To Get Rid of Zits, How Clean Does Your Skin Have to Be?
It's an often repeated assertion that to get rid of zits, you must scrub your skin, make it sparkling clean.
Unfortunately, the situation is not that simple.
And it's very easy to focus on how clean your skin is (or isn't), while ignoring the vastly more important questions that really will lead you to having gorgeous clear skin.
The thing is, healthy skin is not spotlessly clean.
It has a robust mini world thriving right there, on top of your skin.
A mini world of oils, moisture and friendly bacteria.
This thriving environment on your skin protects your skin by presenting a physical barrier to unfriendly bacteria and fungi.
It also protects your skin by making your skin extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable for those unfriendly bacteria and fungi.
Coincidentally, this same environment that the unfriendlies hate so much, happens to be elixir to your skin.
A bit like a white-sands-stretching-to-infinity-on-private-beach type of gorgeousness for your skin.
It conditions your skin, makes your skin supple and flexible.
It gives your skin that attractive, healthy glow.
To a certain extent, it actually cleans your skin, although not in the squeaky-clean way you're thinking.
So isn't it interesting that we try to put all this goodness back into our skin, after diligently scraping it off with one cleaning regime or the other? Of course the answer is not to remain unwashed.
The question becomes, how clean does your skin have to be? What is 'clean enough'? 'Clean enough' is removing dirt and sweat from the surface of your skin while keeping your skin's natural protection in place.
As much as possible.
So how do you get 'clean enough' to get rid of zits? 1.
Use mild, natural, fragrance-free soaps 2.
When washing, use tiny amounts of soap.
3.
Use lukewarm water.
Not hot, hot, hot.
4.
Make sure you rinse every last traces of soap off your skin.
5.
Slowly introduce soap-free washes using your palms and fingertips or gentle microfibre cloths.
6.
Pat - don't rub - your skin dry
Unfortunately, the situation is not that simple.
And it's very easy to focus on how clean your skin is (or isn't), while ignoring the vastly more important questions that really will lead you to having gorgeous clear skin.
The thing is, healthy skin is not spotlessly clean.
It has a robust mini world thriving right there, on top of your skin.
A mini world of oils, moisture and friendly bacteria.
This thriving environment on your skin protects your skin by presenting a physical barrier to unfriendly bacteria and fungi.
It also protects your skin by making your skin extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable for those unfriendly bacteria and fungi.
Coincidentally, this same environment that the unfriendlies hate so much, happens to be elixir to your skin.
A bit like a white-sands-stretching-to-infinity-on-private-beach type of gorgeousness for your skin.
It conditions your skin, makes your skin supple and flexible.
It gives your skin that attractive, healthy glow.
To a certain extent, it actually cleans your skin, although not in the squeaky-clean way you're thinking.
So isn't it interesting that we try to put all this goodness back into our skin, after diligently scraping it off with one cleaning regime or the other? Of course the answer is not to remain unwashed.
The question becomes, how clean does your skin have to be? What is 'clean enough'? 'Clean enough' is removing dirt and sweat from the surface of your skin while keeping your skin's natural protection in place.
As much as possible.
So how do you get 'clean enough' to get rid of zits? 1.
Use mild, natural, fragrance-free soaps 2.
When washing, use tiny amounts of soap.
3.
Use lukewarm water.
Not hot, hot, hot.
4.
Make sure you rinse every last traces of soap off your skin.
5.
Slowly introduce soap-free washes using your palms and fingertips or gentle microfibre cloths.
6.
Pat - don't rub - your skin dry