6 Steps to Help Prevent Acne

Everyone has encountered some form of acne in their lifetime, some are luckier and don't get as many breakouts as others, but overall we have all experienced them.

Here are 6 ways to help prevent acne.

1. Keep your hands off your face.   Sounds simple enough, right? If you think about it, we live in a pretty dirty world.  Think about all the doorknobs, gas station pumps, and store counter tops you touch on a daily basis.  You don't know who or how many touched that door handle before you, and what if they didn't wash there hands after picking up after there dog?  -- gross, right?  So, why touch your face after touching the germ-y door handle?  The more you keep your hands away from your face, eyes, ears, and mouth, the better your skin will look, and the less likely you'll get sick.

2. Wash your face twice a day-- It's a good idea to wash your face as soon as you wake up and right before bed.  Dust, and germs accumulate overnight, and what if you sweat in your sleep without realizing?  You don't want to go a whole day while the sweat and dead skin cells lay on your face.  Grime, oil, and grease build up on your face all throughout the day, and residue from cigarette smoke, air pollution winds up there as well.  Also, remember to use a new towel and washcloth. 

3. Benzoyl Peroxide-- Whoever discovered that Benzoyl Peroxide helps dry out acne is a genious, and I want to be their friend.  This amazing discovery reduces redness and dries out the acne bacteria.  My go to product I swear by is ZapZyt.  Be careful, and only use it on the actual acne, and not your entire face, as it will dry out your skin.

4.  Exercise-- Yes, by exercising you will be releasing stress.  Stress= more oil production, and oil=acne. Sweating helps clear out your pours and pushes the dead skin cells to the surface of your face so you can wash them away.  Try yoga, or a 20 minute jog.

5. Makeup.  Your makeup could be the cause of your breakouts.  Think about if you apply makeup to your face throughout the day and how much oil and dirt accumulates.  When you use the same makeup, that dirt and oil will then be on your sponge or brush.  Also try makeup that say "oil free" or "noncomedogenic."  And clean your brushes on a daily!

6. Watch what you put on your hair.  Avoid using fragrances, oils, and harsh chemicals like hairspray on your hair. These ingredients can drip on the face, blocking the skin pores and can irritate your skin. Oily hair can add to the oil on your face or back ( depending on how long your hair is) , so wash hair often, especially during a pimple outbreak. If you have long hair, try to keep it off your face.