Kill College Acne: 5 Tips Your Mother Never Told You

Why is it that no matter what we do, acne just won’t seem to give up the ghost and go away? This is completely unfair. Parents and doctors promised once adolescence was over the zits would just disappear and life would be blissful again. Want to go back to those days when thinking about your face was the last thing on your mind? Then read on.

College Acne and Dorm Room Bedding

Not to be blunt, but many college beds are disgusting. When was the last time you washed the sheets? You can shower until you are blue but unless you wash your sheets and your pillowcases at least once a week every night you are putting your face into a germ-laden garden of pimple producing poop.

To make matters more complicated allergies to laundry detergents are common and most dorms use a water saving filter on the water supply line. The solution is to wash more often, use less soap and add plain white vinegar into the rinse cycle. This will help to reduce residue on your sheets and make you less prone to breakouts. An added bonus is that laundry is something most girls do at the same time every week. Starting up conversations about detergents is easy and you don’t have to buy her a beer.

Not the laundry type? Another option is to take my Dad’s approach to pressed shirts when he was is the Navy. Buy new. When my mom met my Dad he had two piles in his closet: new shirts still in the wrappers and used shirts sitting in a heap never to be worn again. By his estimation, it paid. Are you this lazy? Then look into buying several sets of college bedding that all match and wash them together once a month. Washing four loads takes the same amount of effort as washing one when you have access to a bank of machines at a dorm or a laundromat.

Drink Water and Tone Down the Work Outs

Many guys who pump iron have terrible acne. According to the Mayo Clinic drinking enough water is important for great skin. The more you work out the more water you need to drink. In addition, strenuous workouts can aggravate inflammation, spread infections and increase oil production in the skin. If your acne is flaring up opt for a yoga class, long hikes or a swim session instead. These won’t aggravate your skin. Moreover, these types of exercise increase flexibility and counter balance lifting by using different muscle groups.

Make Some Changes in Your College Diet

Processed foods, sugar and fried foods all contribute to acne. Add fish and almonds in place of cheese burgers and fries on a regular basis and your face will look better. The famed skin guru Nicholas Perricone has a three-day diet in his book the Clear Skin Prescription (Harper, 2003). Give it a go and see how your skin looks by the end of it.

Beware of Acne Medications

Some acne medications work but many don’t and can leave your face and your body scarred for life. Accutane is still widely prescribed under different names and it has been linked to a huge number of health problems. In addition, retinols and drying acne medications can lead to pigmentation problems and increased scarring. Organic creams, Aloe Vera gel and hypoallergenic moisturizing creams can help acne. Try everything before buying and remember that cost isn’t necessarily a reflection of quality or how your skin will react. Some good products I’ve had personal luck with include: Trader Joes Aloe Vera Gel, Skin Organics Olive Oil Moisture cream, and Nu Skin’s Radiant Day Cream. None of them are greasy and they are all calming. Acne needs to be calmed rather than aggravated to make it go away.

Hands Off: the Strategy to Fight College Acne

Here is a gross test. Rest your hand against your cheek and then plant in onto your computer screen. Now imagine everywhere your hands go they pick up germs and deposit them back again onto your face to produce a dirty oily film where acne just thrives. Squeezing and poking pimples spreads infection, increases inflammation and can cause scarring. Make a conscious effort to keep your hands away from your face and watch your acne clear up.

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