Persistence is a key ingredient when it comes to manifesting, but it’s not cute when it comes to blemishes you can’t banish.
We all thought that we’d bid farewell to acne in adulthood along with our boy band crushes. Unfortunately, biology didn’t get the memo. There’s nothing more cringeworthy than feeling like your pimples are more prominent than your expertise as you present the killer deck you made in a meeting. Persistent acne can lead to insecurity and take a toll on your rizz and overall mental health.
If you suffer from perpetual pimples, chances are you’ve already tried every Sephora product that promises results. Yet still, it persists.
Not to worry!
We’ve enlisted Dr. Muneeb Shah, a Board-Certified Dermatologist (FAAD) and Board-Certified Micrographic Surgeon, who you may know as the IG-famous @doctorly to share unexpected zit-zapping hacks.
Below, Dr. Shah provides four tips to ghost your pesky pimples faster than a f-boy.
Switch your basic cleanser to a cleanser with acne-fighting ingredients, such as 4% benzoyl peroxide, 2% salicylic acid, and 10% sulfur. Most people are cleansing their skin anyway, so making this switch is simple and proven to be effective.
Try altering your diet and supplement intake. There are a few foods and supplements known to contribute to acne. Reducing sugar intake and removing skim milk from your diet can help. Whey protein and B12 supplements can also contribute, so unless they’re necessary, remove them from the routine as well. Intermittent fasting is one diet that’s been shown to reduce inflammatory skin conditions like acne and psoriasis.
Consider at-home skin care devices or in-office procedures. At-home or in-office blue light masks have been shown to be effective at treating acne by targeting the porphyrins in acne-causing bacteria. There is also a new laser that uses a 1726-nm wavelength to target oil glands and eliminate acne, but it’s only available in doctors’ offices by the brand name Accure or AviClear.
Use a hypochlorous acid spray. This is a disinfectant that’s naturally produced by our immune cells, and it gently and effectively eliminates acne-causing bacteria in a few small studies. My patients who need to wear masks, helmets, or hats as part of their job benefit a lot from this spray. Using the spray on these items can prevent bacteria from getting trapped in your pores.
If all else fails, and you’re at the end of your rope, Dr. Shah recommends seeing a dermatologist. They can provide stronger, more effective treatments ranging from topicals to oral medications like Accutane. “Acne can certainly be frustrating, but I have yet to find a patient that we weren’t able to get entirely or very close to entirely clear in the office,” he assures.
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