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Dealing with adult acne
I’ve been watching Nollywood movies lately and notice that some of our popular actresses are looking like pimply-faced teenagers. Acne is a skin condition that is most prevalent among teenagers. It occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and/or dead skin cells. Acne can be embarrassing and I have had my share of break outs. Luckily, I have not had to share my break outs with the whole world like my sisters on the big screen.
As a teenager, my acne was moderate and daily wash and astringents kept break outs at bay. I had a simple system that worked to keep my face clear but my skin was very oil. Then in my late twenties, someone suggested that I use Clinique’s 3-step, Type 4. It worked, but the fact that it stripped the skin off my finger tips just from holding the cotton balls that I used to cleanse my face made me a little uneasy. Then I went to a department store and a sales lady convinced me to switch to Clarins because it was milder, natural etc., and that is when all hell broke loose on my face. I stopped using the products and tried to return to Clinique but my face just kept breaking out in huge, embarrassing pimples.
Eventually, after some prescription topical ointments, the break outs stopped but my face was terribly scarred. Then someone advised me to use Papaya soap to clear up the scars and dark spots. I used it once and I was back to square one. My face started to break out again. This time I even had the painful, cystic acne that forms under the skin. I didn’t want to use prescription medication again so I tried just about every over-the-counter product that promised clear skin, some very expensive. I first found success with Olay’s Regenerist products and then cheaper products from the brand made for ageing skin. They all worked! My skin had finally calmed down. Pregnancy with my son seemed to also work some magic on my skin. I was lucky because for some women pregnancy brings out the acne beast on their faces.
Post-pregnancy, I decided to keep it simple and go back to basics – African black soap. Today my regimen is simple again and apart from the odd monthly pimple that reminds me of Aunt Flo’s impending visit, my face is ready for the big screen (even though there are no offers).
What I use:
African black soap to wash
Rice flour/gram flour/turmeric paste to exfoliate
Sesame seed oil to moisturise
What’s your clear face secret?
