Skin Care Tips:
How to Prevent Acne Outbreaks
Skin
Nutrition | Skin
Care by Skin Type | Acne Outbreak Prevention |
Acne
Treatment
Is acne your major concern? You are not alone!
50 million people in the USA suffer from acne. 13 million
of those people are adults.
A diet deficient in certain nutrients, chronic
stress, and pore-clogging cosmetics can all contribute to
acne outbreaks. However, The main three
causes of acne are:
1. Overactivity
of sebaceous glands (oil glands)
Oil glands are located throughout your
skin, with their highest concentrations on your face, chest
and back. They produce sebum,
the oil that lubricates your skin’s surface.
When it is produced in excessive amounts,
sebum can clog your pores.
2. Abnormal
shedding and build-up of dead skin cells
In healthy skin, old cells are constantly
dying and falling off to make room for new cells — at
a rate of 30 to 40 thousand cells per minute!
No wonder that 70% of house dust is
made up of dead skin cells.
If you are acne-prone, in your home
this percentage could be even higher. You could be shedding
up to five times as many skin cells as most other people do!
However, instead of just falling off, many of the extra dead
cells get sucked into your pores, clogging them some more.
3. Proliferation
of “P. acnes” bacteria
P. acnes bacteria are routinely found
on normal, healthy skin, and help control other, more harmful
bacteria.
By preventing oxygen from getting in,
oil and/or dead cells clogging your pores create a perfect
environment for P. acnes to grow and multiply until they get
out of control.
The bacteria digest the oil in the
pores, producing a fatty acid waste that may cause inflammation.
We call it acne.
How can you prevent these three causes of
acne?
1. To
prevent oily skin:
• Avoid overwashing, as it would
over-dry your skin and thus increase sebum (oil) production.
• Maintain your skin’s
optimal pH (acidity) level to help regulate the action of
your oil glands.
• If you wear make-up, choose
oil-free options. Some mineral powder cosmetics can be suitable.
(Motives
cosmetics are a great option.)
• Avoid oily cosmetics of any
kind (creams, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc.); instead, choose
water-based skin care products.
2. To
reduce build-up of dead skin cells:
• Use a mild exfoliating cleanser
that will remove excess oil and dead cells without irritating
your skin.
• If you use masques, choose
one that helps cleanse and shrink your pores, and use a toner
afterwards to remove any remaining masque or cleanser particles.
3. To
prevent excessive proliferation of P. acnes bacteria:
• Follow the above guidelines
and you will automatically prevent your pores from creating
P. acnes-friendly environments, thus keeping the bacteria’s
growth in check.
• Use non-comodegenic
(non-pore clogging) skin care products.
• If you already have acne, consider
using anti-acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide, which
kills P. acnes quite effectively.
What else can you do to reduce acne outbreaks?
For overall health, avoid greasy, fried and
processed foods, and maintain a balanced,
nutritious diet, consisting mostly of whole, fresh
foods. Specifically for acne prevention, choose foods that
are rich in vitamins A, B5 and D, as well as zinc, potassium
and chromium [see
food sources].
Drink enough water.
It helps flush out toxins and distribute nutrients throughout
your body, thus contributing to clear complexion and good
overall health.
To prevent skin irritation,
avoid resting your face on your hands or any objects. Also,
avoid rubbing your skin, whether with your hands, loofahs,
sponges, towels or clothes. Irritated skin is not only more
acne-prone, it also ages faster.
If you shave, do so
gently. Use an electric razor, or a single-blade safety razor
with a sharp blade. Shave down rather than up to avoid cuts.
Also, choose a thin, filmy shaving cream to create a smoother
“ride” for the blade. Wipe your skin with a mild
tonic after you shave to help further cleanse and shrink your
pores.
Do not squeeze or pick
your blackheads, whiteheads or pimples! By doing this you’d
further damage your skin and attract harmful bacteria, both
of which can worsen the inflammation and cause scarring.
Avoid showering or bathing
in chlorinated water. Chlorine reacts with the proteins
in your skin and makes it dry. This in turn increases the
production of oil. You can protect yourself against chlorine
and many other contaminants by filtering your water. [Learn
more…]
Learn to manage your stress
and avoid known stressors. Chronic
stress may lead to hormonal changes, some of which may contribute
to acne breakouts.
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Skin
Nutrition | Skin
Care by Skin Type | Acne Outbreak Prevention |
Acne
Treatment
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Skin Care Tips