Hit It Before It Begins - Proactive Skin Care

An ounce of prevention is better than a ton of cure, goes the old adage. Ironically, this holds true to skin care as well. Let's define the opposite to know the real meaning of proactive. Being reactive is looking for cure after a problem has arisen. If this is your skin care philosophy, you're in big trouble. Why wait for acne to appear when you can at least prevent them from forming?

Proactive skin care heals blemishes and prevents new ones from developing. The basic cause of acne is a lesion called comedo, a hair follicle that is enlarged and plugged with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. As sebum is continuously produced, bacteria can flourish within the swollen follicle. The lesion becomes full-grown acne when surrounding skin is inflamed as the body's defenses fights against the bacteria. Prior to the formation of acne, it is important to cleanse and treat your skin everyday because acne can act overnight. Begin with warm water and a mild cleanser, then apply a solution with benzoyl peroxide. This substance penetrates pores and goes after dead skin cells and bacteria, clearing hair follicles.

Another proactive skin care tip is to avoid blemishes is to protect yourself from the sun. It's not actually the sun that causes damage but the invisible ultraviolet rays. UV rays can even lead to serious disorders like skin cancer. It's advised to avoid the sun from 10a.m. to 4p.m. UV rays are most intense during these hours. If you do need to go out, use protective clothing or apply sunscreen 20 minutes before the actual sun exposure.

If you want a proactive skin care regimen, avoid smoking. Aside from the ill-effects of smoking in your system, it likewise hastens skin aging leading to wrinkles and skin blemishes. Smoking has been linked to the depletion of certain vitamins like C and A, which are necessary for a healthy skin.

Too much of everything means trouble. Having a proactive skin care regimen does not equal to exaggerated or abrasive measures in cleansing your skin. For your daily proactive skin care regimen, start off with a warm bath and do limit bath time. Spending too much time in the shower removes essential oils from your skin. Also, use only mild soaps and avoid irritating additives (watch out for products with strong perfumes and dyes).

Moreover, never sleep with your makeup on. Aside from the fact that you don't need them, they also cause serious trouble when left overnight. And please, do pat dry to retain moisture on skin. In addition to your proactive skin care, regular moisturizing is a must. Moisturizers seal your skin's moisture. If you have oily skin, moisturizing might be optional.