Getting Rid of Acne for Good – New Year’s Resolutions

Chances are, you’re among the majority of adults who have suffered from acne. With New Year’s around the corner, one of your resolutions might be kicking this skin condition for good. No more Googling ways to reduce spots overnight or how to eliminate blackheads big and small before that date you’ve been longing for.

Hopefully, you’re not one of those poor souls whose last-minute acne flareup ruins your chances of a midnight kiss as we ring in 2022. From teens to thirties and beyond, acne is a terror that can be tough to banish completely – especially at this time of year, when most of us are tucking into indulgent holiday feasts!

Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your natural beauty unblemished. And while we live to serve those in dire need of laser acne treatment, we know these tips go a long way towards clearer, happier skin (and we’re not about to keep them a secret!).

So, if your New Year’s resolution is to get rid of acne, here’s how you do it:

1. Eat a healthier diet.
2. Apply topical acne treatments.
3. Wash your pillowcases regularly.
4. Don’t pop your pimples.
5. Touch Your Face Less.
6. Keep your hair clean.
7. Use skin products that won’t worsen acne.
8. Wash your face a few times daily.

 

1. Eat a Healthier Diet

Achieving healthier skin doesn’t always require topicals and face washes.

Research indicates that certain common foods aggravate acne. Meaning you can improve the quality of your skin significantly by cutting them out of your diet.

Dairy products and foods with high glycemic levels are the worst culprits for acne, such as:

• Cookies and cake
• Milk
• Cheeses
• Pies
• Chips/fries
• Fruit yoghurts

However, all our bodies react differently to changes in diet.

So, for the best results, try eliminating food groups one at a time. That way, you can gauge what’s causing you the most issues and not cut out things you don’t need to.

In addition to fighting acne, avoiding these sugary and high-fat foods will also help keep your weight down.

 

2. Apply Topical Acne Treatments

There’s a silver lining to acne’s prevalence; since it’s one of the most common skin conditions, there’s a massive array of available treatments.

If you have a couple of stubborn pimples, try using a spot treatment.

Many of these topicals for treating small areas utilise essential oils. Tea tree oil is especially prevalent since its anti-inflammatory properties are excellent at neutralising acne.

If you’re experiencing acne all over your face, you can also use full-face treatments. These skincare regimens, such as Proactiv, rejuvenate your skin while preventing more blemishes from forming.

Just keep in mind this market is a little over-saturated. Not everything is top-quality, and ingredients vary. So, a little experimentation might be needed.

 

3. Wash Your Pillowcases Regularly

You’ve likely heard before that staying clean and hygienic reduces skin problems. But you might not realise this idea isn’t limited to your body.

You spend about one-third of your life in bed, which is more than anywhere else. As a result, the dirt and natural oils on your face and hair can quickly accumulate on your pillow.

So, to keep acne away and stop overnight spots before they get started, wash your pillowcases a couple of times a week.

That way, you aren’t rolling your face around in dirty fabric. Doing so further clogs pores and worsens your acne.

Additionally, you can turn your pillowcase over or place a towel on it.

 

4. Don’t Pop Your Pimples

You likely remember your parents urging you not to pop pimples when you were a teenager.

And if you doubted the advice, we’ve got some bad news—they were right!

Dermatologists almost universally warn against popping pimples. Doing so not only leaves sores susceptible to infection but can cause significant scarring over time.

Some people may need dermal fillers to restore their skin’s smoothness in severe cases of scarring. Plus, popped zits tend to return. Especially if they’re not properly cleaned or drained.

So, while it may be tempting to get that puss out, refrain from the desire. It will only make your acne appear worse and leave more long-term damage.

 

5. Touch Your Face Less

You may not think you touch your face that often. However, you might be shocked if you count how many times you do it in a day.

One study showed that the average person touches their face upwards of 20 times an hour.

And every time you do, you’re introducing a fresh batch of microscopic debris and oils to your face. Not to mention spreading them across your pores when you wipe or scratch. As a result, touching your face is one of the leading causes of pimple formation. 

Thankfully, there are ways to break the habit.

For one, consider keeping a stress ball or fidget toy with you. By occupying your hands, you’re less likely to rub your eyes or brush your nose.

You can also enlist the help of a loved one and ask them to point out when they see you do it.

 

6. Keep Your Hair Clean

If your New Year’s resolution is acne-free skin, then keeping your hair clean is a good place to start.

Our hair collects all sorts of debris and oils throughout the day. Especially if it’s thick or long. So, if your hair rubs against your face, that dirtiness can spread to your pores and lead to pimples.

People often make this issue worse by touching their hair often, thus adding more oils. And rolling around on that greasy hair when you sleep can often worsen the problem.

As a result, you should consider washing your hair more often if you suffer from acne. Particularly if you tend to get dirty or sweaty at work.

Alternatively, you can try to keep your hair back (such as in a bun) so it touches your face less often.

 

7. Use Skin Products That Won’t Worsen Acne

Though it may seem counterintuitive, many products for your skin can actually worsen acne.

While makeup enhances your beauty, it can also clog your pores. That makes it easier for pimple-causing bacteria to fester in your skin. Plus, makeup removers can sometimes irritate skin and wipe residues across your face.

Lotions and sunscreens are also usual suspects behind acne. Their rich oil-based formulas easily block up pores and cause flare-ups.

However, there is some good news.

Numerous skin products now contain special ingredients to avoid contributing to acne. To tell the difference, look for products that say “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free”. That means those treatments are less likely to lead to flare-ups.

 

8. Wash Your Face a Few Times Daily

Another excellent way to consistently keep acne away is by washing your face regularly. By doing so, you can remove the build-up of pimple-causing sweat, dirt, and grease.

However, you don’t want to wash your face too much. Excessively doing so can cause you to deplete the natural oils that your skin requires. This can lead to you accidentally causing more acne to appear.

To avoid this, only wash your face a few times a day max. Such as after you wake up, post-workout, and before you go to bed.

That way, you’ll keep your face as clean as possible without irritating your skin. And as the new year rolls on, you might notice that your resolution for acne-free skin is possible after all.

 

Conclusion

We hope this helps you counter the probable rise in acne that the holiday season can bring. Moreover, though, we hope you have a wonderful time with your families, friends, and loved ones! See you all in the new year!