If you’re one of the lucky ones who didn’t have to deal with acne during your teenage years, I have one question to ask you—how does it feel to be god’s favourites? As a teenager, I had to deal with cystic and hormonal acne and I have to say it was one of the toughest challenges I had to face. Plus being at an impressionable age didn’t help. I was overwhelmed and clueless when it came to taking proper care of my skin. Hence, I made countless mistakes when it came to skincare. However, the only positive thing about this experience is what I got to learn from it. So if you’re in you’re teenage years (or you just want to know about skincare mishaps) here are some mistakes you should avoid at all costs:
1. Taking Unsolicited Advice:
“Put haldi on your face, your pimples will disappear”, “Jog for 1 hour every day”, “Make a blood sacrifice to the gods” are just a few pieces of unsolicited advice I’ve heard (okay maybe not the last one LOL). As a teenager with acne, everyone I met had something to say about my skin. It can be very easy to feel bad about your skin take this questionable advice. So, unfortunately, that’s what I did and this was my first skincare mistake. I should’ve known that DIY home remedies and praying are not going to help me clear my skin.
What I learnt from this mistake: People love talking and offering you unsolicited advice which is usually BS most of the times. So keep your head high and just remember that some things are just meant for professionals to deal with.
2. Postponing Visits To The Dermatologist:
Trust me when I say this, the only reason my acne cleared up is because of visiting my dermatologist. Once the professionals to stepped in, my skin cleared up. I found a doctor that I could trust and he prescribed me medication for a few months. This is the only method that worked! Within four months of taking this medication, my acne cleared up.
What I learnt from this mistake: So I would advise you to not make the same skincare mistake as I did and visit a dermatologist ASAP.
3. Not Changing Pillowcases:
The smallest factors can make the biggest difference in the health of your skin. I didn’t think that not changing pillowcases would make that much of a difference but it does. Bacteria can build up on your pillowcase and hence it can affect your skin. So do yourself and your skin a favour and change those pillowcases.
What I learnt from this mistake: I could see a significant difference in my skin when I changed my pillowcases regularly. I would advise you to change them every 1-2 days.
4. Skipping Moisturiser:
Since I have oily skin I was always under the impression that I didn’t need to use moisturiser. I used to think that using a moisturiser would cause more breakouts. However, in actuality, moisturisers actually help you hydrate your skin and prevents it from getting oilier.
What I learnt from this mistake: Using a lightweight gel-based moisturiser will work wonders for your skin. Using a good moisturiser will prevent your skin from getting oiler, hence, eventually preventing breakouts.
5. Popping Pimples:
This skincare mistake should not come as a surprise to anyone since everyone knows that popping pimples is bad. It can easily cause infections and make your acne worse. So keep your hands away from your face and just let the acne subside on its own.
What I learnt from this mistake: Popping pimples is the worst thing you can do for your skin. However, if you must pop pimples then use two clean Q-tips to do so.
6. Using Makeup Removing Wipes:
If you didn’t know this before then you’ll thank me for telling you this. Makeup wipes are full of preservatives and nasty chemicals that can cause your skin to breakout. What makes them an even more unattractive option is that they’re not environmentally friendly.
What I learnt from this mistake: It’s best to stick to double cleansing when it comes to removing your makeup. This will make sure that your skin thoroughly cleansed without triggering it.
7. Neglecting A Healthy Diet:
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that copious amounts of dairy, junk food and candy can take a toll on your skin, amirite? Following a healthy diet can not only improve your mental and physical health but it can also clear your skin.
What I learnt from this mistake: Cutting back on dairy products really helped me out! So if you’re fed up of your acne, try cutting out dairy and see the difference for yourself.
What are some skincare mistakes you made when you were a teenager? Let us know in the comments below.
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