Pimple Peace

We tend to be our own worst critics:

We see our flaws, we want to fix them, and we worry.

A blemish grows, and the anxiety of having a pimple leads our fingers to poke it and squeeze it, until the pimple finally ruptures and gets goop all over your face. It also leaves you with an ugly red wound, and, probably, a physical scar.

• Damage Control: Acne flare-ups can be covered by makeup and treated with natural remedies, like a paste made of honey and cinnamon, or scientifically proven ingredients like salicylic acid, which is present in many skincare products made to combat acne. If all else fails, find a good local dermatologist for ongoing skin problems, or schedule a facial with an esthetician to take care of a breakout.

But who wants to go through all that trouble every day? Not me. That's why I keep trying to leave my face alone, and stop touching it all the time. I stop smudging all the bacteria from my hands onto my face, by keeping my hands off of it entirely, I can reduce the number of breakouts I have. Then, I'll stop stressing about my breakouts. Then, because professionals always say that stress causes breakouts, my lower stress levels will help me avoid more breakouts.

By making peace and embracing the flaws we see in the mirror, we can create positive change in ourselves both physically and mentally. That's the sort of change I want to see.