Mom Knows Best!

Luisa Yauwer

04 July 2011

"Get That Hair off Your Face."

Hair on your face means oil (from your scalp) on your skin. Add styling products to the mix and get ready to say “hello” to the breakouts. You think your bangs can hide your zits? Think again. They can actually be the cause of those zits! Shampoo them daily or every other day, and stick to oil- and silicone-free styling products. Sometimes just growing out bangs will get rid of bad acne confined on the forehead. But if you like them, use pins or headbands to keep them off.

"Stop Picking on Your Skin."

A full-bloom zit is hard to ignore, but resist temptation and keep your hands off it. Squeezing only moves its contents laterally, increasing its inflammation, redness and swelling. This might turn to scarring. Plus, once you start shoving it off, it’ll take longer to heal. If you have severe acne problem try seeing a specialist or get a facial one a month. Going to a pro is much better than doing it on your own.

"It's Past Your Bedtime."

It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing. Sleep deprivation causes stress, which can aggravate all skin conditions, including acne, eczema and psoriasis. Sleep is also the time when your body repairs the damage of the day, and interrupting that process will slow down cell regeneration. This interferes with healthy blood flow to the skin, making your complexion looks dull.

"Get off the Phone."

Resting your chin or cheek against a phone or cell can lead to breakouts, whether or not the phone is clean and bacteria-free. Even just being on the phone for a long period of time can cause friction, occlusion and heat. This equals to pimples and break outs around your cheek, skin and hairline.

"Always Wash Your Face Before Going to Bed."

Letting your skin marinate in makeup and a day's worth of oil buildup can lead to clogged pores and zits, especially if you're prone to acne. Your body temperature increases slightly when you sleep, which can enhance absorption of whatever's on the skin surface. Instead, try dabbing enriched moisturizers before you hit the sack. This goes for the rest of your body, if you find  you have zits growing on your back, always remember to wash or scrub your back clean before a good night’s sleep.

"Don't Rub Your Eyes."

The skin around your eyes is among the most delicate on your body. The occasional gentle rub is fine. Keep doing it all the time and you may have stretched and supple skin. But rubbing aggressively can irritate that skin and break blood vessels which may leave red marks.  They can be permanent too. Of course, those marks are treatable with lasers but it’s always better to prevent than to cure right?