10 Tips for Preventing Acne

Photo credit: Bigstockphoto
Photo credit: Bigstockphoto

Woke up to a zit? No problem. A concealer should cover it up nicely and people will barely notice. But if you look at the mirror and see pimples all over your face, you’d probably panic! Even the most expensive concealer won’t be able to hide that breakout – and it’s not going to be pretty.

Acne is a common skin condition where the pores become blocked by bacteria and oil, causing these painful pus-filled bumps to appear. While pimples commonly pop up on the face, they can be seen elsewhere – namely the face, chest, and back where there are more oil glands under the skin compared to the rest of the body. Teenagers are prone to acne because of their shifting hormones, although adults get occasional breakouts too.

Breakouts are usually treated with benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, hormone therapy, and vitamin A derivatives. And they have been proven to be quite effective against pimples. Question is, are you really going to wait for another outbreak or will you do something to prevent acne in the future?

If you don’t want to wake up to another horrifying zit, here are 10 tips for preventing acne.

1. Freshen up

Outdoors, you are more prone to developing acne as your skin gets exposed to dirt and grime. The sun may also dry your skin and cause pimples. Even if you spend the whole day at home, that won’t guarantee an acne-free face. Your skin will constantly produce oil and release dead skin cells which could easily clog up the pores.

The first step to preventing breakouts is good hygiene. That means washing your face twice a day to get rid of any impurities, dead skin cells, and unwanted oil laying around on the surface of your skin. Washing the face clears up the pores and allows them to breathe. You want to use a mild facial cleanser and warm water to freshen up. Opt for facial wash that suits your skin type – oily, dry, sensitive, or combination.

Using harsh soaps won’t do any good. They can irritate your skin and worsen your outbreak. Scrubbing your face with rough surfaces like an exfoliating glove, washcloth, or loofah is also not a good idea. Just use your hands or a soft cloth for washing. When using cloth, make sure it’s clean. A dirty towel will give you more pimples. After a good wash, remember to rinse properly. You don’t want any leftover soap blocking your pores!

Acne Prevention Tips: Choose facial cleansers with pimple-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and sodium sulfacetamide. Those that contain glycerin, lanolin, petrolatum, mineral oil, and ceramides are a plus – they are moisturizing to the skin. Cleansers with alphahydroxy acids may also be useful because of their exfoliating properties. However, it is not recommended to use them daily.

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