10 TIPS FOR PREVENTING ACNE
A common misconception is that acne only affects teenagers. But more than ever before, adults are suffering with oily and acneic skin conditions. Clinical studies indicate that between 40-55% of the adult population in the 20-40 age group are diagnosed with a low grade, persistent acne and oily skins, 54% of women older than the age of 25 have some facial acne, which is most likely attributed to hormonal fluctuations that trigger excess sebum resulting in acne.
A sad fact of life : Breakouts don’t only happen to teenagers, but you can win the war against pimples by following these clear skin rules.
Have a look at the list below, your skin will thank you for it.
1 KEEP SKIN CLEAN
Whether you have acne or not, it is important to wash your face twice daily to remove impurities, dead skin and excess oils, I can remember taking my first trip to London when I was a nipper (well 18, was a nipper in comparison to now) and after a delightful day shopping (birthday money is a wonderful present) I was shocked to see that my cleansing pad was literally BLACK! and in my youth I wasn’t bothered to wear any foundation, so horrified I realized this all came from the pollution my skin was being exposed to ! So regardless of wearing makeup it is vital to cleanse twice a day but avoid over washing, I know it is tempting to deeply cleanse oily skin, yet it can leads to irritation, especially if you use harsh facial cleansers or scrubs. This will only strip the skin of its protective barrier, leaving it vulnerable to bacteria.
2 CHANGE PILLOW CASES
You wouldn’t voluntarily smoother your face into a pile of sweat and bacteria for 8 hours straight would you??Well that is what’s happening every night that you go to sleep on unwashed dirty pillow cases. Washing your pillow cases regularly can help prevent acne.
3 CHOOSE ACNE FRIENDLY MAKE UP
The makeup you use and how much you use has a big impact on the health of your skin. It is quite ironic that the product you spend a lot of money on to keep your skin looking good, could potentially be clogging your pores and encouraging the pimples you are trying so hard to hide. Look for products that say “non comedogenic” on the label. Many dermatologists will also recommend lightweight or oil free products with a non-comedogenic label (which means that make-up won’t clog your pores). Also avoid heavy greasy products that contain ingredients like mineral oils and cocoa butter which can cause pimples. Make sure you are washing your make-up off at night even when you are extremely tired, and if on those rare occasions you are enjoying an evening in, that is a great opportunity to let your skin breathe!
4 CLEAN BRUSHES
I can not stress how important it is to clean your makeup brushes, your brushes are a gathering place for acne causing bacteria, those delightful makeup tools love to harbor dirt and bacteria, the more often you wash them, the better it is for your skin.
5 HANDS OFF
Keeping your hands off your face is very important when it comes to preventing acne. Your fingers and hands touch everything throughout the day ( you don’t want to think to deeply, but you get my drift) So do your best to make sure that the bacteria is not being transferred to your face. HANDS OFF!!!
6 CLEAN YOUR BEST FRIEND……… YOUR PHONE!
Yes our faithful companion, until the battery dies and we break out in a cold sweat, maybe it is just me? But your faithful companion could be just the cause of your pimple breakout, like your hands, your phone collects bacteria by the second. So take an anti bacteria wipe and clean your phone to make sure that the bacteria is not getting on your face and settling into your pores.
7 EXERCISE
Yes , there is no getting away from it, exercise is good for everything! Another great reason to exercise and stop the excuses in case you were not aware is…. its great for your skin, it gives your skin a healthy glow (in my case though the GLOW is more red I look like a ribenna berry) aside from that exercise will also encourage you to consume more fluids not alcohol may I add, increasing your water consumption and we all know there is nothing better for your skin than water. So all that moving about improves your circulation, and helps you to relax, you might not link the feeling of relaxation whilst your body is working hard and you feel like crying wishing you where at home sprawled out on your sofa with either a good book or the TV as your companion! Just insure you remove your makeup before exercise as you definitely don’t want to clog those pores.
8 REDUCE STRESS
Stress and acne go hand in hand.
If you didn’t know already then let me break it to you, Stress causes pimples!!!
When our bodies produces the stress hormone, it leads to causing pimples in 2 ways.
1- The hair follicle lining thickens due to the hormones, causing whiteheads and blackheads and if bacteria gets trapped inside, a lovely pimple is formed.
2- Our body directs blood and oxygen to more vital areas leaving skin more dehydrated and prone to more clogged pores and breakouts. To relieve stress I can not stress enough, having a holistic treatment, be it a massage/yoga or even mediation.
9 EAT HEALTHY
Our Mothers have always told us that no amount of cosmetic products can benefit our skin as eating a healthy diet comprising of fresh fruits and veg can. So come on folks be sure to get your 5 a day!
10 WASH YOUR HAIR OFTEN
Pay attention to your hair routine, especially if your skin is oily. How you treat your hair can have a big impact on acne especially around your forehead.
There is hope! While acne is not curable, we now know more about controlling acne and there are many effective acne solutions available.
THE KEY IS PREVENTION – STOPPING THE SPOTS BEFORE THEY APPEAR.