Acne: How to Prevent Acne in Teens and Adults

Acne is a medical condition that affects both teenagers and adults. And, although it is more common in teens who are just entering hormonal turmoil, adults who are also experiencing high amounts of anxiety or other medical conditions which affect hormonal levels will also experience this skin condition.
There are several significant factors which will affect the prevention of acne and the spread of bacteria which cause these breakouts. Some of these factors are preventable while others are not. For instance, while you may be able to control the food you eat you cannot control your age or other underlying medical conditions which may disturb the delicate hormonal balance in the body.
The skin is the largest organ system in the body. If there was ever a time where the old adage "You Are What You Eat" was more true, it is now. The skin is literally fed by the food we put in our mouths. When we feed ourselves junk food our body will produce junk. It is just that simple. It may not be fun or exotic but a major culprit has been associated with eating an unhealthy diet.
Interestingly, this factor is also in dispute. Some researchers and dermatologists believe that the diet has no association whatsoever with the condition of the skin while others believe that it is one of the most important factors. If you consider the facts: what we eat feed cells and that the largest organ in our body (made of cells) is our skin, then it only stands to reason that if we feed those cells junk or deprive them of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed in order to produce optimal cellular structure, we will receive the end results we could only expect.
A diet which will be unhealthy for the skin is high in fats and oils, such as ice cream, chocolates, processed foods, french fries and hamburgers. People who suffer from acne conditions may try substituting a diet that is high in vegetables and fruits which include vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to encourage the prevention of acne breakouts.
It is important to avoid drinking any soda, at all. While fluids are important to the overall health and glow of the skin, water is the best fluid that you can drink to flush out toxins from the body. Soda is especially full of excess of sugar and other chemicals, including phosphates, which have a negative affect on the skin, bones and other organs systems.
Preventing acne also means getting some sunlight. Sun is actually good for prevention when the individual uses the most appropriate sunscreen and limits exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.. Some medications that are prescribed by the physician or are taken over the counter may make you more susceptible to sunburns. And, while tanning may actually make pimples seem less visible, it also speeds the aging process of the skin and increases the risk for skin cancer.
Incorporating the right amount of sunlight and sunscreen into your daily regimen is a balancing act between getting good sunlight to increase the amount of vitamin D absorption and decreasing the amount of UV light which you will absorb between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m..
Don't use makeup or cosmetics to cover an acne breakout. As the much as it feels good to have the pimples less noticeable by friends or relatives, make-up can actually aggravate the pimples. And, unfortunately, putting makeup over pimples just makes it look like you have makeup over pimples.
Good personal hygiene and plenty of rest round out the recommendations for preventing acne. While we may feel we can survive on four hours of sleep a night, it won't be long before the skin starts showing signs of wear and tear no matter how old you are. Develop the habit of cleaning your skin every night before you go to bed and every morning when you get up in order to clear away the dead cells, open up pores and decrease the risk that pimples will occur.
Take care of your skin and it will take care of you! Not only will these acne prevention techniques help to reduce the number of breakouts and other skin conditions but it will also give you a healthy glowing complexion and reduce the signs of aging over a lifetime.
Tags : acne, acne prevention, preventing acne, skin conditions