There are few things that are as annoying as breakouts, especially because they always happen at the most inconvenient times, like the day before a big event.
Another problem that comes up when dealing with breakouts is dry skin, which can make skin care even more difficult.
When you are in the middle of a breakout, you have to pay special attention to your skin, as certain products might make things worse instead of calming them down.
As most acne treatments are aimed at drying the pimples, when you also have dry skin, it's very important to hydrate your face without aggravating the breakout.
It sounds complicated, but after you master the process of caring for your dry skin during a breakout, your life will become easier.
Plus, you'll also have the power to fight future breakouts.
1. Alkalize your diet and eat more vegetables.
Your diet has a lot to do with your breakouts, as skin is the largest organ we have, and it reflects each and every move we make.
To fight breakouts from the inside, aim to eat more fibers and probiotics, which are going to help your body eliminate toxins through the digestive system and not the skin.
Fermented foods, like kimchi, provide a vitamin boost and balance the probiotics. Dark green vegetables help increase the alkalinity in your body, which also fights the breakouts.
2. Drink, exercise and sleep.
Stress shows on your skin, so keeping a regular sleep and exercise regime is important. You also need to drink more water to make sure your body is hydrated.
Lack of sleep can promote skin problems, as stress hormones will build up, promote inflammation and even cause wrinkles.
Overall, drinking more water will keep your skin hydrated and can prevent signs aging.
3. Use softer products.
Most anti-acne products are too hard to use during a breakout. Look for softer products with lower percentages of the active ingredients.
Also, limit the action time, leaving the products on your face for only a couple of seconds.
This means switching from leave-on lotions with a 5 to 7 percent concentration of the active ingredient to a face wash with around a 2 to 4 percent concentration.
4. Exfoliate with care.
When you have dry skin and you are experiencing a breakout, you should skip exfoliation. If you can't, limit it as much as possible because it's easy to over-exfoliate your irritated skin.
It's best to use gentle cleansers and limit the application to twice a day or once a day. After the cleaning, always apply a lotion or a moisturizer.
5. Embrace face steaming.
You don't need to go to the salon for face steaming; you can do it at home.
Steaming is a great treatment for dry and irritated skin. Steaming softens the outer layer of your skin, which frees all the bacteria, dead cells and dirt trapped in your now open pores.
Use a tea bag or fresh herbs, toss them in a hot water bowl and then place your face close to the bowl, holding a towel over your head.
You only need couple of minutes of steaming. After it, you can tap your face with a dry towel and apply a moisturizing balm.
A breakout can't be cured overnight, so you will have to follow the new skin care regime for several days or until the breakout is completely over.
During this time, it helps to change your towels and pillowcases more often and wash them at high temperatures to make sure they don't become a source of bacteria.
Just follow these steps, and you'll be on your way to clearer skin.
