How to Prevent Acne If you suffer from breakouts, you know that they can be an uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassing situation. Chances are you have also spent a few hundred dollars on everything from serums to lotions to creams and gels. The really bad news about this is that you are probably wasting your time and your money - it’s not always about what you put on your face, sometimes it’s about the things you are doing to your face and body in general. Instead of turning to gels and serums, take a look at some of these things and see if you do these or don’t do these things. Keep Your Face Clean Make sure that you keep your skin clean, not only from sweat and oil during the day but from other things like dead skin cells, dirt and, of course, makeup. You should never leave your makeup on overnight and chances are if you do, it’s what is causing your breakouts. Instead, wash your face in the morning and at night, and make sure you use warm water not hot and that you use a gentle face cleanser - not soap or anything else. Sometimes soap can have an adverse effect and actually irritate your skin more than help it, plus soap tends to strip the natural oils away from your skin. When possible, try using an exfoliating sponge or something a little softer than a harsh washcloth. When you are done washing your face, make sure that you throw the dirty towel in the laundry because dirty towels are a breeding ground for bacteria and if you have any kind of acne or open sores on your face, this could spell BIG trouble later on down the line. Moisturize Your Skin Not only is it important that you use a skin care product that minimizes dryness, but you also need to look for one that contains or says that its "noncomedogenic" this essentially means that the product should not cause acne. You should also make sure that you understand what kind of skin you have - oily, dry or combination skin. One of the best ways to find out what kind of skin you have is by visiting a top NJ dermatologist and getting a skin test done to see what skin type you are so that this way you can find better moisturizers that will benefit your skin instead of making it worse. An NJ dermatologist will be able to answer all of your skincare questions and will give you much advice on how to keep your skin healthy at every stage of life. And you should also make sure that you drink a lot of water to help keep your skin moisturized as well as not-wrinkly. Over The counter Products
There are many different products out there today that you can use without a prescription. One thing to look for is products with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid or even peroxide - these should only be used if you have really oily skin because they will keep your skin dry but if you already have dry skin and you use these products you may have other issues coming up such as dry itchy skin or acne. The important thing is to start small at first and see how it reacts with your skin. If you can't find anything that helps, visit a top NJ dermatologist and see if they can prescribe a better medication for you that will actually help you and not hurt you. Hair Matters Believe it or not, if you use things like mousse, gel or hairspray and it gets on your forehead, this can also cause splotches and acne. Make sure that if you are using these items that it does not get on your skin and your face and if it does, wipe it away with warm water and a soft towel before leaving the house. These products can actually get on the face and block your pores and then give you acne and irritation on your skin. Another thing to consider is the shampoo and conditioner you are using. If they are too harsh and go on your face this could also be causing acne and breaking out.
Keep Your Body Healthy By eating certain foods, you can actually make your skin healthier too. Try to include more items like blueberries and pomegranates, red and yellow peppers, natural good oils like avocados and more. And as mentioned above, make sure that you are drinking enough water during the day to keep your skin hydrated - water also helps flush out toxins in your body so if you have acne this might be the best place to start. 3-5 8oz
glasses of water a day are a good way to stay hydrated, flush out the toxins and keep your skin moisturized so it’s definitely not a difficult thing to try out! The last tip is to start thinking about less stress. Some studies show that when you get stressed out or overwhelmed, your skin can break out more often than when you are relaxed and calm. To top it off, when people are stressed they also tend to eat junk food like potato chips, chocolate, and ice-cream - all of which can and probably will give you acne and breakouts. Stay away from these things and instead try time management, exercise, take a yoga class, meditate or if things are really bad, call a therapist to have someone to talk to.