Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when the pores of your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, or bacteria. It causes whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages. Some factors, such as being in puberty, can’t be altered, but you can take steps to avoid and prevent acne.
- Maintaining a Good Hygiene
- Wash your face at least twice a day: once in the morning, once at night, and if possible once in the middle of the day. Be sure to not to use hot water but only warm water when washing your face. The heat will open your pores which will make the clean process more effective.
- Be sure to wash your hands before you wash your face, if your hands are oily and dirty to begin, you do not want those to go on your face.
- Remember, your hands are breeding grounds for bacteria because we touch so many things throughout the day so try not to touch your face with your hands.
- Wash your pillowcases frequently! An oily pillowcase can cause acne by spreading grime, dirt, and dead skin. At the very least, wash your pillowcases weekly. If possible, have multiple pillowcases so you can switch them daily to avoid laundry constantly.
- Paying Attention to Diet and Exercise
- Stay hydrated! Water helps clean toxins out of your body so staying hydrated may help you maintain your clear skin. You do not need to exceed eight glasses of water per day, however listen to your body, drink water when you are thirsty and drink enough water to replenish what you might have lost in exercise.
- Eating healthy! Eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits, whole wheats and grains, lean protein, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats should help your body fight acne.
- Eat enough Vitamin A. Vitamin A can help your body flush out acen causing proteins and oil from the skin. You can tak either 10,000 UI of vitamin A supplements or eat foods that are high in Vitamin A which includes salmon, fish oil, spinach, carrots, and broccoli.
- Exercise can help reduce stress and prevent acne. Unfortunately, stress is a significant cause of acne, so exercising is a great way to remove stress from your life and help prevent acne.
- Using Acne Products
- Using Benzoyl. Benzoyl peroxide can help prevent acne by killing the bacteria that causes acne. Benzoyl peroxide also helps to peel away layers of dead skin on the epidermis, leaving your skin looking brighter and more rejuvenated.
- Using Salicylic acid. Similar to Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid kills the bacteria responsible for pimple growth. It can also cause skin cells to shed more rapidly which promotes the growth of new skin.
- Using tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a very effective home remedy that is not specifically bottled for acne, but it has anti-inflammatory properties that can make the redness and size of pimples less noticeable. Because tea tree oil is very strong, dilute it first in a little bit of water before applying to the skin since too much tea tree oil may irritate the skin.