Dear Dish-It,
I’ve been having trouble with my skin for a couple years now. I keep breaking out especially on my forehead and chin. I hate having zits. Some of my friends have them too but I think mine are a lot worse than anyone else’s at school. I’m always afraid to go out cause I don’t want anyone to say anything about it to me but I still have to go to school everyday and I don’t know what to do. Can you help me get rid of my zits?
Zits Are the Pits
Dear ZAP,
There’s no doubt about it – zits really are the pits. If banishing acne was easy, we’d all have crystal-clear skin. However, you can get the upper hand on pimples, zits and blackheads. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of acne when it happens and how to prevent future breakouts.
Where Acne Comes From
Acne crops up when your skin produces too much oil, also known as sebum. When sebum builds up, it can clog your pores and trap bacteria inside, which can lead to inflammation.
Though it can happen almost anywhere on your skin, acne is most common on the face, back, chest and shoulders. It can appear as red pimples, and also as whiteheads and blackheads. Whiteheads are pores and hair follicles clogged close with dead skin cells, bacteria and other stuff. Blackheads are almost the same thing, except they aren't closed and they have a darker color due to the skin's pigment being exposed to the air.
What Causes Breakouts?
There are a lot of factors that contribute to oily buildup and clogged pores:
Acne Treatment
Run-of-the-mill breakouts usually respond well to over-the-counter products like benzoyl beroxide creams and lotions, which can be found at the pharmacy or drugstore. Some people find astringents helpful for getting rid of excess oil, though they should be used in moderation so the skin doesn't get too dry or irritated.
Washing your face with a mild cleanser twice a day, along with an exfoliating scrub a few days a week, may also help get rid of acne.
What If Over-The-Counter Acne Treatments Don’t Work?
If you have a lot of acne and it’s painful and inflamed, you should go and see your doctor to ask about different types of treatments that may work well for you. Some common kinds of prescription acne treatments are oral antibiotics that you take to kill the bacteria trapped inside your pores, special medication that’s designed to treat severe acne and even certain injections of anti-inflammatory substances.
What Else Can I Do To Prevent and Treat Acne?
Alternative health practitioners often recommend that teens and others who struggle with acne assess whether they're getting enough vitamins and minerals in their diet. Increasing your levels of vitamin A and/or zinc may help zits heal more quickly.
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