Looking for answers on how to get rid of acne? Of course, finding a great skincare regimen tailored for acne is key, but effective acne-fighting products are just one piece of the puzzle for achieving and maintaining clear skin.
The 4 pillars for clearing acne include having the right skincare, mindset, nutrition, and lifestyle habits. When you keep the 4 pillars in play, you’ll be on the fast-track to attaining your healthiest looking skin!
Pillar #1: Skincare
Skincare is probably the most straightforward pillar for how to get rid of acne and the one you’ve heard the most about. We get it. It can be overwhelming trying to find the right ingredients and products that work well together to create an effective acne-fighting skincare routine. The proactiv® acne treatment systems are one of the best skincare routines because they were developed to interrupt the weeks-long acne cycle (the process by which acne begins to form under the skin and pushes to the surface), while being easy-to-use on a consistent basis.
Pillar #2: Mindset
Always remember that clearing acne is a marathon, not a sprint. There’s no magic product that will clear your acne overnight or forever with just one use.
Getting, and keeping, your skin free of acne is a journey. There will be highs and lows, but with the discipline to consistently apply your products and the patience to trust that results are coming, your skin’s health and appearance will improve with time. For example, you may even seem to break out a bit more at first (skin purging), which is just the gunk in the deeply clogged pores rising to the surface.
To keep your mindset on track, try taking before photos when you start your skincare journey and every 30 days. You’ll get super motivated as you look back at them along the way and see how far you’ve come.
You can also consider stress (particularly your ability to keep it low) part of a positive acne-clearing mindset. Stress and acne often go hand in hand. Developing strategies to counter stress will be vital in maintaining that positive mindset.
Pillar #3: Nutrition
A healthy diet is a vital component in any strategy to clear acne. Carb-filled foods, which are high on the glycemic index, can contribute to acne breakouts. This includes foods like sweetened cereals, white breads, pastas, and processed snacks like chips or pretzels.
A high glycemic index means these foods spike your blood glucose (sugar) levels, causing your pancreas to respond with insulin. An insulin spike can stimulate your oil glands to overproduce sebum, a primary factor that can lead to breakouts.
Nutrition for acne prone skin involves sticking to lower glycemic index foods as often as possible and getting the recommended daily dose of vitamins and nutrients in your diet. A multi-vitamin can help ensure you’re getting adequate amounts of essential nutrients, especially if you don’t have convenient access to fresh foods daily, including fruits and vegetables.
Pillar #4: Lifestyle
An acne-conscious lifestyle is built of many small habits pieced together. Here are a few to get you started:
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Frequently wash your sheets and pillowcases: Sleeping on the same sheets without washing can lead to bacteria you carried in one night infiltrating your skin the next night.
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Don’t fall asleep with makeup on: Leftover makeup can contribute to clogged pores.
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Exercise: Regular exercise helps reduce stress levels and helps maintain more even blood sugar levels, preventing insulin spikes.
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Wear proper gym clothes: Wear light, breathable clothing to the gym and be sure to wear freshly washed clothes for each workout. Tight clothing can seal sweat and bacteria against your skin, especially if you’re wearing yesterday’s clothes. Tight clothing rubbing against your skin with friction can trigger acne mechanica.
Acne lifestyle advice can feel easier said than done. But having the discipline to stick to these lifestyle choices will feel worth it for your skin (and your whole body) in the long run. Remember, don’t feel disheartened if you forget something from time to time. Just get right back on track. Plus, preparation is a great predictor of success, so think of ways that you can set things up in advance such as pre-scheduling your skincare product deliveries, ordering fresh fruits and veggies, snagging some extra sets of workout clothes, and finding a buddy to call when you’re stressed. These things can make sticking to an acne-clearing lifestyle easy and fun!
The bottom line
Your skincare routine is only one of four pillars for clearing acne. It’s an important one to focus on, but using this wholistic approach to clearing acne can help you stay motivated and get closer to maintaining clear skin – and a clear mind – with everything you do.
