Acne can be a very irritating condition due to the painful and unattractive breakouts. This is a complex skin condition as there are many factors that contribute to it. An individual in order to have an acne-free skin should make some lifestyle changes to maintain a clear complexion. Acne can be caused due to various reasons. But, by taking care of your body you can get rid of it, prevent it, and by regular skin care even get rid of the blemishes. Acne being a complex skin condition calls for many measures to fight the skin infection. Let us discuss the various measures that will help to combat this condition.

5 Important Measures to Prevent Acne

#1 – Detox
If you have been suffering from acne for a long time and many treatment didn’t work for you, then consider a detox plan. There are many ways to detox the body. You can follow one day or two day detox, or a week’s detox. Salt water flush is a good detox that you can consider. However, if you have a medical condition then consult your doctor before you take up a detox plan. So, why am I emphasizing on detox? This is because many people suffer from acne due to constipation. If you have constipation-related problems then going through a detox will immensely help cleanse your system from the inside. This will bring a healthy glow to your skin and prevent acne.

#2 – Healthy Skin Diet
Unhealthy diets contribute a lot to oily, acne-prone skin. However, eating the right fats can actually restore your skin’s health. So, follow a skin-friendly diet. The diet should be such that it contain a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid fried foods, instead learn healthy ways of cooking like grilling, steaming, baking, etc. Eat lean proteins like turkey. Also, avoid the bad fats and eat Mediterranean-style fats like olive oil, nuts, fish, etc. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sodas. Instead drink plenty of water throughout the day and 2 – 3 cups of green tea. Drinking a lot of water and green tea will serve as your daily detox. One excellent way to fight acne is to drink fresh carrot juice without sugar. Carrot juice has great benefits for skin and it helps to fight acne, scars, sun damage, and makes the complexion brighter.

#3 – Skin Cleansing
Skin cleansing is important to prevent and cure acne. There are many ways to do it. A simple way to do this is to keep washing the face with lukewarm water. Acne occurs when the bacteria on a clogged skin pore grows. This causes inflammation which gives rise to pimples. By washing your face you will be removing dirt, and using lukewarm water the sebum from skin will dissolve and the bacteria too will be washed away. For deeper cleansing, use a mild cleanser which suits your skin type. Clean and Clear face wash is a good mild cleanser. You can wash your face with a face wash twice a day. Rest of the day you can use lukewarm water to wash your face. In case you don’t have lukewarm water, plain tap water will do.

#4 – Acne Treatment Products
Apart from using the face cleanser, you will also need a very good topical treatment to treat the blackheads, whiteheads, and zits. The best acne treatment product when you have pimples is Johnson & Johnson Persa Gel. This is a classic product which has been used to get rid of acne. It works for sensitive skin too. However, another great product is DDF BP Gel 5% with tea tree oil. Try out both to see which one suits you.

You can also use ice on the zits in case you have to go to a party or any important occasion. Ice will reduce the inflammation, and acne is an inflammatory skin condition. This will make the zits look smaller. Using regular scrubs and face mask for acne-prone skin will improve your complexion further. Try out some OTC products or make your own at home to care for the acne-prone skin. Here are two homemade remedies. Make powder of rice and mix it with yogurt to make a scrub. Scrub your face with it for 10 minutes. Before scrubbing, take steam with steaming water which has 2 teaspoons of turmeric. Steam will make the skin softer, and you will be able to get rid of blackheads easily. You can also make a face mask to cure acne. For this take half tablespoon of sandalwood powder, half tablespoon of fuller’s earth, and add 3 – 4 drops of tea tree oil. Mix well and apply as a face pack.

#5 – Prevention
For prevention of acne following a good diet and regular exercise help a lot. So, follow the above mentioned diet tips and stay away from junk. Also, physical activity everyday for half an hour will help. Also, remember these tips to prevent breakouts. Don’t touch your face. If you want to scratch an itch, then use the back of the hand, as it is less dirty. Keep changing your pillow cover every day. Avoid sharing cosmetics with anybody. If you are traveling or keep getting acne during your periods, then take additional care by keeping your skin clean, and keep the acne treatment products handy. Also, avoid exposure to sun, as it tends to make the condition worse. Last thing to remember is to remain stress-free. Some simple breathing techniques and meditation can help. Or consider going for yoga or any stress buster activity like swimming or dancing, as stress can greatly contribute to acne. Also, one needs to get adequate sleep.

So, follow a skin-friendly diet, a workout, and good skin cleansing regime to prevent and cure acne. Sometimes the skin can become extremely dry due to excessive cleansing, in such a case an oil-free moisturizer will help to keep your skin hydrated. If you want a natural moisturizer, then use aloe gel.

Pimples, blackheads, zits, whiteheads, pustules, papules, and cysts are all forms of acne. Acne appears on the skin due to a number of factors such as when there is an excess production of sebum by the sebaceous glands, when the person experiences stress, if there are certain hormonal imbalances, or sometimes it may be hereditary. Once acne appears, it is very difficult to get rid of it. Thus preventing it is a much better option.

Cleanse, Scrub, and Moisturize
A major cause of a breakout could be the accumulation of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells in the pores of your skin. In order to avoid this, cleaning the skin properly on a daily basis and scrubbing it once a week to get rid of the dead skin is very important. If you have oily or sensitive skin, use a mild, herbal cleanser, preferably a neem-based soap instead of the ones with strong chemicals. Remember to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized, as dry skin can sometimes aggravate acne.

