Acne Prevention – How To Fight Acne Before It Happens!

Everyone suffers from the occasional spot or blemish. They typically appear the night before a hot date or on the morning of an important job interview, but although one or two spots might be hugely embarrassing for a few days, they soon disappear and you are free to go out in daylight without massive amounts of concealer all over your face. But acne is not the same, so if you suffer from this distressing skin condition, start looking at ways to prevent the causes of acne before the spots and blemishes threaten to ruin your life.

What causes acne?

Acne can be caused by a variety of different problems. It is a common skin complaint in teenagers due to the effects of fluctuating hormones during puberty, but acne can also affect older men and women—even people in their forties can sometimes suffer from severe acne.

Stress and a poor diet can all play their part to create the right conditions for a flare up of acne, but there are also some underlying medical conditions known to cause acne related skin conditions, so if acne is blighting your life, it is always a good idea to seek medical advice to rule out the possibility of hormone related health problems such as polycystic ovaries.

How can I reduce my risk of developing acne?

There are lots of self help methods you can use to reduce the number of outbreaks of spots and blemishes you are suffering from. Small changes in lifestyle can make a huge difference and following an effective skincare routine can also help to keep the skin free from excess oils and less susceptible to eruptions of spots and blemishes.

Diet

There is a great deal of evidence to suggest an unhealthy diet can cause skin outbreaks and acne. We have all been there: we ate too much rich food over Christmas and by the time New Year comes around, our face resembles a pepperoni pizza. The sad truth is that if you eat too much fatty foods laden with sugar and additives, toxins slowly build up in the body and start to excrete through the pores of the skin, which inevitably leads to spots and blemishes.

So the best way to beat spots and acne is to ensure you are eating a healthy diet packed full of fruit, vegetables, and essential nutrients. Stay away from the sugar laden carbohydrates as these trap oil and harmful bacteria in the skin, which is a major cause of acne related spots and blemishes. Try to eat foods containing vitamin A, E and B6 as these all help to keep your skin healthy and clear. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A and B6, plus they contain lots of antioxidants, which help to keep skin cells in top condition.

Vitamin A slows down the production of sebum in the skin: too much oil in the skin is a major cause of blocked pores and blackheads. Vitamin B6 supplements are useful for women who suffer from premenstrual skin problems as they reduce the effect of testosterone on the skin. Zinc is another useful supplement for acne prone skin: zinc helps to neutralize the effects of fluctuating hormone levels.

Drinking lots of water is good for the skin. Water helps to flush out the toxins and keep skin fresh and clear. Staying hydrated also allows the body to sweat more efficiently, which removes toxins and improves the complexion. However, only drink pure water and not sugary drinks, as these do not count towards your daily fluid intake.

Can exercise help to prevent acne?

Regular exercise is good for the mind and body and ideally you should partake in some form of exercise at least three times per week. Aim to get your heart rate up enough to make you sweat—this helps to improve blood flow to the skin, which in turn oxygenates the skin cells. Sweating flushes toxins out of the skin, thus helping to prevent spots and blemishes—although you must take a shower after exercise to wash away the sweat and dirt before your pores become blocked and bacteria builds up on the skin.

Skin care

Skin care is very important if you are prone to acne. It is not enough to wash your face with a bit of soap and water once per day—you must spend time cleaning and moisturizing your skin to keep it free from harmful bacteria and prevent blocked pores leading to spots.

There are lots of skin care products formulated for acne sufferers on the market. Most of them contain chemicals that dry out oily skin and clear blocked pores, but not all of them are very effective. If you have sensitive skin, wash twice daily with a mild antibacterial soap and clean water, followed by an application of moisturizer, and then once or twice per week, use a deep cleansing face mask made from natural mud or clay.

Other ways to help prevent acne

If you have long hair, try and keep it off your face as much as possible. Most hair products contain irritating oils that cause inflammation on the skin, so stick to water based hair styling products if you have to style your hair.

Acne on the back, shoulders and chest can be a real problem for some people, so if this is affecting you, avoid wearing tight clothes as these can rub and lead to further irritation, which in turn causes spots to form.

