How much do guys care about acne? The answer is a lot, and it starts at an early age. Acne usually rears its ugly head during puberty. For most girls and guys, this is between 10 and 13 years old.
From that first unsightly pimple, acne can be a curse throughout the teenage years and into adulthood. A pimple can be a major social disaster that can cause stress, anxiety, and even panic for youngsters. It might force them to change their plans and spend hours in front of the mirror. You will know the story well if you can remember back to your teens or perhaps have one living under your roof.
Persistent acne can have long-term effects on young men. Emotionally it can put a dent in their confidence and self-esteem. Physically it can look bad during an outbreak and leave scars if not treated properly. It can also be sore and itchy.
People with oily skin as especially prone to acne, which is why teens can't escape it. It seems to hit boys worse than girls. Acne can last until the early 20s when it becomes less severe for many males. But, it doesn't go away. Acne can occur in your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. Nobody is immune to acne.
No matter your age, there are many ways to prevent and treat acne. Now we know the answer to the question, do guys care about acne, let's look at some of the best ways to handle it.
Skincare Routine
Nothing beats an excellent skincare routine when acne plays havoc on your life. Here is our recommended beauty routine for men who want glowing, healthy skin.
Cleanser
We recommend cleansing your face twice a day, morning and evening. It is essential to remove impurities like toxins, oils, bacteria, and dirt before applying the other products that should be absorbed into your skin for the best results. If your skin is blocked with impurities, your other products won't be as effective.
Look for cruelty free salicylic acid cleansers designed for your skin type in cream, foam, gel or liquid form.
Toner
Toner removes impurities that might be left after cleansing and balances your skin's pH level to improve its tone. Toner also helps fight acne, so it is an important step if you are prone to acne or have it already.
Serum
Serums are powerful potions filled with vitamins and essential oils with beneficial healing properties. There are serums for every skin type, including oily, dry, normal, combination and sensitive. You only need a few drops of serum each day and will notice a difference in your skin. While you won't usually get acne in the areas under your eyes where the serum is applied, it is good to follow a complete skincare routine.
Eye Cream
Eye creams moisturize the fragile skin around your eyes and help reduce puffiness, dark circles and redness that you often when you look at the man in the mirror every morning.
Moisturizer
Finally, you should moisturize your skin. For morning use a light moisturizer with sunblock to protect your face from the sun's rays. A night cream before bed will hydrate your skin while you sleep.
Healthy Eating
Fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and plenty of whole grains and legumes are great for your skin and overall health. Avoid processed foods and drinks like coffee and soft drinks that can trigger an acne flare up. Swapping the burgers and fries for brown rice salads full of nuts, seeds and vegetables might not be easy at first, but your skin will thank you for it.
Staying Hydrated
Like a balanced diet, drinking plenty of H2O can help improve your acne issues and general health. Water can flush out toxins from the body, meaning those pores won't get clogged so easily. It also means your skin will be hydrated, which helps because dry skin can signal your body to produce more oil, leading to acne. Also, it can strengthen your immune function that can protect against some bacteria that encourages acne. Water is great for your skin and body on so many levels. It is an easy way to improve your skin condition and prevent and fight acne.
Reduce Stress
Stress doesn't cause acne. But if you already have acne, it can make it worse. Reducing stress in your life isn't easy, but identifying causes of stress and lowering your exposure to them or eliminating them can help your acne problems. Increasing sleep, exercise and meditation are great ways to reduce stress and come with many other excellent health benefits. It doesn't cost anything to incorporate those practices into your day apart from an investment in time.
What Causes Acne?
Not looking after your skin can lead to embarrassing acne issues. But what if you take great care of your skin and you still have acne?
Sometimes acne can be genetic. Find out if there is a family history of acne. In this case, there isn't much you can do apart from continuing your skincare routine and other recommended lifestyle changes such as healthy eating.
Medication can cause acne or be a side effect of taking certain medication. If you think this might be the case, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about trying a different medication that might lessen your acne outbreaks. Also, be aware of this before starting any new medication.
Certain products can also trigger acne outbreaks. This can range from your hair products, soap, essential oils, skin care products and even the laundry detergent or cleaning products you use. Since there are so many possibilities, elimination is the best way to go. Start by removing one of the items at a time and see if there is a difference in your skin condition. Give yourself several days or up to a week to see if there is a change. If not, move to the next one. This is the same method used to diagnose allergies. It is time-consuming but effective.
If you have tried everything and acne is still bothering you, a visit to a professional dermatologist can be a great idea. They are experts at diagnosing skin issues that might have gone undiagnosed so far.
