It was midnight. A 22-year-old boy was sitting on a sofa watching a horror film, all alone in his drawing room. He had a bowl of popcorn in his hands, eyes glued to the TV screen. The tension was building up, and then he heard a scream, ‘Ahhh…’
Scared, he dropped the popcorn bowl on the floor. He realised the scream didn’t come from the TV and got even more frightened. He couldn’t help but think, “Could it be a ghost in the bedroom?” Finally, he mustered up the courage & went to the bedroom where he found…his sister standing in front of the mirror. Turned out it was his sister who screamed after finding two new pimples on her forehead.
To an extent, pimples are no less than a horror movie for many people. Having a new pimple pop up on your skin every other day can be frustrating. It makes having clear & smooth skin nothing more than a distant dream.
Pimples or Papules are a type of acne, and so are blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, nodules, etc. Experts suggest “Acne is one of the most common skin disorders worldwide and occurs primarily at puberty with a prevalence of almost 95%”. However, the prevalence of acne among adults is constantly increasing. While people with any skin type can have acne, those with oily skin are the most prone to having acne.
If you have pimples, following a skin care routine for acne-prone skin can be the key to keeping your skin healthy, clear & bright (and that’s the goal, right)! In this blog, you will learn what causes pimples and how to treat them with the best anti-pimple products. So, get ready to win the war against those stubborn pimples, you all!
Common Causes of Pimples
Remember reading about the various glands in your body as a kid in your science school books? Well, like many other (often difficult to pronounce) glands, your body has sebaceous glands that are connected to hair follicles on the skin. These glands produce sebum, a natural oil that is essential to keeping your skin moisturised, healthy, and protected. But can life ever be so simple and uncomplicated? Nah!
Sometimes, the sebaceous glands go into overdrive, resulting in excess oil production. When this oil gets blocked by dead skin cells, it clogs the pores and results in pimples and other types of acne.
But why do the sebaceous glands go into overdrive? Let’s find out!
- Hormonal Fluctuations: Hormonal imbalance can result in the overproduction of sebum, eventually leading to pimples. It can happen in teens during puberty and in adults as well. Pregnancy and menstrual cycle are a few factors that can trigger the overproduction of sebum in women.
- Stress & Anxiety: Well, don’t think we’ve met anyone who isn’t stressed lately! When you’re stressed, your body releases more cortisol that stimulates sebum protection, resulting in pimple breakouts.
- Weather Conditions: Have you ever felt your skin appears oilier and greasier in summer? It actually does. The hot & humid summer weather can increase sebum production and make your skin more prone to breakouts.
- Wrong Skin Care Habits: While most of the causes of pimples are beyond your control, this one isn’t. You must be careful about how you handle your skin. Scrubbing your skin too hard while cleansing or exfoliating to remove excess oil can actually strip your skin of its moisture. To compensate for this loss, the sebaceous glands in your body produce even more sebum, leading to acne.
So, now that you know the causes of pimple breakouts, what will you do next? Rant about how unfair all this is or how frustrating pimples are? No, right? We know you’re smart and intelligent, and you will focus on the solution. Then, you should start with an anti-pimple skin care routine.
Why Should You Follow an Anti-Pimple Skin Care Routine Daily
Have you heard about the new pop-it toys that are available in the market these days? These toys come in various shapes and have become quite popular among people of all ages. So, when you pop the bubbles on the toy, they stay popped for a few seconds but then pop back up and become ‘unpopped’ again. So, after you act (by popping), the bubbles react (by regaining their original shape and getting unpopped).
Now, imagine what happens when you pop your pimples! After you act, they react, not by returning to their original form but slightly differently. Popping pimples can push the acne-causing bacteria deeper into your skin, resulting in redness and swelling. It can also lead to permanent scars. Sounds bad? It is.
So, as much as we understand your temptation to pop pimples to get rid of them as soon as possible, we recommend you resist this temptation. Popping pimples will not do your skin any good, but following an anti-pimple skin care routine will.