How To Treat Acne Through Diet Changes

We are what we eat—and this is especially true if skin problems are causing you grief. Eating a bad diet full of fast food and sugary starchy foods is unhealthy for anyone, which is why millions of Americans are dangerously obese. But is there a definite scientific link between diet and acne? Will changing your diet for a healthier one really have a positive effect on your skin problems?

Although previous generations did not believe that diet played a significant role in the development of acne, the causal link between diet and acne has been scientifically proven in recent years. It might seem obvious that eating too much greasy foods and sugary snacks is bound to cause spots, but there are many foods that can play havoc with our complexions, so if acne is blighting your life, it is very important that you look at what you eat in any given day so you can eliminate the problem ingredients that could be inadvertently making your skin problems worse.

How does diet affect acne?

High glycemic foods have a negative effect on skin conditions such as acne. Every time you snack on sugary starchy foods your body experiences a sharp spike in insulin and glucose, which is why you feel a buzz when you wash down a burger with a large cup of coke at a fast food restaurant.

Studies have shown that when subjects are asked to eat a low glycemic diet based on whole grains and protein rich foods, they showed a 50% reduction of their acne when compared to another study group given a diet based on sugary snacks, white bread and potatoes. Such research indicates that acne can be significantly improved by eating low glycemic whole foods and cutting back on high glycemic starchy foods such white bread and potatoes.

What low glycemic foods should I eat?

Instead of snacking on high calorie, low value food such as white bread, chips, fries, junk food, cakes and biscuits, try and include a greater amount of brown rice, wholemeal pasta, brown or wholegrain bread, oatmeal, whole grains, legumes, pulses and of course lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. You can still eat and drink some sweet food items, but limit them where possible and you will soon begin to notice an improvement in your skin.

The link between dairy products and acne

Dairy products are thought to make acne worse in some people, although the results from scientific studies remain fairly inconclusive to date. However, dairy products contain a hormone called IGF-1 which has been linked to an increased production of sebum in the skin, and since acne is invariably caused by an over production of oil (sebum) that causes blocked pores and eventually spots, it is possible that dairy foods can make acne worse.

Dairy products also contain male hormone precursors, also known as androgens. These are converted to hormones in the body by way of enzymes in the skin, and just like the IGF-1 hormone, androgens have been linked to an over production of skin cell and sebum production, both of which lead to blemishes and spots symptomatic of acne.

The link between omega 3 fatty acids and acne

We hear a lot about omega 3 fatty acids. They are much touted as a wonder-food and are included in lots of health food supplements as a result, but can aside from the fact that omega 3 fatty acids are good for us in a variety of different ways, can they really help improve the skin of acne sufferers?

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in oily fish and some whole grain foods such as flax seeds and nuts. Along with omega 6 fatty acids, omega 3 helps to fight inflammation in the body, which is very important for acne sufferers since skin inflammation is a major part of the acne condition. Other studies have also indicated that inclusion of omega 3 rich foods can help keep IGF-1 levels under control, which helps to prevent an over production of skin sebum and reduce outbreaks of acne.

The best way to ensure your diet contains enough omega 3 fatty acids is to eat a few portions of oily fish every week. Tuna, mackerel, salmon, and herrings are all good sources of omega 3, but you can also add chia seed, flax seed, and hemp into your diet as these are all healthy whole grains.

The link between zinc and acne

There is lots of scientific evidence showing a link between zinc and acne. Zinc helps to reduce inflammation and kill skin bacteria, so taking an over the counter zinc supplement can help relieve the symptoms of acne.

Will a low calorie diet help acne?

Starving yourself is never going to be a sustainable cure for acne, but there is some evidence to suggest that eating a low calorie diet can help reduce outbreaks of acne. High calorie diets tend to be full of unhealthy sugar and starch, which leads to higher levels of skin oil—a major cause of acne. Reducing the number of calories you consume (particularly empty calories from sugar and starches) will help your general health and in turn improve your skin.

Should I stop eating chocolate?

There is some evidence to suggest that milk chocolate causes a spike in insulin levels, which can exacerbate acne symptoms. On the other hand, a small amount of chocolate is not going to make a massive difference, so if you can’t bear the thought of cutting out chocolate from your diet, eat it in moderation and stick to dark chocolate instead.

