Prevent Skin Breakouts

Acne breakouts are caused when hair follicles become clogged with dead skin cells and oil. Acne frequently appears on the delicate skin of the face, but it can also occur on the upper back, the shoulders, and other parts of the body. In some cases, acne can cause scarring and lasting damage to the skin. There are many preventative methods that can help you avoid breakouts, even if you are prone to acne.

Steps

Preventing Breakouts with Hygiene

1. Clean your skin, but not too frequently or roughly. Using gentle strokes, wash with a gentle cleanser to remove excess oil and dead skin cells. Wash the places you get acne no more than twice a day. Washing more than that can irritate the skin.
   • Wash your face with your hands instead of a washcloth. Absolutely do not clean your face with dirty hands or a used towel. Towels rub your skin and make pimples worse.
   • Use a gentle non-soap facial cleanser that dissolves during washing. Cetaphil is a good, inexpensive, and mild cleanser you can try.
   • Avoid washing with soap or astringents, which will dry out your skin.
   • Do not scrub or abrade your skin, as that can irritate it and provoke acne. Avoid abrasive products, such as scrubs that contain ground fruit pits or aluminum oxide.
2. Shower. Keeping your hair clean will help prevent facial acne. Hair is naturally oily, and it gets oilier if it's unwashed. If you haven't had a chance to wash your hair, wear it pulled back from your face.
   • Shower after you sweat. Sweat that stays on your skin, or gets trapped against your skin by tight workout clothes, can feed bacteria.
3. Avoid oily products. Use oil-free makeups, lotions, sunscreens, and other skin products. Products with oil can clog your pores. Pick products that are water-based rather than alcohol or oil based. The labels "noncomedogenic" and "non-acnegenic" mean oil-free.
   • Clean your hands and skin before applying products.
   • Remove makeup at bedtime. Though noncomedogenic cosmetics won't necessarily cause breakouts, they are more likely to clog your pores if you keep them on constantly.
   • Throw out old cosmetics and clean your brushes every two weeks with soapy water.
4. Wear sunscreen. Apply an oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen every day, and avoid sunbathing or tanning. Sun can make acne worse in many cases, and if you are using an acne medication you may be more sensitive to sunlight.
   • According to the American Academy of Dermatology it is recommended that you use a broad spectrum sunscreen with UVA and UVB coverage, SPF of at least 30, and water-resistant. About 1 ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) is the amount considered needed to cover the exposed areas of the body.
   • Some antibiotics that people are on for acne (including tetracycline) cause you to be more sensitive to sunlight.
5. Avoid things touching your face. Touching your face, or picking at problem areas, can trigger a breakout. Avoid resting your phone on your face, as it comes into contact with many things and may carry bacteria.
   • If you wear a hijab, a hoodie, or other fabrics close to your face, change them daily.
   • Keep anything that touches an acne-prone part of your body clean. Wash your pillowcase every few days, or more if you use hairspray or have oily hair.

Preventing Breakouts with Medicine

1. Apply topical treatment. Even when your skin is clear, you can use a product to help prevent breakouts. Use an over-the-counter acne cream or gel to dry excess oil. Use a product that has benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as the active ingredient. Check the label for strength, and pick a gentle product to begin.
   • Start with a 2.5 percent concentration of the active ingredient, and try using more of the product or upgrading to a stronger product if you see no results after several weeks. Stronger products are not always more effective, and they may dry out your skin.
   • Consult with your health care provider if your over-the-counter product is not working.
2. Continue to use your acne medication. Some prescribed medications used to treat outbreaks of acne can be used as preventative medicine after the acne has cleared. Discuss the continued use of a prescribed acne medication with your health care provider.
   • Commonly, teens are on an antibiotic to kill the bacteria that are in the hair follicles, and isotretinoin, which reduces oil production, unplugs follicles, and reduces inflammation. Isotretinoin is teratogenic and should not be used in those who may become pregnant.
   • In most cases your doctor will recommend "tapering," or slowly decreasing, an antibiotic acne medication, as you risk building resistance if you continue at a high dose.
3. Take oral contraceptives. Birth-control pills have been shown to be as effective at treating acne as traditional acne antibiotics, and in some cases more effective. If you are a woman or female-assigned person who has passed through puberty, you may be eligible for hormonal acne prevention in the form of oral contraceptives.
4. Attend light therapy sessions. Your doctor may recommend you participate in light therapy sessions. Light therapy targets the bacteria that cause breakouts, so it can be used preventatively.
   • Light therapy has also been moderately successful at diminishing acne scars.
   • If you are taking an antibiotic that causes you to be extra sensitive to light, talk to your doctor before trying one of these methods. They may not be appropriate or you may need to stop the antibiotic.

Preventing Breakouts by Living Well

1. Wear loose-fitting clothes. To prevent body acne, wear clothing that does not squeeze or rub your skin. Tight clothing and accessories can trap heat and moisture in your skin, which can cause breakouts. Remove backpacks, helmets, and sports equipment when not in use, as they can rub your skin and irritate it.
   • Some dermatologists recommend wearing natural fabrics like cotton and silk to let your skin breathe. Synthetic fabrics, like Lycra, might trap sweat in the skin, allowing bacteria to flourish.
   • Never reuse sports or athletic clothing without washing it with soap and water first.
2. Avoid foods that trigger breakouts. Some dermatologists believe that certain foods might trigger breakouts. Dairy products, carbohydrates, chocolate, and fatty foods have all been linked to breakouts. Triggers may vary person to person, so take note of what you have been eating and how your skin reacts.
3. Avoid stress. Stress does not cause acne, but it can make it worse. If you are prone to acne, it can help to identify stressful situations. Acne itself can be a source of stress. If you are having acne-related stress, you might want to talk to a family member, a counselor, or a support group.
   • Exercise is sometimes recommended to prevent acne. Though it hasn't been proven to help acne directly, exercise is a great stress management technique, and could help prevent stress-related acne.
   • In a study conducted in 2003, it was found that students suffered from more outbreaks of acne during exams — a period during which they reported experiencing more stress.

Things You'll Need

• Gentle facial cleanser
• Water-based, noncomedogenic cosmetics and skin-care products
• Oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen
• Rubber bands or headbands (optional).

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• Prevent Cystic Acne
• Hide Acne with Makeup

Sources and Citations

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