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Preventing Acne

| April 17, 2014 Comment

Expert: Hadley King, M.D. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatologist, Skin Cancer Specialist

Would you believe that preventing acne is almost always possible? Here, we’ll explore acne prevention in detail, starting with stuff you already know about skin care (like the importance of washing your face) and ending with a few surprising tricks.

Transcript

Acne always seems to form at the worst times: like before a big date or a business presentation. Luckily, there are some things you can do to prevent blemishes from affecting a big day. Acne is a skin condition caused by hormones which targets nearly all teenagers and more than half of adults.

While it’s impossible to avoid acne entirely-hormones will do what they do-there are ways to reduce your chances of breaking out. The most important thing you can do to prevent acne is to develop a cleansing ritual for use in the morning, at night, and after exercise. Using a mild soap, gently wash your face from under your jaw to your hairline. Rinse thoroughly. Talk to your dermatologist about which kind of cleanser to use. Astringents, rough scrub pads, and strong formulas all have the potential to dry out your skin, making your acne worse, instead of better.

Be sure to cleanse your scalp daily as well. Plenty of people get acne along their hairline and on their scalp, and a gentle shampoo can help prevent the oil buildups that can lead to zits.

As much as possible, avoid touching your face. Squeezing, popping and even grazing blemishes can spread the bacteria-laden contents, prolonging your breakout. And breaking that zit may lead to scarring. Nicking a blemish while shaving is tantamount to popping it: Your breakout can spread! To avoid this, clean the area to be shaved with soap and warm water, and then coat it with shaving cream. This makes shaving smoother, so you’re less likely to irritate your acne.

To keep acne at bay, women should look for makeup that is oil free. Scan the labels for the phrase “non-comedogenic,” which means the product is less likely to induce a break-out. If you’re determined to stick with your favorites, swap cream blushes and shadows for powdered or mineral ones, and go easy on the foundation. This will minimize skin irritation.

Acne can also be brought on by environmental irritants, like high humidity, smog, cigarette smoke, and excess sunlight. All of these factors can bother your skin, increasing bacterial activity. But the worst of the environmental irritants is airborne grease, from, say, the fryers at a fast-food restaurant. That extra oil that lands on your face contributes to already clogged pores.

While you may have to avoid the sun, the good news is that you can enjoy that chocolate bar! Studies have found that eating junk foods doesn’t prompt breakouts. While that doesn’t mean you should give up fruits and veggies, the occasional candy bar won’t harm your skin.

Because acne can result from the elevated hormones that come with stress, take a deep breath … and relax. Meditate, take a break from work, do something to uplift your mood – and simultaneously reduce your chances of breaking out.

Changing your daily behaviors can help prevent acne breakouts to some extent. Unfortunately though, most sufferers of the hormone-induced skin condition will still need help in the form of over-the-counter or prescription medications.

Last Modified: 2014-01-20

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Category: Health and Nutrition, Videos

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