HEALTHY EATING HELPS FIGHT ACNE
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While diet doesn't cause spots, a balanced diet can help give your body what it needs to fight pimples.
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Don't skip breakfast - breakfast jump-starts your metabolism to give you energy throughout the day.
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In general, choose fresh fruit over french fries, and eat balanced meals with foods from all four food groups.
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Drink at least eight glasses of water every day – and even more, if you exercise.
ACNE PREVENTION TIPS
One of the most common misconceptions about acne is that it's caused by dirt and diet. Wrong! Acne is caused by a combination of factors beyond our control, like hormone balance and the natural pace of your skin's renewal system.
While acne is definitely not your fault, - it’s important to know that you're not helpless either. You can help your body win the fight against breakouts by giving it what it needs to stay strong and healthy.
Often pimple and acne sufferers attempt to treat their pimples rather than address the cause of the them.
DAILY CLEANSING ROUTINE – DON’T OVER-WASH
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Use soap-free products for all of your cleansers. This will help your skin maintain an even natural oils balance and skin tone. Don’t over-wash, either! Your skin can have a very delicate balance – particularly if there are hormonal fluctuations going on – so maintaining a twice-daily cleanse with the right products will help your skin discover a natural and healthy complexion.
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Once you've found a routine that works, stick with it!
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Skip harsh scrubs.
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It's okay to exfoliate, but make sure you use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains.
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Avoid products with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate and even tear your skin and further aggravate your skin.
Discover how to help prevent pimples with these easy to follow tips and tricks.
SAY NO TO ALCOHOL
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If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol.
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Alcohol is a strong astringent that strips the top layer of your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. The result? Dry, red skin — and potentially even more blemishes.
ACNE PREVENTION TIPS
EXERCISE
Movement improves circulation and helps you relax, reduce stress and increase your energy levels. Your skin also benefits from the increase in blood flow that results from a higher heart rate and oxygen level in the bloodstream. On the other hand, when you exercise, your movement generates heat, and 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:
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Remove makeup before you exercise.
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If you are prone to body blemishes, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing when exercising.
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Whenever you can, shower off immediately after exercising.
DON'T SQUEEZE, PICK OR POP YOUR PIMPLE
Squeezing or picking your zits — with fingernails, pins or anything else — can force bacteria deeper into the skin, causing increased inflammation and infection. You'll also increase the damage to surrounding skin tissue, making a permanent acne scar much more likely.
HANDS OFF!
Excessive touching of your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores increasing the likelihood of pimples.
PROTECT SKIN WITH SUNSCREEN
Protect your skin with sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15+. Over exposure to the sun can result in oil imbalances, dry skin and an excess of dead skin cells. These are the prime conditions for blemishes and pimple breakouts so even if it doesn’t look like it’s a sunny day outside, protect your skin anyway.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT MAKEUP PRODUCTS
Some makeup products can also exacerbate sensitive skin types. Choose oil-free makeups which actually help you to actively fight breakouts and always remember to remove your makeup thoroughly before exercise and before sleep. Makeup can block your pores and help bacteria to take hold in small pockets of your skin so cleanse, cleanse, cleanse!
REST
A good night's sleep (at least 7-8 hours) can do wonders for your complexion. How? A healthy, well-rested body has the resources to build a strong immune system. While a robust immune system won't prevent spots altogether, it can help fight infection so your pimples clear up more quickly.
RELAX
When you become tense, your adrenal glands flood your bloodstream with the hormone cortisol. Cortisol triggers the sweat glands in your face to produce more oil, which can result in zits.
It’s important to take time out every day to relax - read a book, take a bath, practice yoga, or do whatever makes you feel happy and calm. Being relaxed is an important step towards overall good health…and beautiful, healthy skin.