Skin Care

The most effective methods to fight acne include a combination of prevention and proper care for the skin.

Here are some of the things you can use to lessen and treat acne:

1. Practice Regular Exercise

Regular exercise can help fight acne by fighting off negative stress levels that occur in everyone’s life. However, avoid wearing tight lycra and nylon exercise clothes. These man-made fabrics tend to cause more sweat and heat, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. Stick to loose clothing made of cotton or natural fibers, and keep your clothing and equipment sanitized.

2. Use Safe Cosmetics

To avoid pore-clogging and skin irritations that can give way to acne, use products labeled “noncomedogenic” or “oil-free.” Opt for “hypo-allergenic” perfumes and make-up to avoid allergic reactions and skin irritation. Coal tar derivatives, carmine and heavy cream in blushes can cause reactions.

Shimmering facial colors may contain a flaky mineral called mica that can cause skin irritations and clog pores. Use a lip gloss with a matte finish for less pore-clogging. The shinier it is, the higher then comedogenic content and the higher the likelihood your pores can clog.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

Studies show that one’s diet does not play as big a role as once believed in either the cause or the treatment of acne. However, what is best for your body is best for your skin. So, ensure that you take in enough vitamins, minerals and supplements that are recommended to prevent and help treat acne breakouts. These include:

* Vitamin A or Retinol (High doses are toxic)
* Vitamin B Complex
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin E
* L-Carnitine
* Zinc

A high quality brand name multivitamin should have the recommended vitamins and minerals to help you with acne prevention.

4. Hormonal Treatment May Help

Hormones (or a lack of them) during later years – especially for women – frequently have a part in acne outbreaks. One recent study showed that about 50 percent of women have acne problems, referred to as hormonal acne, in the week before their menstruation.

Treatment options include topical retinoids, oral antibiotics and Benzoyl Peroxide for adolescents. For adult women, oral contraceptives or hormonal birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) may be helpful. Other options include topical ointments, and prescription or over-the-counter products.

5. Follow a Healthy Skin Regimen

Avoid harsh scrubbing or over-washing, since this can cause skin irritation or lead to over-production of oil to replace what’s washed off. Use products with gentle exfoliation ingredients and avoid products that contain alcohol.

6. Acne Products Are Available

Some of the more popular products available that have been shown to help include:

* Benzoyl Peroxide
* Proactiv® Solution
* Salicylic Acid
* Retinoids
* Antibiotics
* Oral Contraceptives
* Anti-Androgens
* Isotretinoin (Accutane)

7. Advice for Shaving

Shaving can be a very good way to exfoliate or remove dead skin. This can help with the prevention and spreading of acne by not leaving this around to clog pores. And, for some light acne cases already in process, shaving can help remove small whiteheads and blackheads from the face. Make sure to not shave areas that have worse cases and use shaving cream that says it is for sensitive skin.

Always use a razor with a sharp blade. Use gentle swipes instead of heavy pressure and go with the flow or “grain.” Electric razors usually don’t shave as close to the skin, but they help with the prevention of acne.

8. Try to Reduce Stress

Stress includes external and internal stress factors. External stressors are those that compromise your skin’s ability to heal, such as oily make-up and over exposure to the sun. Internal stressors like anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, depression and a variety of other internalized emotions, can cause chemical imbalances inside the body that can result in acne flare-ups and other skin problems.

There is more information on How To Get Rid of Pimples and Acne here.