Beauty is only skin deep

I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase before. But for those of us who have or are suffering with acne, it’s not as simple as focusing on beauty within. Acne can be the bane of people’s lives, and it’s not just pubescent teens that are struggling. Spotty skin can pretty much strike at any time but it tends to flare up due to hormones, stress, environmental factors, and a sluggish immune system. I personally have had a sudden onslaught of spots at different times in my life. Puberty wasn’t as harsh to me than to others, but I did get a nasty phase of zits when I turned 20. Then again during pregnancy. Then again due to stress. Then once more recently due to a cleanser that clearly wasn’t cleaning off my make up properly. It can be horrid and painful, but here’s what you need to know…

Acne is a journey

It can take a little while to work out what’s causing your acne and how to treat it. Acne can come and go, sometimes on its own accord. You just have to get to know your skin and work with it honey!

You can treat acne in lots of different ways

…and the likelihood is, one will suit you and you’ll be rejoicing over clear skin sooner than you think. From natural homeopathic remedies, to full on prescription strength stuff – there ARE options for you.

Not all acne treatment is safe all the time

If you, like me, suffer with pregnancy acne either occasionally or chronically during those magic 9 months then you need to beware of treatments. There are some that you must NEVER use in pregnancy because of their harmful effects to your baby, including topical vitamin A treatments and antibiotics. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before using something, even if you’re not pregnant yet and are just trying to conceive.

You CAN cover acne with makeup – yay!

How would I have got by otherwise? Stick to light layers of concealing product rather than caking it on and use a makeup primer to keep things put. So many brands now are great for their breathable natural formulations that don’t clog pores, try BareMinerals for example. Certain acne treatments will leave you peeling or sensitive, in this case stay off the cosmetics for a while and let your skin repair.

Acne starts with you

There are simple steps I always take when my acne has taken a turn for the worst: Drink lots of water. Eat right. Sleep enough. Change your towels and pillow cases. And for goodness sake, DON’T TOUCH YOUR SKIN UNLESS YOU’VE WASHED YOUR HANDS!

I hope you found my tips useful from one spot-sufferer to another! However, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting professional advice from the experts. The Independent Pharmacy is a one-stop shop for certified medical advice from pharmacists and doctors about a whole range of health and skin conditions. All you have to do is let them know your issues and they can come up with quality tailored advice and the right treatment for you. So simple! Why not start off your zit-free journey by checking out their common questions asked about acne? I bet you’ve wondered the answers to all of these before!

While you’re sorting out your skin with some excellent treatments, here are some products that I have found to be wonderful for spotty situations (they are my high street heroes!)…

1. PIXI GLOW TONIC 5% GLYCOLIC ACID EXFOLIATING TONER £18.00

2. NEUTROGENA VISIBLY CLEAR SPOT STRESS CONTROL DAILY SCRUB £3.69

3. NEUTROGENA VISIBLY CLEAR LIGHT THERAPY TARGETED ACNE SPOT TREATMENT £29.99

4. FIRST AID BEAUTY FACIAL RADIANCE PADS £24.00

Pin me for later!