One Healthy Best Thing: Acne Avoidance

In the interest of changing things up to keep us all on our toes, I'm introducing a new, once-in-a-while feature.

Photo by Abigail Keenan on UnsplashDon’t get me wrong.

I love what I do for a living.

Writing has always given me a way to express myself, but more than that, it gives me the opportunity to learn new things and in turn, to share what I learn with others.

But sometimes, just like other things in life, the routine gets old. Think about it: If you eat the same thing day in and day out, or take the same route to the bank every time you go. And then, you stop noticing and appreciating what you’re doing. You ignore the smooth texture of the yogurt, or its tangy taste. You pass right by that giant oak tree (I just learned some can live up to 400 years!) that’s survived centuries of environmental abuse, its roots firmly dug into the ground that gives it an anchor, without giving it a second glance.

ThePause will continue bringing you health information focusing on menopause and aging.

But to keep things fresh, I’ve decided to scrap the old format until further notice and instead devote an entire issue to…ta da! “One Healthy Best Thing.”

Let’s do it!

With the approach of warmer weather in the Northern Hemisphere, more time spent outdoors (I cannot wait! As much as I promise myself ’ll bundle up and walk outside in the winter, I tend to hibernate), we need to really pay attention to our hair and especially our skin.

We’re not teenagers anymore; thank goodness for leaving some of that sh*t behind, right? But acne can still haunt us. Every so often a big zit pops up and brings back teenage angst-like memories of absolute dread. (Ugh, why did I torture myself so much over a damn pimple? It’s small stuff - but who knew that then? If we only had our current wisdom when we were younger…if only.)

And now…Acne and wrinkles??? Damn. Talk about another variation of the sandwich generation

The mixture of sweat 😓 and bacteria with the oil on your skin (yes, there’s some oil left) can clog your pores. Not to mention if you’re still wearing a mask in the warmer weather, all bets are off that your skin won’t react with an angry pimple…or two.

Granted, there are other things that can cause acne, and none of them have to do with warm weather:

• Stress.

• Some medications, including lithium, anti-seizure drugs and corticosteroids.

• Switching or stopping birth control pills.

And back to the menopause theme, hormonal acne is a thing (especially around you cheeks and jawline)…even if you escaped it during puberty. That’s because as estrogen levels decline, male hormones we all have - like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone- increase. Because we have fewer female hormones to keep those male hormones in check, our face’s oil production ramps up (and that oil is often thicker than before, leading to clogged pores and acne).

So, if you think you’ve said adieu to acne and find yourself battling blemishes, be kind to your face (and ego), especially in warm weather, with one healthy thing:

Blot - don’t wipe - sweat from your skin. Wiping can irritate your skin and cause breakouts.

For A Pause…

1. Pimple popping can backfire, and here’s why.

2. Our skin is not as tough as it was when we were younger. So it goes to reason that products should not be as tough, either. Look for gentle, alcohol-free products, and avoid those that can irritate and dry your skin, like astringents, toners and exfoliants.

3. Looking for dermatologist-recommended products? Here’s a handy guide.

4. Ever hear of a “blind pimple?” Me neither. But they exist - under the skin.

And these are the very best things to treat them: Pimple stickers!

One More Thing:

Gross stuff. I never watch it. But apparently millions do. Yes, Dr. Pimple Popper. 😵‍💫

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