Prone To Blemishes? Discover How To Prevent Them

What causes skin blemishes, and is it possible to treat them quickly? Find out how to stay on top of clear skin with NIVEA.

HOW TO GET RID OF BLEMISHES

Wondering how to get rid of blemishes? The discolorations on the face or body come in a range of shades, shapes and sizes, and most of the time they’re nothing to worry about. Read on to find out the best methods for keeping frustrating blemishes under control, so you can always feel your best in your skin.

WHAT ARE BLEMISHES?

The term can be attached to pretty much any temporary mark on the skin, caused by acne, blocked pores, stress, cool weather, or sun exposure – sometimes called sun spots. Blemishes can come bundled with sensitive skin, redness and itchiness, or develop into black or whiteheads.

Continue reading to find out more about how to get rid of blemishes, and manage a skincare routine to be proud of. All with a little help from NIVEA products and a healthy lifestyle.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLEMISHES

Acne:

Spots, like blackheads and their cousins, whiteheads, are caused by blocked up pores. You might wonder what the stuff inside actually is, and it’s usually made up of naturally secreted oils, dead skin cells, bacteria, or trapped dirt.

Ingrown hairs:

Hair all over the body can sometimes grow the wrong way, because it’s unable to break through the skin. This is often caused by hair removal techniques like shaving, waxing or plucking.

Cold sores:

A tingly or painful blister on the face. Although cold sores are very common, they’re also very contagious, and can be brought on by illness or stress. If you are suffering with cold sores, be sure to speak to a pharmacist for the best advice and treatment.

Hyperpigmentation:

An area of darker skin, which can be caused by the sun or an area where a dark spot has healed. Freckles are also a kind of hyperpigmentation, and are usually genetic and harmless.

WHAT CAUSES SPOTS AND BLEMISHES?

Natural oils secreted by the skin’s sebaceous glands can cause acne and blemishes on the skin, which is generally the result of hormonal changes experienced during puberty. But blemishes aren’t purely reserved for teenagers and can appear way after this stage of your life. We provided some of the main factors that can cause blemishes:

- A poor diet: A diet of fatty foods, a lot of alcohol, and dairy can lead to acne or blemishes on the skin. The extra fats and oils in food and drink like this can contribute to clogged pores, which can then lead to blemishes and acne.

- Too much sun: Overexposure to the sun and its UV rays (which is actually a type of radiation) can cause lasting harm to your skin, discoloration and photoaging. Whenever you’re planning on spending a long period of time under direct sunlight, make sure to wear sun cream on warm summer days, both at home and abroad

- Clogged pores: The body naturally produces an oil called sebum, designed to retain moisture. However, if there’s too much of sitting on top of the skin, especially on the face, it can lead to clogged pores.

HOW DOES PUBERTY AFFECT BLEMISHES?

When teenagers go through puberty, the body is working overtime to turn them into young adults. But extra height, mood swings, and fresh shoots of underarm hair aren’t the only characteristics they can look forward to, as acne will be on its way, too.

It’s caused by an increase in a natural oil called sebum, which can clog up pores if there’s too much of it. An overproduction of sebum is quite normal, but it can leave the face with a thin oily film. That said, it does have its benefits, helping to retain moisture and protect the skin from UV rays, but most people aren’t avid fans given it can make the face look shiny.

Too much or too little sebum can cause skin irritation, so it calls for a bit of a balancing act. Washing your face more than twice a day can actually cause more problems than it addresses, leaving skin more exposed to dirt and the elements.

If you’re going through puberty right now, or experience an overproduction of sebum, you may feel like applying moisturiser will only make your face look and feel oilier. If so, meet the NIVEA Mattifying Day Cream, made with a mattifying and aloe vera-enriched formula to hydrate your skin while preventing an oily look.

NIVEA Mattifying Day Cream

HOW TO GET RID OF BLEMISHES FAST

Why do blemishes always decide to show up at the most inconvenient times? Just before an interview, a big presentation, or even worse… a date! Thankfully there are a few home remedies and NIVEA products to help you manage those untimely flare-ups, so you can always feel your best.

- If you’re short on time and want to reduce redness or swelling, jump in a hot shower, or if you have access to a steam room, even better. The steam will expand your pores, increase oil production and naturally moisturise your face.

- Get a quick workout in, get your blood pumping, and remember to drink lots of water. Although it may feel counterintuitive for a workout to reduce redness, exercise boosts the immune system and can help cleanse the skin. Just remember to have a good shower afterwards and wash away all your hard-earned sweat.

- Try applying ice if the area’s swollen. The cool temperature will help reduce any inflammation and redness, while drawing the heat away from the affected area.

- If you’ve got a bit more time on your hands, a good night’s sleep can do wonders for the skin, affording your body the opportunity to repair damage. It’s even better if you can sleep on your back, so your skin can breathe all night long.

HOW TO PREVENT BLEMISHES

Keeping pesky blemishes at bay goes further than a healthy skincare routine. What you put into your body plays a big role, too. The likes of chocolate, dairy products, refined carbohydrates (white bread, pizza dough) and alcohol can all contribute to poor skin. Alcohol in particular will dry out your skin if you don’t drink enough water with it. If you want to give your skin a treat with a nutritious meal, look for recipes which include some of the following vitamin-rich ingredients:

- Salmon or mackerel (which includes a good kind of fat, called omega-3)
- Turkey (leaner and sometimes cheaper than chicken)
- Brown rice or quinoa
- Tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Avocados
- Bell peppers (the red ones – the ripest – are said to offer the most nutrition)
- Blueberries
- Nuts and seeds
- Carrots and sweet potatoes

And if you wear a lot of makeup, consider giving yourself a break every now and then, to let your skin get some air. Of course, using the right NIVEA products is key when it comes to managing blemish-prone skin.

For help with preventing blemishes, explore the NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range, made with a combination of niacinamide, salicylic acid and glycolic acid to help revitalise and care for damaged skin - proven to visibly reduce and prevent blemishes. The range contains the NIVEA Derma Skin Skin Chemical Exfoliator, Skin Clear Toner, Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub, and Skin Clear Wash Gel, the perfect combination for treating blemishes.