonders on it in a natural way.

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.medlineplus.gov

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