Unfortunately, for some people acne doesn't end with puberty and adolescence. In fact, more than half of all adult women and about a quarter of adult men suffer from acne according to the acne.com website. Many of the myths and common beliefs about acne and how it develops are false. Read on to discover a few simple tricks on how to tame your pores and clear up your skin just in time for spring. First let's start with what does not cause acne. Have you ever heard that eating chocolate can cause breakouts? You heard wrong. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "Diet plays no role in acne treatment in most patients…even large amounts of certain foods have not clinically exacerbated acne." The American Academy of Dermatology also notes, "A healthy diet is important for improving raw materials for healthy skin," but they also say that greasy or sugary foods do not cause acne. But before you grab that Hershey bar and bag of Cheetos, listen up. "Pimples in adulthood can be triggered by anything from diet to sunscreen," says dermatologist Richard G. Fried, MD, author of Healing Adult Acne: Your Guide to Clear Skin and Self-Confidence. To clarify, it is not necessarily unhealthy foods that are the culprit, but more likely a major change in your current dietary habits. For example, if you normally eat healthy five days out of the week and splurge on the weekend, you may encounter a flare up the following week. "The body interprets abrupt change as stress and causes hormonal fluctuations that may lead to an acne flare up," Fried says. So even switching to a low-carb or cabbage soup diet, you may experience acne within a couple weeks. Another misconception is that exercise causes acne. On the contrary, exercise is actually good for your skin! Exercise keeps your body healthy and can actually reduce stress, reducing the risk of acne. Dirt doesn't cause pimples either, but rather bacteria buildup that can be caused by several other factors. There are several behaviors that can contribute to a poor complexion. Hair-styling products, pollution, diet changes and stress can all trigger a major breakout. Hairsprays and gels contain oil that can clog your pores. To prevent this, try to keep your skin clean by wiping off your hairline after applying the product. Environmental factors such as sun, wind and free radicals can damage your skin by drying it out and kill skin cells. Start by keeping your hands away from your face and be sure to cleanse your face daily to remove dead or dry skin, dirt, grime, and make-up. Also, be sure to apply a sunscreen and moisturizer regularly to protect and repair your skin. As mentioned earlier, don't make drastic changes in your diet, ease into a healthy eating regimen gradually. Finally, hormones and other chemicals released from stress in the body can wreak havoc on your pores. To combat this, try not to get overwhelmed with everyday stresses. Instead, try to find time to relax and take time each day to do something quiet that you enjoy. Prevention is essential in maintaining good health. The skin is the largest organ in the body, so it deserves to be taken care of. Stick to the following prevention tips from the Acne.com website and your pimples will be a thing of the past.
Tip #1 Don't over-wash. Since dirt is not causing your acne, excessive scrubbing and washing won't make it go away. Try to limit yourself to two washings per day - anything more than that can leave your healthy skin dry, and your acne-prone areas irritated. Habitual over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production, which could result in more breakouts.
Tip #2 Skip harsh scrubs. It's okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains. Avoid products with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate or even tear your skin and further aggravate your acne.
Tip #3 Say no to alcohol. If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol. A strong astringent, alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. The result? Dry, red skin - and possibly more blemishes.
Tip #4 Don't squeeze or pick. Squeezing or picking your blemishes - with fingernails, pins or anything else - can force bacteria deeper into the skin, causing greater inflammation and infection. You'll also increase the damage to the surrounding skin, so the blemish is more likely to leave a permanent acne scar.
Tip #5 Hands off! Propionibacterium acnes (the bacteria that causes breakouts) is a normal resident of your skin; it doesn't lead to acne until it gets trapped inside the hair follicle. Excessive touching of your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores - where it can begin its dirtywork.
Tip #6 Work out, wash off. When you exercise, your movement generates heat; clothing and equipment cause friction. Until you shower off, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin, creating an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria. So whenever you can, shower off immediately after exercising. Acne Prevention Treatment - Find a regimen and stick with it. Most cases of mild acne can be improved with "over-the-counter" products, or products that don't require a prescription from your doctor. There is a wide range of treatments available, and there's a good chance one of them will work for you. If you start treatment before your acne gets severe, you'll have a better chance of avoiding physical and emotional problems down the road. But if your acne gets worse or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a dermatologist.
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