Acne Treatment – Prescription Medicines

Acne can often be treated with a combination of good skincare regimes and a healthy diet, but in more serious cases your doctor may prescribe medications to treat the underlying infection and heal your problem skin from the inside out. So what acne treatment prescription drugs are commonly used to treat severe acne outbreaks?

Over the counter medications for acne treatment can be very effective and are always the first line of treatment. For a lot of people, over the counter treatments can help to improve the appearance of blemishes and spots seen in mild cases of acne, but if your skin does not improve with regular use of over the counter acne medications for at least one month, it is advisable to seek further medical advice since nobody has to suffer from severe acne in this day and age.

Prescription drugs for acne treatment come in two different forms: oral and topical. Oral drugs such as antibiotics can be used to treat any underlying infections that might be causing the frequent outbreaks on the skin, whereas topical creams and ointments are useful for controlling the local inflammation and soothe the visible effects of acne.

Prescription drugs used to treat acne are often very similar to over the counter medications, except that they are stronger. Topical acne lotions and creams are designed to dry out oily skin, prevent the blocked pores that can lead to skin blemishes, and encourage the production of new skin cells. Antibiotics used to treat acne attack the underlying bacterial infections that are usually found in severe cases of acne.

What acne treatment prescription drugs are available?

Benzoyl peroxide is a common treatment in acne medications. It is used in some over the counter medications, but stronger doses are found in prescription acne drugs. Benzyl peroxide is applied as a topical cream or lotion. It dries out the affected skin and encourages dead skin cells to slough away, but it can cause a number of side effects, including peeling skin, local redness and inflammation. For maximum effectiveness it should be prescribed in conjunction with a course of low grade antibiotics.

A combination of acne treatments is normally the most effective way of treating the condition and benzoyl peroxide is often used in conjunction with antibiotics to achieve the maximum results. You may also need to experiment with different combinations of drugs to find the right medications that work for you. What works for one patient might not have the same effect on another and different doses can also play a significant role. You might also experience side effects with some prescription drugs used to treat acne, so it is very important that you report any unwanted symptoms to your doctor or dermatologist immediately as some prescription acne medications can cause serious long term problems.

There are several combination prescription medications available to treat the symptoms of acne. Benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin and benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin are prescribed in different doses depending on the severity of the symptoms and patients suffering from inflammatory acne should soon begin to see a noticeable improvement.

Antibiotics can be very useful in treating moderate to severe cases of acne and if you suffer from persistent or recurrent acne, a short course of oral prescription antibiotics may be prescribed to help clear up any underlying bacterial infection. Tetracycline is the most common antibiotic used in the treatment of acne, but like all oral antibiotics, drug resistance is becoming an increasing problem, so long term use is no longer recommended.

Patients can experience side effects when using antibiotics to treat acne: skin upsets and an increased sensitivity to the sun are common. Women taking oral contraceptives for the prevention of pregnancy should also be made aware that antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of the pill and alternative methods of contraception must be used for the duration of the treatment. Women may also notice an increase in vaginal thrush infections whilst taking prescription antibiotics since the drug kills off the good bacteria as well as the bad bacteria.

What prescription medications can I try if antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide treatments are not working?

Isotretinoin can be used to treat in very cases severe cystic scarring acne, but it should be used with extreme caution as it can cause serious side effects including dry skin, itching, aching muscles, increased sensitivity to the sun, increased blood cholesterol levels, and liver problems. It is also known to cause serious birth defects and should not be taken by women who are pregnant or at risk of pregnancy—two forms of birth control should be used whilst taking the medication. There is also thought to be a possible link between isotretinoin and an increased risk of suicide, so it is important to be aware of feelings of depression whilst taking the drug.

Oral contraceptives can often help reduce the symptoms of severe acne in women, particularly if the acne is caused by fluctuating hormone levels or too much testosterone. However, oral contraceptives are not suitable for all women and can cause unwanted side effects such as breast tenderness, sickness, and depression.

Acne can blight your life in every sense of the word, but with such a wide range of over the counter and prescription medications now available, you no longer need to suffer the effects of this debilitating skin condition, so if acne is a major problem, visit your doctor and ask for some acne prescription treatments.