Is Moderate Acne Bothering You?

When autumn rolls around, so do big events. Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas celebrations, which all come one after the other, creating excitement, but also stress. In one of those classic injustices of life, both stress and the change of seasons can lead to moderate acne outbreaks even in individuals who are not typically prone even to moderate acne. So what can you do about moderate acne before a big event?

Dealing with Moderate Acne Before Big Events: Anticipate

If you know you have a big event coming, start stepping up your acne treatments a month or two in advance. If your acne is infrequent and not severe, you may not take proper care of your skin most of the year. When that big event is coming up, it’s time to change your tactics. Remember that acne does not spring up overnight. It is the result of a slow buildup of sebum, dirt, oil, dead skin cells and acne causing bacteria which clogs pores. Attack that clog before it appears on the surface of the skin and you may not have to worry about it when the time comes to put on your best face for that big event.

Dealing with Moderate Acne Before Big Events: Cover Up

There are definitely products out there that can help you hide moderate acne. If you elect to use one of these products, be sure to use one with gentle, safe ingredients that won’t damage the skin or leave excess products that can lead to more acne. In fact, your best bet is to look for a covering product that contains medication designed to treat acne.

Dealing with Moderate Acne Before Big Events: Benzoyl Peroxide

In most cases, that medication designed to treat acne should contain benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide has been found by researchers to be one of the best weapons you can use against acne, and it can be especially effective in cases of moderate acne. There are a number of benzoyl peroxide medications that you can apply directly to the spot of the acne to achieve some quick relief. Be aware, however, that excessive use of benzoyl peroxide in this manner when not accompanied by other skin care products may result in drying out of the skin.

More on Dealing with Moderate Acne

In addition to the methods mentioned above, regular, thorough washing with soap and water can be very effective in dealing with moderate acne. If your big event is taking place outdoors, you may also wish to treat your acne with products containing a UV sunscreen. What you should be very careful not to do is squeeze or pop pimples. This may still leave an unsightly blemish and can cause a permanent scar or make acne worse. If a pimple looks close to bursting on its own, with a swollen, white tip, you can accelerate the process by adding heat or lancing it with a sterilized needle, and then cleaning and disinfecting the area.