Acne Prevention Techniques

Acne Prevention Techniques - Hygiene

No harsh scrubbing or over-washing include in a healthy skin regimen, because this can cause possible skin irritation or possible over production of oil to replace what’s washed off, clogging pores in the process.

It is good to use products with gentle exfoliation ingredients; i.e. not scratchy nut or fruit shell pieces that can tear skin. When ever possible try to avoid alcohol products as these can take off the top layer of your skin and cause your glands to product more oil, clogging pores in the process.

If you do spot acne-troubled areas, do not mess with them. Remember that these are already weeks in the making, and squeezing or picking blemishes can force the infected area to regress back inside, it would possibly leave a scar on further disturbing the region.

Acne Prevention Techniques - Acne Products

Here are some of the more popular acne products on the market to help with the prevention and spreading of acne:

• Antibiotics: They help destroy bacteria and decrease inflammation.
• Anti-Androgens: These help with the reduction of sebum production and comedone formation, i.e. they inhibit the body's production of acne-causing hormones.
• Benzoyl Peroxide: Helps destroy the bacteria that cause acne.
• Isotretinoin (Accutane): an effective acne control medication especially for the treatment of severe cystic or nodular acne.
• Proactiv® Solution: A dermatologist formulated 3-Step acne management system - combining prescription- grade ingredients that work together to heal and prevent acne or combination therapy / acne management system.
• Oral Contraceptives: Help with hormone level management.

• Retinoids: Synthetic derivatives of Vitamin A that unclog pores and aid in sloughing.

• Salicylic Acid: Helps to unclog pores and renew skin.

Acne Prevention Techniques - Shaving

Actually, for both genders, shaving is an excellent way of flaking or removing dead skin to help with the acne prevention and spreading of acne instead of leaving the remains to clog pores.

And for some mild acne cases already in process, whiteheads and blackheads from the face can be removed with shaving. Do not shave areas with infection or high inflammatory activity. Or at the very least, use a shaving cream for sensitive skin.

For best results with regular shaving, follow these procedures:

First steer away from shaving creams that are oily and if available choose one for sensitive skin. Then moisten facial or other hair with warm water, apply the shaving cream and lather well. Shave with a sharp blade.

Shaving Tip

• Electric razors may not shave as close to the skin; however, they help with the acne prevention and other skin breakouts better.

• A single-edged blade is actually better, if you choose a non-electric razor because double- and triple-edged blades grab hair follicles and pull them out from below the epidermis. And in the process, your skin “heals itself” by closing over these holes, making it difficult for future hair follicles to grow outward – creating inflammation in the tight areas.

Acne Prevention Techniques - Stress

Your lifestyle does have effect on your skin. And stress, not necessarily “bad” stress, but rather certain external and internal stressors, factor into this health equation. So with regards to acne prevention, let’s take a look at how to handle these stressors.

External Stressors

The main aim of acne prevention is to keep your skin pores clear from clogging and becoming infected and irritated, resulting in blemishes and inflammation. For this reason throughout the day, you need to take care of the external environment factors that could trigger skin pore clogging.

Some of such factors include sun, grease and oils, like being around open fryers in kitchen areas, or out in the sun all day on a construction jobsite, or around machine oil and grease in workshops or factories.

Too much sun exposure, or oil, grease on the skin can clog pores and trigger acne and other skin irritations. By wearing long sleeves and other protective wear and gear we can minimize their contact.

A small amount of sun exposure each day can be fine and healthy but too much exposure to sun can trigger the sebaceous glands to create more oil as your skin dries out. Simultaneously, the dried out skin needs to be cast off or shed at a faster rate than normal.

The resulting extra oils and dead skin make a wonderful environment for clogging of pore. To avoid this, use protective clothing for outdoor activities and apply sunscreen; oil-free products are best for acne-prone people, and those with a minimum protection of SPF 15 and both UVA and UVB protection.

Internal Stressors

Anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, depression and a variety of other internalized emotions are the internal stressors that can trigger chemical reactions inside your body that can result in acne flare-ups and other skin irritations.

These emotions makes the adrenal glands to create more cortisol, the substance that in turn causes the sebaceous glands to produce increased amounts of sebum oil, excessive amounts of which can be blocked in pores.

Usually “inflamed papules” or small, solid inflammations instead of whiteheads or blackheads are results of internal stressors. To combat internal stressors and prevent acne problems get plenty of rest and recommended eight hours sleep per night.