Acne becomes one of the major problems for individuals in all seasons specially during winter. People with the tendency of acne prone skin gets the same skin conditions in all climatic condition. Normally people with oily skin tone suffer from acne as the oil secretion is wider on them. You may find variety of creams and lotions in the market that deems to provide skin without acne spots and wrinkles.
People experience many problems like dry skin, hair fall in winter due to number of reasons, including cold and windy weather. Dry skin cells clog pores which lead to breakout of acnes and people prone to acne experience more frequent eruption.
Normally clear skin may experience this phenomenon that is referred to as `seasonal acne’. You should adhere to daily skin care routine in winter season to control acne and acne scars. Using oil based non clogging moisturiser, drinking sufficient amount of water daily keeps your skin hydrated from the inside out preventing cellular break down, premature ageing and extreme dryness. Scrubbing off dead cells two or three times a week helps the skin function properly and minimises vulnerability to acnes
Acne is not a skin problem that has just encountered only in the summer season, you may have crossed over the blemishes and acne prone skin even in the winter before years. If you don’t wish to work on the same problem again in the year further some tips are necessary to learn and follow.
Tips to prevent acne in winter
Apple Cider Vinegar
It is generally made by fermenting apples. Like any other vinegar, apple cider vinegar helps fight bacteria and viruses making it ideal to battle against acne.
To fight acne in winter, just add 1 part of apple cider vinegar to 3 parts of water and apply it gently on your face with cotton after cleansing it. Let it sit for a few seconds then wash it off.
Use Aloe Vera
It is a plant which contains clear aloe vera gel. The gel contains salicylic acid and sulphur which are used popularly to treat acne in winter.
Take the gel out of the aloe leaf. Then apply it on your skin directly to moisturise it. Repeat the step everyday for at least 1-2 times. This has proved to be an effective remedy for acne.
Exfoliate Frequently
Exfoliation removes the layer of dead skin cells from your face which in turn removes the skin than clog your skin pores. Clogging of skin pores produces acne.
To prepare a homemade scrub mix equal parts of sugar and coconut oil. Scrub your skin with the mixture then rinse it off to get clear skin.
Apply Witch Hazel
It is extracted from the barks and leaves of North American Tree. It has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
To make this homemade remedy for acne, mix one tablespoon of witch hazel bark with a cup of water and let it soak for 30 minutes. Then boil the mixture for 10 minutes and strain the liquid out. Apply the liquid on your face 1-2 times a day.
Fish Oil Supplement
It is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oils have two types of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These are known to benefit the skin in several ways, acne being one of them. A healthy can consume a minimum of 250 to 500 mg of EPA and DHA everyday to cure acne in winter.
Drink to excess amounts of liquids
One of the main problems for the breakouts in the winter, skin is due to dehydration and lack of proper moisture. By drinking adequate amounts of liquids you can curb the problem. Mineral water is most preferred to incline down the acne problem.
Breathe fresh air
On a thought to lock the chill winds outside the doors, most of the people close their windows and doors, but this process doesn’t allow the fresh air to reach you and the dry air will remain in the room. Breathing the fresh air in the morning will makes the skin fresh and prevents it from acne.
Cleansing is crucial
Cleaning up the face is important in every season. When it comes to winter, the importance will be doubled. The Winter air carries a huge amount of the dust and dirt particles, which leads to the clogging of the pores. When the pores are blocked, it leads to the acne build up. So concentrate on cleansing the face with deep moisturising cleanser, especially when you are ending the day. Some of the beauty experts suggest hydrating cleanser to not just to cleanse the face but to pull the nourishment.
Moisturising is too vital
The cold winds of the winter are the super suckers of the moisture in the skin. This can leads to growing up the cracks and flaky skin texture. Without prioritising the skin kind people need to depend on the moisturising lotions and creams to eradicate the itchiness, rashes and cracks. People with too much sensitive skin are directed to opt the hydrating lotion or gel to ownership the moisture.
Nourishment
If it is your aim to mold the skin glowing and glossy in this winter season, nourishment helps you with no questions. Try applying a fruit face mask to ensure the skin wellness. You can pick the ripe papayas, bananas and strawberries which have the nature of nourishing the skin.
Do not over scrub
We know our winter skin needs exfoliation but it must be in the borders, over scrubbing of the skin makes it dry and dull.
What to avoid
One must need to stop using the lotions and perfumes that are highly loaded with fragrances as they irritate your skin and increases the skin breaks and cracks. Refrain from indulging in the hot water for a long duration, it makes the condition worse and strips out the essential oils & moisture from the skin. You are suggested to avoid the skin care products that are made out of certain kinds of waxes and oils.
Exercise
Don’t be a couch potato in the winter and give up exercising. Exercise will make your body warm and active, it pumps the oxygen that helps in retaining the skin clean and glowing.
Banana and butter mask
Mesh a fresh banana and add some amount of butter to it or skimmed milk cream can be added instead of butter. Mix the ingredients well. Apply the pack on your face. Butter or skimmed milk cream acts as natural moisturiser and banana keeps the skin moist. They both keep away acne.
Honey and rose water
One tablespoon of honey can be mixed with some rose water. Apply this pack on your face and wash it after ten minutes. Honey is the natural moisturiser for the skin and has antibiotic properties and rose water tones the skin. This pack gives relief in winter while hydrating the dry or thirsty skin and keep acne away.
Tomato mask
Take one tomato, 3 to 4 drops of lemon juice and ½ spoon of dried lemon peel powder in a bowl. Mix all the ingredients well and apply on the face with easy strokes. Wait for 10 minutes and rinse it off with lukewarm water. Tomato contains high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants such as lycopene and zea-xanthin best known for their anti-free radical behaviour. These help in clearing skin from acne, free radicals and toxins.