Salicylic Acid
One of the most effective home remedies is to treat the skin with a salicylic acid solution, post cleansing. Applying a 2% salicylic acid solution on the skin will help to get rid of the dead skin cells, which might otherwise clog the pores.

Medication
Medicines such as Retin-A and Accutane can be taken with a doctor’s prescription. These medicines are very beneficial for the skin, and their regular usage helps to prevent zits, get rid of fine lines, and delay the appearance of wrinkles. Application of certain topical creams available in the market will help to treat the existing pimples as well as preventing them in the future.

Salon Treatments
Certain salon treatments, such as alpha hydroxy glycolic peels, are especially meant to reduce zits. In this treatment, glycolic acid is applied to the face. It is later peeled off the skin, along with the upper layer of dead skin. This helps in freshening up and rejuvenating the skin, preventing all kinds of skin problems including acne.

Natural Remedies
Here are three very effective natural cures.

1. Apply the juice of a grated cucumber on your face once a week to avoid pimples.
2. Aloe vera juice is equally effective. Apply it once a week.
3. Applying egg whites once a week will make the skin pimple-free, as well as prevent dryness.

Tips

• Do not touch the areas which are affected by acne with your fingers, as it can spread the infection to other areas of your skin as well.
• Maintain hygiene, i.e., use clean bed sheets, pillow cases, and towels. Dirty towels can be the breeding ground of germs and bacteria, thereby causing severe breakouts.
• Dandruff and oil in hair can be a problem too, so avoid styling your hair in ways that make your hair touch or fall on your face.
• Exercise everyday as it helps for proper blood circulation and adequate transfer of oxygen to all the body cells. Exercising will help to reduce stress and zits.
• Take a shower after any kind of exercise or physical activity to prevent dirt and sweat from getting accumulated in the pores of your skin.
• Drink lots of fluids and water to assist the elimination of waste and toxins from your body for glowing skin.

Applying sunscreen when going out in the peak sun hours, i.e. between eleven a.m. to three p.m., is very essential. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with sufficient vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and fat is the key to glowing, fresh, blemish-free, and clean skin.

Acne at any time of month is a cause for headaches, however, acne becomes more of a headache, when we observe acne popping up at regular intervals in the month. If one has to look at it, acne is one of the most common skin problem affecting a large population around the world. Youngsters are mostly affected by it. If an analysis has to be conducted of when does acne normally make an appearance, especially in case of girls, is just before their cycle. The cause of acne before and during menses is related to hormonal fluctuations, which are common during these times. Due to hormonal fluctuations, the sebaceous glands are stimulated, which in turn result in more oil being secreted on the skin. The extra secretion of oil results in zit formation and outbreaks. Although it is a little difficult to eliminate acne formation completely, it is very much possible to reduce the incidents with simple tips. The simple trick is to maintain the pH balance of the skin. Let’s find out how!

Tips to Prevent Acne Before Period

Manage Stress
For preventing acne before menstruation the first measure is to calm oneself down. It is seen that stress caused before the onset of periods is among the leading causes of acne. Therefore, one will have to make sure one is not stressed. Simple measures like meditation, yoga, some form of exercise, or even a relaxing bath, can prove to be great stress busters. You can also choose to take up any activity, that you love, to do away with stress. If required, you can visit saunas or spas to get a relaxing massage.

Keep Skin Clean
The days just before period sees secretion of excess oil, which causes the skin pores to be clogged. This in turn causes inflammation. Therefore, one will have to take measures to prevent the pores from being clogged. It is important to have a healthy skin care routine. You may have to wash your face at regular intervals, so that the extra secretion does not clog up the pores. Using water based skin care products often prove to be of great help as well. An important point, to remember all times, do not scrub the skin too hard, as it will irritate the skin. At the same time, it can also overstimulate the sebaceous glands and cause the pores to clog.

Healthy Diet
Haven’t we heard the benefits of following a healthy diet? But, more often than not we tend to forget the advice. However, to prevent acne during menstruation and before menstruation, you should ensure your diet is indeed healthy. It is best to stick to raw and natural foods. Eliminating red meat from the diet proves to be of great help during the said period. Also staying away from simple carbs and foods rich in trans fat is recommended. Natural foods ensure a healthy and acne free skin. You will have to make sure your diet is rich in different nutrients like vitamins, minerals.

Water
Most of us underestimate the importance of drinking water. To prevent the outbreak of acne at any time of the month, it is important to keep the skin well hydrated. If you are the kind of a person who drinks water only when you are thirsty, then this is a habit, which you should change. When you are thirsty, it is a clear sign, that you are already dehydrated. Therefore, drinking a swig or two after every few minutes is a habit, which you should try to inculcate.

Exercise
Working out regularly is recommended to prevent acne. It helps in better blood circulation, which in turn reduces incidences of acne. There is another advantage of working out regularly, it unclogs the pores of the skin, which are often the main cause of acne formation.

You will have to be diligent with these measures. There are some cures for acne during period, which can prove to be of help, in case of acne outbreak. Last but not the least, I would like to bring it to your notice, that an outbreak of acne is a normal phenomenon, and you should not be stressed about it.