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Acne Risk Factors- Precautions Needed To Avoid Those Breakouts |
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a) Diet and Nutrition: Even though science has not
found a direct link between diet and acne it is very important to
maintain healthy eating habits and to remember that each person are is
unique. While greasy hamburgers may not have a harmful effect on some
people they may cause lots of problems for others. There are many
reports from individual acne sufferers that certain drinks or foods (it
seems that nuts are particularly suspect) make their acne worse. All
that can be said about this is pay attention to what you eat and how it
affects you over the next few days. Another important diet key is
drinking lots of water. If you drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day it
will help flush toxins out of your system and tend to keep your
complexion healthier.
b) Cosmetics and
toiletries: Some cosmetics and toiletries may clog up your pores -- if
your pores are clogged up your body will automatically increase its
production of sebum (the natural body oil) and with nowhere to go, this
will trigger an increase in the P.acnes bacteria that causes acne
inflammation problems. Some of the products that clog up pores might
include foundation make-up, night creams and moisturizers. The cosmetics
and toiletries that have this effect of clogging up pores are called
comedogenic products (because they help create comedones which are
large, deep, pus-filled pimples). Products that do NOT have this
comedogenic effect are usually labeled as "non-comedogenic" -- so when
shopping for cosmetics and toiletries try looking for those labeled
"non-comedogenic." One other thing, avoid going to bed with make-up on
-- you'll just be grinding those cosmetics into your pores with your
bedding.
c) Environment and hygiene: The environment plays a role
in the development of skin blemishes. Dirt, dust and other pollutants in
the air can irritate your skin and even block up your pores. This brings
up the very important subject of washing your face.
You may think
you know how to wash your face -- you've been doing it all your life,
right? Well you may have been causing some acne problems. Washing the
face twice a day can prevent acne -- washing your face six or seven
times a day can wash away skin oils, causing your sebaceous glands to
create more skin oil -- and perhaps over-produce skin oil and cause acne
problems. Washing your face or entire body GENTLY twice a day (or even
up to four times a day) with a very gentle soap will leave you with a
clean face and body and should minimize acne problems. SCRUBBING with a
rough wash cloth, however clean and refreshed that makes you feel, is
very hard on your skin and will, almost certainly, create acne problems
by scrubbing away natural skin oils and actually damaging your hair
follicles. If you are subject to acne breakouts, treat your skin very
kindly and it will be kinder to you in the long run.
d) Sunlight
isn't your friend: If you are battling acne, avoid direct sunlight as
much as possible and avoid tanning booths or sunlamps altogether. Some
sources will tell you that tanning helps clear up acne. That is not
true. Tanning simply masks acne. Another thing to consider is that some
acne treatments cause your skin to be ultra-sensitive to sunlight, sun
lamps and the ultraviolet light used in tanning booths. Having acne
makes it very important to avoid sunburns so be sure to use sunscreen
when you have to be out in the sun and be sure to wash it off when it is
not needed any longer.
e) Hands off the face: Every time you open
a door, pick up an item at the grocery store or shake hands with your
good friend down at the corner store you get germs and bacteria on your
hands. Every time you put those hands on your face to start a chemical
reaction that may result in a breakout of acne. So your best bet is to
keep your hands off your face.
f) Don't pop those zits: Avoid
squeezing your pimples, the only thing you will accomplish is spreading
the infection that caused the pimples -- it will also, by the way, cause
permanent scarring. That is certainly worth consideration. Your pimples
may appear to be ugly to you but the scars you get later will be uglier
and more permanent. Use an acne medication and make the best of what
you've got. If it becomes a medical necessity to have a pimple removed,
that's what doctors are for -- your medical necessities.
g) Loose
clothing . . . that's the ticket: When you wear tight clothing you are
creating friction on your skin and actually causing trauma to your hair
follicles; that may not seem like a big deal but it is over time. The
thing to keep in mind is if you have acne problems, it is not only an
inconvenience, its sign . . . a sign that your body is out of balance --
and it's a delicate balance. Creating unnecessary friction and pressure
on your skin can only cause problems; wear loose clothing to give your
skin a break . . . and avoid a breakout.
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