With LDOC and finals just around the corner, there’s a lot of stress on campus—and thus a lot of pimples. As stress is known to be a major cause of breakouts, it can be hard to avoid them when finals kick in. To avoid the zits and get rid of them once they pop up, here are a few tips:
1. When you’re dying for a snack, try some skin-healthy foods: tropical fruits rich in vitamins A, E and C, leafy greens, and foods full of omega-3s like salmon and avocados are especially helpful. To add, foods with probiotics (yogurt and kombucha) help reduce inflammation in the body and prevent acne.
2. Avoid acne-starting foods: sugar increases the likelihood of getting acne, as it incites an inflammatory cycle in the body. Also—as pasta, white rice and white bread trigger a boost of insulin in the body—it’s best to avoid these carby foods to avert acne.
3. Treat soon as possible: as soon as you see a pimple forming, treat it with products like creams with benzoyl peroxide to diminish it before it gets worse
4. Use ice: it’s not just a great method to chill your drinks; it also works as an easy way to reduce swelling. Just wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and hold on the zit for a minute.
5. Reach for honey: if you have honey in your dorm room, this is a quick way to reduce inflammation. Dab some natural honey on the pimple, and remove after half an hour.
6. Try egg whites: another dorm-ready fix, whip up a few egg whites and apply them as a mask for twenty minutes. The amino acids and vitamins in the eggs should help clear the pimples.
7. Hydrate: drink as much water as possible; it detoxifies your body and helps purify your skin.
8. Don’t forget to exercise: while exercising will also help reduce your overall stress levels, the stress production will also help clean out dead skin cells. Just make sure to wash your face once you’re done!
9. Never aggravate: it’s hard not to, but avoid touching your face as much as possible to prevent the spread of bacteria. Also—while exfoliating a little is good to remove dead skin cells—over-exfoliating can aggravate the affected area.