Acne Prevention

By: Greg Mauro

Nearly everyone encounters acne at some point in their life. Below are simple steps to help prevent outbreaks and to help clear acne once it has appeared.

Acne is something that affects most people at least at some point in their life. Even if you have never had a big breakout, we all know what it is like to get a pimple or two. While it is not possible to totally stop acne from ever happening, there are many things you can do to help prevent it. First of all, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends some of the following acne control guidelines.

• Do not pop, squeeze or pick at the acne lesion. This can spread the inflammatory process and worsen the acne.
• Twice a day wash your face gently with mild soap or a sulfur soap. Just pat your face dry and do not rub it with a towel.
• Use only "noncomdomedogenic" skin products that do not clog pours.
• Avoid oil based products.
• Avoid acne irritants such as airborne grease from fast food restaurants, rubbing or friction from sporting equipment etc.
• Give anti-acne products time to clear up the lesions. This can mean several weeks or even months.
• Some acne products increase the skin's photosensitivity. When in the sun wear a hat and use sunscreen and avoid tanning booths while using these products.

Amy Baker, founder of the Nature's Cure line of acne products, also suggests some good advice:

• Don't pick, pop or squeeze, or otherwise mess with your skin. Squeezing blemishes or whiteheads can lead to infection or scarring. It almost always makes the acne you have worse.
• Wash your pillowcase often and always use clean face towels. Dirty towels and pillowcases can harbor bacteria and germs that can make acne worse.
• Be sure to pull your hair away from your skin when you sleep.
• Try to shower as soon as possible after your workout since sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in your pores.
• Don't go to bed with makeup on. It can clog your pores and lead to breakouts.
• Make sure to clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup.
• Use topical treatments, such as Nature's Cure Vanishing Cream, anywhere that you tend to get breakouts -- don't just spot-treat existing pimples. The pore-clogging process happens two to three weeks before any blemish becomes visible on the skin.

Prescription Medications

There are many prescription medications available out there today that can be prescribed by either your doctor or dermatologist. There are topical antibiotics that contain clindamycin or erythromycin which help kill acne bacteria. These are usually used in conjunction with moisturizers or other solutions since they tend to cause dry, flaky skin. For more severe acne, oral antibiotics may be prescribed. Some of the more common ones are erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline or minocycline. For very severe acne, your doctor may prescribe Accutane. Accutane is very powerful and is not for everyone. Accutane has also been know to cause birth defects, so women should not take it unless they are on proper birth control. One that note, for women, certain birth control pills can help with the reduction of acne. Birth control in part helps to control hormones in women; hormones play a big part in the production of acne.

Non Prescription Topical Medications

There are also many great over-the-counter medications available out there. One of the best topical treatments is Benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient found in many acne products. It is an antibacterial agent effective against acne-causing bacteria and must be applied once or twice daily for several weeks before it has an effect. Salicylic acid is an ingredient found in many non prescription acne lotions, creams and pads, and it reduces abnormal shedding of the skin cells along the hair follicle. It does not effect sebum production or the acne causing bacteria. It does need to be used daily. Sulfur based soap is also good to use, as it dries out the skin.

Diet and Nutrition

While it used to be thought that eating certain foods increased acne (such as chocolate, pizza, or any other sugary or greasy food), research has generally shown that there is not a direct correlation. However, a healthy diet is best for the body and allows your cells to be as strong as they can be to fight infections such as acne. It is also very important to drink a lot of water, as that will help your body to flush out all the bad things your body and skin doesn't need.

So while it is not necessarily possible to totally stop acne from happening, taking certain precautions and measures can greatly reduce the chance of getting acne. It is important to be good to your face if you want your face to be good to you. After all, your face is the only face you'll ever have, and you should take care of it so you can be confident to go out and take on the world!

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