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Ten Tips for Preventing & Treating Acne

Home > Articles > Ten Tips for Preventing & Treating Acne

Ten Tips for Preventing & Treating Acne
May 2009

1. Keep your face clean.
- Wash twice daily with a pH balanced cleanser.
- Don't scrub! You can injure already inflamed skin and cause more irritation.
- Dry with a clean towel to avoid spreading acne-causing bacteria.

2. Moisturize/Hydrate.
Many topical acne products contain ingredients that dry the skin, so always use a moisturizer that minimizes dryness and skin peeling. There is a difference between skin that is dry and skin that is dehydrated, and there are moisturizers / hydrators designed to treat both conditions. Most acne sufferers are not hydrating their skin in the proper way which can aggravate their condition. A licensed skin therapist can help you determine which hydrator you need for your skin type.

3. Topical Treatments.
- Salicylic Acid: Sloughs off dead skin cells, unclogs pores/breaks down blackheads.
- Benzoyl Peroxide: Kills acne causing bacteria.
- Sulfur: Kills bacteria and dries pustular pimples reducing inflammation.

4. Use makeup that is non-comedogenic/non-acnegenic.
Wash it off at night. Keep your makeup brushes and applicators clean and sanitary to avoid spreading acne causing bacteria.

5. Inspect your hairline.
If you have breakouts or irritations along your hairline avoid using fragrances, oils, and harsh chemicals on your hair which can migrate to the face, blocking the pores and irritating the skin. Experiment with hair products until you find some that don’t aggravate your skin.

6. Keep your hands off your face.
- No popping pimples! This sends toxins deeper into tissue causing delayed healing and more pimples.
- Hands spread bacteria to other parts of the face.

7. Stay out of the sun.
- The sun's ultraviolet rays increase inflammation and redness.
- Acne medications increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight causing blotchiness and hyperpigmentation.
- Wear at least SPF 15 and make sure it is non-comedogenic/non-acnegenic.

8. Feed your skin.
The skin is the largest organ of the human body weighing in at 6 pounds and covering 3000 square inches on the average adult. Remember the old saying "You are what you eat?" Your skin is a true reflection of what you eat.

MYTH: Eating chocolate and French Fries cause acne.
TRUTH: Studies show that adding more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet and eating foods high in vitamin A and beta-carotene (Carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, apricots, kale, and spinach) may boost your immunity and skin health.

9. Exercise.
Regular exercise is good for your mind, body AND skin. Exercise boosts circulation and blood flow throughout the body which aids in delivery of nutrients to skin cells while ushering out potentially damaging toxins. Also, when you exercise your level of stress diminishes which means your adrenal glands are producing less of the hormones that are part of any acne flare-up. Exercise also produces optimum conditions for making collagen, the support fibers that help keep wrinkles and lines at bay and keeps skin firmed and toned.

10. Reduce Stress.
Experts believe that our emotional state is related to all aspects of health, including skin function. Some studies link stress with the severity of pimples or acne. Take time to understand your stress reactions. Also, try to figure out what's causing you to feel stressed. Find effective ways to deal with stress before it builds up and causes a breakout.