How to Get Clear Skin by 2018

If hormonal acne has you a little down, things may be looking up. It turns out 50 percent of women under 30 have hormonal acne and abou...

If hormonal acne has you a little down, things may be looking up. It turns out 50 percent of women under 30 have hormonal acne and about of quarter of women ages 40-50.  What’s hormonal acne? It’s a little different than your teenage zit terrors; instead of attacking your T-zone, hormonal acne in adults often appears on the bottom of your cheeks, jawline and chin. It’s influenced by many of your body’s normal processes, but there are some things you can do to banish these pesky blemishes.

New year, new you, right? If you’re hoping to kick crappy skin to the curb in 2018, look no further. Getting clear skin quick can be easier than you think.

1.) Find the Perfect Face Wash

It’s essential to keep your face fresh and clean. While washing off with soap and water will do the trick, sometimes it’s no match for your hardy hormones. To combat these pesky pimples, look for a cleanser with one of these key ingredients: benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and/or topical retinoids. To give your face wash a fighting chance, be sure to lather up and really massage it in. For how long? Try soaping up for a full song before rinsing it off. You can even try to tune up your singing skills while you’re at it.

2.) Look for a Leave-On Option

For a little added oomph, opt for a leave on treatment in addition to a quick cleanser. These concentrated versions are packed with active ingredients and gives them a little more time to destroy that pesky pimple. Be sure to balance these blemish busters with a good moisturizer – they can dry your skin out!

3.) Tube over Tub

Speaking of moisturizer, look for your favorite lotion that comes in a tube or pump over a tub. Before you start accusing us about being petty over packaging, think about this: dipping your fingers in a tub of lotion night after night can leave dirt and oil behind. Gross! Just to be safe wash your hands, before you tackle your face.

4.) Watch what You Eat

Clean eating can help clear up your skin. No, that doesn’t mean you can never eat pizza again, it just means you need to make sure your diet is balanced. This involves keeping tabs of the refined sugars found in things like fruit juice and sweets, in addition to making sure you eat enough fruits and veggies. Also be sure to drink water! Eight glasses, or about two liters per day will keep you hydrated and healthy.

5.) Get Back to Your Work Out Routine

Get a kick start on your New Year’s resolution and hit the gym! Stress is a major contributor when it comes to hormonal acne. While that tight deadline or relationship drama might be unavoidable, getting that heart rate up helps boost your endorphins – A.K.A stress’s natural-born enemy. Now’s the perfect time to get back into the old routine or to start a new one; it’ll give those stress-fighting endorphins a little extra energy. Whether it’s pilates, yoga, crossfit or spin, your skin will thank you later.

6.) If all else Fails, Turn to Your Derm

Know that hormonal acne can be a little hard to shake. Things like stress and your menstrual cycle can cause your skin to flare up. If hormonal acne seems to be no match for your average over-the-counter skin care products, don’t be afraid to see a dermatologist. Oftentimes these blemishes are tougher to banish than other pimples. Remember, hormonal acne is extremely common! Dermatologists have an arsenal of prescription-strength tools to keep this kind of acne at bay. Strategies as simple as switching your oral contraceptive can help clear things up. In addition, they’ll have medicinal retinoids or antiandrogen drugs to recommend for clearing those pimples.

Growing up can be rough, but adult acne still causes bumps in the road. Following these simple steps for clear skin can help you focus on other more important things in life.