It seems like at least twice a year there is a perfect storm of stuff - hormones, weather, stress, diet - that cause me to have an awful break out. For about two weeks every few months I have a spot on my face that is just covered in little (and sometimes not so little) red bumps. It’s horrible. Now I do realize that I am luckier than a lot of people. I don’t break out all the time. But still I’m 23 years old. You would think that it would stop by now.
Acne is a problem that most of us college students deal with at some time. Acne occurs whe
n oil and dead skin cells clog up pores. This blockage can be present on the skin as blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, or cysts. There are a lot thoughts on what causes acne, like eating too much chocolate, but stories like that are myths.
Acne can be caused by a variety of things. Not washing your face enough can cause dead skin to clog pores. However, washing your face too much will strip the natural oils on your face causing your skin to over produce and making your acne worse. Also, unfortunately for girls, if you have acne, oil-based make-up can cause your acne to get worse. And girls are more likely to suffer from hormonal acne. Add in the stress of school and you have a recipe for a horrible breakout.
So what are we college students to do?!
Well there are several ways to treat mild to moderate acne without going to the doctor. Most dermatologists recommend that people with acne wash their face twice daily, and not just with soap and water. The skin care treatment is a three part medicated system that exfoliates, tones and moisturizes. And this treatment system works at all ages. My grandma has been doing this since she was a teenager and she doesn’t look a day over 65 even though she’s 85.
This is a start, but there are other ways to help prevent acne. For girls, use a water-based foundation, as this will be less likely to clog your pores compared to a oil-based foundation. This is other thing to remember; if you start a new treatment, stick with it! These treatments do not magically cure your breakouts overnight. It takes a few months to see full results.
Your Ticket to Campus Rec - Erin
