How to Avoid and Prevent Acne Breakouts and Pimples

It is awful to look in the mirror and see that you have developed a new pimple. You have a feeling that everyone will be looking at it instead of looking at you because it is so huge. Acne makes you feel awkward all day, and can possibly lower your self-esteem, and lead to permanent scarring.

Even though teenagers are more prone to acne, babies and adults can also get acne.

There are several ways to treat it, but preventing acne in the first place is cheaper and better for your skin.

Do not pop the pimples because that could cause scarring.

There are many over-the-counter treatments for acne. Most of them use one of the two main ingredients in acne treatment medicines - benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. They work very well in treating a pimple once it appears. Try a medicine with one ingredient, and if it doesn't work for you, try a medicine with the other ingredient.

If neither of these acne-treatment medicines works for you, you can seek the help of a doctor. They can prescribe medicines with stronger levels of those ingredients. They may also prescribe a low-dose antibiotic to keep your body from reacting strongly to the dirt and oil that clog your pores.

Treatment can be expensive, but preventing acne is better for your skin, and is a whole lot cheaper too.

Some prevention steps are pretty easy to implement. Since acne is caused by dirt, perspiration, and oil getting clogged in your pores, keeping those things off your skin is the key. There are several different ways you can keep them away from your skin.

In order to reduce acne and save some money, you can stop wearing makeup and lotion on your face. You have an excuse! Or you can limit makeup use to areas that are not prone to acne, and continue to wear mascara and lipstick.

If you do choose to continue wearing makeup, make sure the label says that it is non-comedogenic. This goes for lotions and sunscreens as well. Non-comedogenic products cause less irritation and are less likely to clog your pores. Do limit the amount of time you wear makeup and be sure to wash your face thoroughly after wearing makeup.

Acne can also be caused by stress. Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, drink lots of water, eat right, and exercise. These will help your body cope better with stress. Trying to find the source of your stress, and finding ways to manage the stress will also help. Talking to a counselor, walking outside in a calm park, meditating, or hitting a punching bag are all ways to reduce stress.

You may feel like using the strongest soap you can find, and scrub your face as often as you can is the way to prevent acne, but it is not. Scrubbing and strong soaps will only aggravate your skin, and may even cause more pimples. Simply clean your face twice a day with a gentle soap. Avoid using a washcloth as it can be harsh and damaging. I know it sounds like that being gentle won't work for your acne condition, that your acne needs stronger treatment, but try it. It really works.

To keep oils and dirt off your face, and prevent acne from coming in the first place, follow the additional steps listed in this article.

The oil comes from your hands and onto your face. If you keep your hands off your face, you can avoid some acne. But it is almost impossible to keep from touching your face sometime during the day. Keeping your hands clean will help in those circumstances.

Most of the oil on your hands comes from your hair. You run your fingers through your hair, and then touch your face. Keeping your hair clean will stop the chain reaction from the source. Keep your hair clean, your hands won't get as dirty, so less oil will be on your face. Keeping your hair clean will also help prevent pimples that form on your head and on your back.

Since dirt and oils will settle on your bedding, you want to make sure that you change your bedsheets and pillowcases frequently, about once a week.

If, during the week, you find you are getting more acne, you might consider changing your pillowcases in the middle of the week.

Although research has not found this to be the case, there may be foods that trigger your acne. They don't specifically cause acne, but may make it worse. Oily foods, spicy foods, chocolate and other sugary foods, and acid foods have all been named as culprits. If you notice that you seem to have acne after eating a particular snack or meal, try cutting it out of your diet for a short time to see if you notice a difference.

Hormone fluctuations can also cause acne. If your acne is hormonal, consult your doctor. Sometimes birth control pills help with this, although sometimes they make it worse. Also continue to keep your skin clean, and be assured that it will be over as soon as the hormones shift again.

Another possibility is bacteria. You may want to visit a dermatologist may prescribe a mild antibiotic to help treat your acne, especially if it is all over your body.

Having a big obtrusive pimple can be embarrassing, but a lot of acne can be prevented by keeping your face, hair and bedding clean. Avoiding the triggers that cause acne can go a long way to keep you from getting that pimple, and save money in the process. Usually these prevention tips work best when used in conjunction with an acne treatment program.