As massage therapists we run across acne all of the time. We don’t do anything about it because it is not in our scope of practice, but I think it is something we should be more aware of as professionals. The skin is something we deal with more than nearly all other professions, shouldn’t we have a greater understanding of its pathologies? This article talks about acne, where it can be found, what we can do to have healthier skin, so kick back and maybe you will learn something that makes you feel like a kid again.
Where can acne be found?
Acne can pretty much dig in anywhere we have skin and pores. Typically it is found in places like our face, neck, back and lower body. For a lot of us we become acneic during puberty, when pregnant, if we are working in greasy or dirty places, or maybe we are simply genetically predisposed to it. Some of us suddenly have it when we start using new skin or haircare products. This typically occurs when if we are applying pore-clogging (comedogenic) agents without knowing it.
Healthier Skin
What are some of the ways we can avoid acne breakouts?
- Wear natural fibers: Sometimes what we wear ends up wearing us. Scratchy, itchy and tight fabrics have the tendency to irritate our skin and trap sweat, dead skin cells, excess oil and bacteria on our body, and all of these things lead to acne. We can avoid this by wearing breathable fabrics like cotton or those fancy fabrics designed to wick moisture away.
- Shower after perspiring: A great workout can feel wonderful, but it often brings with it a little friend we call sweat. Sweat can encourage a swampy body environment that serves as a delightful spawning ground for acne. This can be avoided if we take a shower immediately after our exercise routine. If we are unable to take a shower immediately after exercising consider using a wipe, or a product that contains Salicylic Acid to help clean and clear our skin of excess oils.
- Exfoliate: Not only does it feel great to feel a scrub against our skin, but it also helps to gentle remove skin cells. It might be wise to exfoliate with a gentle body scrub at least once a week. Acne-prone skin can shed more skin cells, which may lead to more clogged pores and widespread acne if untreated. However, avoid scrubs that use pits or shells because they may create tiny little abrasions in the skin when used.
- Moisturize: Our skin naturally moisturizes itself throughout the day, its like it is a magical machine or something. However sometimes our moisturizing factories produce too little and some times too much and this leads to unbalanced moisture levels. When this happens our skin might overproduce oil (sebum) to compensate, which leads to acne, something we are trying to avoid. To help maintain harmonious moisture levels use a daily moisturizer, but make sure you are using the right tools. It needs to be a non-comedogenic product.
- Clean your cell phone daily: Think about it, how many gross things do you touch throughout the day? Your hands are probably covered with all sorts of little germies! Even if we do wash our hands a million times, we can’t avoid picking up a few hitch hikers. Those little jerks get on your phone and cover it with all sorts of dirt. Do you want all of that on your face? Consider keeping a pack of anti-bacterial wipes in your purse, or pocket to keep those little critters away.
- Wash your pillowcase: A clean, crisp pillowcase feels wonderful against your face. Maximize the benefits of your wellness regime by cleaning it regularly. Think about all the oil, skin cells, bacteria and pore-clogging residue it collects as your rest. Avoid building a fort of gross stuff on your face by sleeping on a delightfully clean pillowcase.
- Search for ways to minimize Chronic Stress: Surely this is easier said than done, but acne is a common sign for those suffering with chronically stressful lifestyles. Stress can increase the synthesis of stress-related hormones that prompt sebaceous glands to produce excess oil. To reduce the effects of stress on our skin we can incorporate a weekly mask and exfoliation into our wellness routine. Fascinatingly massage has also shown to reduce stress, anxiety and physical discomfort, so a regular massage may help with chronic stress and acne.
- Hormonal Fluctuations may cause acne: This is way out of our scope of practice, we may massage the body and cause all sorts of unknown effects, but if the client is suffering from a hormonal issue they may want to schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist or their primary care physician.
- Polluted environment: Pollution plays a heavy hand in our health and wellness. People who work in hot humid environments are prone to exacerbated acne symptoms. Greasy kitchens, factories and other oily and grime filled places can be exceptionally hard on our skin. Using a good cleanser and having an effective skincare plan is a great way to fight the harm caused by unavoidable polluted environments.
- The Sun: UV rays can have a troubling effect on the healthy and vitality of our skin. Fight back against harmful rays with SPF moisturizer. Consider including an SPF enhancement to your practice to help our client’s protect themselves from the radiant rays of the sun.
- Lifestyle Habits: Our lifestyle has a profound effect on the health of our skin. Avoid smoking, under cleansing and wearing tight, itchy apparel. Some make-up, hair styling products and skincare lines contain pore-clogging ingredients that may result in breakouts. Squeezing and picking at acne may also hurt our skin. Every time you pop a zit with your fingers you risk spreading bacteria to other areas of your face or damaging your sin. This could lead to further breakouts, inflammation or possibly even scaring.
- Sugar Consumption: Sugary and even refined foods can contribute to breakouts. Trying to eat whole grains, vegetables and antioxidant-rich foods to help promote clear, healthy skin. Consider using Salicylic Acid and a clay-based product to minimize the production of excess oil.