And as explained in the previous section, acne is caused by clogged pores. So, by simple logic, you must choose non-comedogenic anti-pimple products that do not clog your pores for your skin care routine.
Here’s a 5-step simple anti-pimple skin care routine:
- Cleansing: Yep, no surprises here! As for any other skin type, washing your face and keeping it clean is also an essential skin care step for acne-prone skin. Cleansing helps purify pores and remove impurities. Look for ingredients that have anti-bacterial properties and help kill acne-causing bacteria.
You can look for a regular gel-based or a foaming anti-pimple face wash. Foaming face washes, particularly, work great for acne-prone skin as they can help remove excess oil from the skin more efficiently. And we’re thankful for Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic Neem & Tea Tree Foaming Face Wash. The blend of Neem oil, Tea Tree essential oil, and Niacinamide is a powerful trio with incredible benefits for acne-prone skin that you will hardly find anywhere else. This anti-pimple face wash helps remove acne-causing bacteria from the skin while keeping it soft and smooth. The best part is that all Aroma Magic products are non-comedogenic.
- Toning: Do you usually press the skip button on toning? Well, don’t anymore. Toning can be super beneficial for acne-prone skin. Toners can unclog and tighten your pores, decreasing the risk of breakouts. However, make sure you use alcohol-free toners. Alcohol-infused skin care products can make your acne worse by irritating and overly drying out your skin.
- Spot treatment: When it comes to skin care for pimples, spot treatments are the best anti-pimple products.
Many anti-pimple creams or gels are available in the market these days that can speed up the acne-healing process. However, we suggest you choose gels over creams. The reason we don’t recommend using anti-pimple creams for oily skin is that they can feel greasy, whereas gels are lightweight. Either use an anti-pimple gel or look for a non-greasy cream formula.
Our personal favourite is Aroma Magic Neem & Tea Tree Anti Pimple Gel. It is the best spot treatment for pimples. It is a powerhouse of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and helps dry out acne faster than regular skin care products. This aromatherapy-based anti-pimple gel helps control pimples, unclogs pores, and reduces redness. And yes, this gel is 100% natural, like all Aroma Magic products. So it won’t irritate your skin and aggravate acne.
- Moisturising: The best skin care mantra ever, ‘moisturise your skin every single day irrespective of your skin type’. Dr. Rachel Nazarian, a New York-based dermatologist, believes that not moisturising acne-prone skin can leave the skin dry & irritated and worsen acne
Many people feel that moisturising can make their skin greasier and result in more pimples. Well, not entirely wrong. It can, but only if you choose a moisturiser unsuitable for your skin type. If you have acne-prone skin, choose a lightweight, gel-based & oil-free moisturiser that keeps your skin hydrated without making it oilier.
- Sun Protection: Lastly, apply a sunscreen gel that offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Unprotected sun exposure can also worsen breakouts by increasing inflammation.
You can skip the last step when following this anti-pimple skin care routine at night. While the above is a daily skin care routine for pimples, you can also use Aroma Magic Neem & Tea Tree Face Pack twice a week. This anti-pimple face pack is enriched with essential oils, Aloe Vera, Niacinamide, and Kaolin Clay. This face pack is one of the best anti-pimple products, and using it regularly can give you the clear & blemish-free skin that you’ve always dreamt of.
So guys, now that you’ve made it till the end of the blog, do you feel more confident about dealing with pimples? We hope you do. Put in a little effort and follow the skin care routine given above consistently, and you will see results you’ll love. Here’s to having clear, bright & pimple-free skin!
References
- Skroza N, Tolino E, Mambrin A, Zuber S, Balduzzi V, Marchesiello A, Bernardini N, Proietti I, Potenza C. Adult Acne Versus Adolescent Acne: A Retrospective Study of 1,167 Patients. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, January 1, 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788264/
- Lapidos, Rachel. “Yes, If You Have Acne You Should Be Using a Moisturizer—Here’s Why”. 11 Jan. 2019, Well and Good, https://www.wellandgood.com/using-moisturizer-on-acne/
