From The Straits Times    |

Image: Showbit.com

With the haze going on, those of us more prone to breakouts are probably having an even harder time keeping pimples at bay. There isn’t much we can do about the haze apart from using protective skincare, but there are a few other things we can be doing to manage our breakouts.

#1 See a dermatologist
The best way to figure out the best type of skincare to clear up your acne problem isn’t by trial and error. That might only exacerbate the issue. Take a trip to any dermatologist and let a professional help you out. They also have access to products with specific active ingredients meant to treat acne that other off-the-shelf products might not have.

#2 Avoid refined foods with a high glycemic index
We know these foods aren’t great for our diet, but they’re often conveniently available and happen to be programmed to make us crave them the more we eat them. Foods that are bad for our insides are naturally going to be bad for our outsides as well. Avoid sugary drinks and white bread as well as “instant” foods like potato chips. These cause your blood sugar levels to spike, which is likely to cause you to break out more.

#3 Be mindful of dairy products
According to a study published by the British Medical Journal last year, milk isn’t all that great for humans. Some of us react worse than others due to lactose intolerance (a nutrition source published by Harvard’s School of Public Health suggests that 90 per cent of Asians are lactose intolerant). Milk also contains hormones that affect our own hormone levels. Fluctuating hormones leads to increased sebum production, which we’d all like to avoid.

It’s not a sure-fix, but if you’re willing to try giving up dairy for a while in pursuit of clearer skin, I say it’s worth a shot. Just remember to get your body’s daily calcium requirements from other sources!

#4 Don’t pick at your pimples
Scarring, people! I am completely certain you’ve all heard this one before, and there is a very good reason this tip has been reiterated to us for years. I know how hard it is to resist sometimes, but trust me (and the rest of us who never heeded this advice), the best way to get past the acne stage of life and emerge with flawless skin is to never pick at your pimples! Press a cold towel to your face to reduce the inflammation of your blemishes before applying a thin layer of a topical benzoyl peroxide treatment like Oxy-5 or 10.

Already nailed these tips? It could be your workplace that’s breaking you out. Read about three bad office habits that are giving you adult acne.

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