Carrot and honey mask
Take two tablespoon of blended carrot and one tablespoon of honey and mix them well. Apply this on your face evenly and wait for 10 minutes. Wash it after 10 minutes with plain water. This mask lightens dark spots as it is loaded with vitamin C. Deficiency of potassium can cause skin dryness and carrot contains lot of potassium that can keep your skin supple and moisturised.
Honey and curd face pack
Four tablespoon of curd is to be mixed with two tablespoon of honey. Blend them well. Apply this pack on your face and keep for 15 mints. Rinse it with lukewarm water. Zinc present in curd reduces blemishes, acne and prevents pimples and lactic acid soothes and hydrates your skin.
Olive oil and egg face pack
Beat an egg on a bowl mix it with 1 tbsp of honey and 1 tbsp of olive oil. Mingle them well and apply on your face uniformly, leave for around 15 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Olive oil makes best moisturiser especially for winter months and contains four different antioxidants which fight off the free radicals causing skin ageing, spots and damage.
Curd and potato mask
Mash one potato.Mix 1 spoon of smashed potato paste and ½ spoon curd well. Apply the mask on face. Let it remain for around 15 minutes, then after that wash face with cold water. This pack nourishes face and hydrates skin pores. It also removes all the dead skin cells, toxins, dark spots and bacteria from the skin.
Milk face pack
Raw milk is ideal for this pack. If not available, dairy packed milk can be used.1 tbsp of honey, Aloe Vera gel – 1 tsp, essential oil- 2 teaspoon, soaked almond paste- 1 tsp. is to be mixed thoroughly and then you can apply on the face. Let it dry and wash off after 15 minutes. Milk contains 85% water which gives hydrating effect on your skin. The protein, vitamin and mineral content of the milk are great and have anti-aging properties. Lipase, protease and the lactoperoxidase is helpful as these exfoliate and remove dirt that cause acne.
Yogurt and rose face pack
To formulate this face pack, the ingredients required are 2 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon yogurt, 1 small bowl of fresh rose petals, 2 tablespoon of rose water. Make a smooth paste after mixing all these components. Apply it over your face and wash it with lukewarm water after 15 minutes. Rose petals are rich in vitamin C which acts as natural sun block, hydrates skin, removes dark circles and lightens scars and acne mark. It has antibacterial properties and makes your skin soft supple and radiant .Yogurt helps to retain moisture and protect it from dry winter air.
Water as acne preventer
Acne and breakout can also take place due to pollutants and oxidants present within your skin layer. In order to flush out the unwanted oxidants, you must drink many glasses of water in a day. If you don’t have a habit of drinking water, prepare yourself and drink at least 3 litres of water in a day. People have a misconception that they must drink water to get hydrated which is only during summer. But, it is a wrong fact. Even during winter you need hydration and should drink water regularly.
Remove dead skin
If you have acne and breakout on a regular basis, you probably have accumulated good collection of dead skin layer after layer on your skin. It is very essential to remove such dead skin. You can use a mild scrub for your face as hard scrub may harm your pimple prone skin. You need to move your fingertips over your face in a circular direction so that the dead skin cells get removed without harming your skin.
Flaxseed oil
It is another important remedy for curing the pimples and acne breakout. You need to apply flaxseed oil over your skin in order to remove the problems like scaling, skin sensitivity and roughness. Since this natural ingredient has vitamin C, you can easily stay away from the pimples and fine lines on your face. This will also help you lower the risk of thinning, wrinkles and dryness of skin. You will also have least chance of developing wrinkles.
Avocado mask
If you are suffering from acne and pimples on your skin this can be a reason as lack of nourishment. You need to apply avocado mask over the skin layer and keep this for 15 to 20 minutes. Once it is dry, you need to wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this twice in a week and see the difference. The pimple free skin will be really glamorous especially when you have found out a natural remedy to clear or prevent acne break out on your face.
Multani mitti
Another wonderful remedy of acne and pimples is multani mitti or fuller earth. You can get powder form of this natural remedy in the market which you can take a spoon or two and add few spoons of milk which again needs to be mixed. Now apply it and wait till it is dry. Then you can wash it with lukewarm water.
Changing pillow case
Most of us are not aware that pillow case can be a shootout for acne. If you have been using the old pillow case for a long time, it is the time to change the pillow case. When you sleep, your facial skin touches the pillow. The dead skin layer and dandruff present in your face and cheek will stick over your pillow case cover. These dead cells forming over your pillow case is going to be really contagious. Now, even after you have washed your face several times to remove the dead skin and go ahead with the acne treatment, you can get it repeatedly. This is just because your pillow case is infected. It is really important to change the pillow case.
Walnut scrub treatment
Walnut is a type of dry fruit that is really having great value and application. Health wise also it is really advantageous. Another good news is the fact that the walnut can help removing the dead skin layer totally from your face. For this you need to have a walnut fruit. Break and take out the nut. Now take them in a mixer and get smaller granules of it. Now mix it with little honey and olive oil. Apply it over your face and use your fingertips to make circular move. Let it stay for some time and then wash with lukewarm water. You can see the acne getting reduced.
Green tea remedy
People have been consuming green tea for its variety of health benefits. Now, you can easily be aware of its wonderful properties in removing acne from the skin layer. Since it has anti-microbial and antioxidant properties, you can easily wash away the acne that is affected by the microorganisms over the skin layer. You need to make a cup of green tea and let it cool down. Now wash your face with this green tea. If you do this treatment for twice in a day you can see the exclusive treatment of acne over the face. Make a habit of washing face with this and see the benefit.