Acne is a common complaint among young people and adults. Hormonal fluctuations from puberty, pregnancy and menopause are thought to be the main causes of acne. Breakouts occur when an excess amount of sebum, your skin’s natural lubrication, and skin cells block hair follicles and become inflamed. Acne has several forms, pustules and papules are inflamed hair follicles in which pus forms. Blackheads are open pores that have a black plug of material and cysts are located deep within your skin in the base of your hair follicle.

There are several treatments for acne that are available over the counter or prescription strength products that you can get from a dermatologist. Light therapy and dermabrasion can help to diminish acne scarring as well as surgery for more severe cases. There are ways you can prevent breakouts from acne and these are very simple changes to your lifestyle you can make to help prevent acne and help keep your skin clear and smooth.

- Use warm water and wash your face gently twice a day. Avoid very hot water and a harsh scrubbing motion as this may aggravate acne and dry out your skin. Gently washing your skin removes excess oils and dead skin cells that may accumulate and block pores and hair follicles. Do not wash your face more often as this will aggravate acne and cause more breakouts.
- Apply over the counter products after you wash your face such as Clearasil or Oxy that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These ingredients help to prevent bacteria and excess oil production.
- Although there is no scientific evidence to support it, avoiding greasy and fatty foods is recommended by some people. Chocolate may also aggravate acne as well as sodas. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and help your body to release toxins. This will help speed up the production of new skin cells.
- Avoid wearing a lot of makeup and use water based foundations. Be sure to wash your face before you go to bed to remove any makeup and dirt from the day.
- Keep your pillowcase clean. You rest your face on your pillow each night and this is an often forgotten measure to help prevent acne.
- Wear loose fitting clothes made of natural materials such as cotton. Do not wear tight clothes that irritate your skin. This will help prevent body acne and keep your skin clear.
- Resist the urge to pick. It is natural to want to pop a pimple or pick at a blemish but what this does is spread the bacteria to other parts of your face and body. Picking and popping blemishes can also cause acne scarring.
- Take a tepid shower after your exercise or do strenuous activities to keep your skin clean and free of dirt and debris. Avoid very hot water and harsh cleansers that will dry out your skin and irritate it.
- Use a homemade oatmeal and honey mask to help purify and tighten your skin. It is recommended that you use this twice a week. Just fix yourself a bowl of oatmeal and add about 1/4 cup of honey to it. After it cools off apply to your skin and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water and pat your face dry.

Use these simple steps and you can help to prevent acne breakouts and keep your skin clear. If you have acne that is not responding to over the counter remedies or you experience acne scarring, see a dermatologist. They have treatments that can help reduce your acne and diminish the appearance of acne scarring.