Fallacy: Sun. because it drles up the oil glands. is actually good for acne-prone skin.

Fact: Sun does tighten pores and dry up oil glands. but even moderate exposure can damage the follicular walls, clogging the pores. Result: more zits cropping up 3-4 weeks after your sun exposure.

Fallacy: There ls no way you can stop the breakout:. Even the best medications can't stop them from showing up.

Fact: While it is true that there is no cure for acne, with consistent. diligent care and the proper remedy. suherers not only can control the breakouts. they can actually prevent them.

Fallacy: Eating chocolates and other |unk food will cause a breakout.

Fact: Unless you belong to that small percentage (less than 2 percent) of the population whose food allergies trigger a pimple outbreak, piua and chocolates wlll not neces- sarily make you break out. How-ever, keep in mind that a healthy diet promotes a healthy body that In turn promotes healthy skin.

PREVENTIONS TIPS

Use natural exfoliants. Acne-prone skin needs regular sloughing treatment to remove dead skin cells so that they don’t clog the pores. Lemon is an excellent natural exfoliant. So are all citric fruits. To use: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and water. Dry thoroughly. Squeeze a fresh lemon into a bowl and, using a cotton ball. apply the juice to your face. Repeat to make sure the skin is well covered. Let dry for I0 minutes then rinse off with cool water. The lemon juice should make your face sting slightly. lf you have very sensitive skin, you may have to dilute the juice with a little water. But remember. the purer the juice. the more potent it is. Results should be seen in as little as I4 days.

Detoxify with water. ln addition to transporting nutrients, water helps the body flush out toxins. The recommended amount of water you should drink is at least half of your bodyweight in ounces (a l40 lb. individual should drink 70 oz. of liquids a day). While water alone will not eliminate your acne, it will greatly help in promoting a healthy skin. one that is more resistant to infection and other acne woes.

Prevent with ice cubes. Various hollywood beauties and celebrities have endorsed this technique. The trick is to try and catch the pimple before it rears its ugly head. As soon as you feel one coming, ice it! Take an ice cube, wrap it in gauze or a thin washcloth, and hold it over the portion where you feel the pimple coming. Perform daily until the pimple backs off. A preventive measure. this technique works only on newly forming zits, not on full-blown cysts.