10 Skin Care Hacks to Prevent Acne

We agree there is no one-size-fits-all solution to acne treatment.

But hopefully, our professional tips will help you know how to prevent acne.

Here are our 10 Favourites

1. Know your skin type

Understanding your skin type is one of the first steps in preventing acne.

There are four skin types, dry, combination, oily, and normal.

Yet there are also many different skin conditions.

Acne is often associated with oily skin because of the increased sebum levels— the oil your sebaceous glands produce.

2. Keep Your Skin Clean

A regular cleansing routine will go a long way in keeping your skin balanced.

Pollution, debris, and dead skin cells are the primary cause of acne breakouts; these particles get trapped in the pores, so it is essential to keep your face clean to prevent acne.

Regular cleansing will stop the sebum (excess oil) build-up in your skin, thus reducing the risk of breakouts.

3. Introduce Fish Oil into Your Diet

If you’ve been trying different products and treatments but to no avail, try an internal approach.

Fish oil supplements for acne are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce redness and inflammation in your skin.

In addition, fish oil can help regulate the oil production on your skin, reducing breakouts and that daily shine.

If you’re interested in trying fish oil for acne, talk to your nutritionist, who will recommend the best pure, bioavailable form.

4. Avoid Wearing too Much Makeup

Its true makeup can hide undesirable breakouts but can also cause them.

Certain ingredients clog your pores; this combined with sebum, dead skin cells and debris, is what acne bacteria love, leading to more breakouts; it’s a vicious cycle.

Look for a non-comedogenic mineral makeup that gives you good coverage and allows your skin to breathe.

5. Manage your Diet

Taking care of your skin does require an integral, internal approach; that is why it is essential to be mindful of what you eat.

Certain food groups trigger hormonal changes and the overproduction of oil in your sebaceous glands, which can lead to hormonal acne.

Those food groups rich in saturated and trans fats and high-glycemic carbohydrates increase sebum production, making your skin excessively oily.

To avoid this, consider a Vitamin and Mineral-rich diet to nourish your skin from within.

Vitamin A and E are perfect for preventing acne; nuts and seeds are rich in Vitamin E, while animal products such as liver and fish are rich in Vitamin A.

If your looking for a diet for clearer, healthier skin, our article, the 10-day detox diet, is an excellent read and will help you understand the foods that prevent acne from occurring,

6. Avoid stress

Stress may not directly cause acne, but a known correlation exists between stress and increased sebum production.

This can trigger breakouts and affect your skin’s healing process, thus making wound healing worse and your skin more susceptible to breakouts.

7. Keep your hair clean

Many hair products are rich in oil, and whilst they may keep hair nourished and shiny, this can also lead to pomade acne, which is why acne is sometimes evident on the forehead.

If you are concerned that your scalp is excessively oily or inflamed, the article seborrhoeic dermatitis facial treatment will help you diagnose your condition and treat it correctly.

To keep your hair oil-free, a great tip is to rinse with cider vinegar, which will help prevent a build-up of oil on your scalp.

8. Don’t be Tempted to Over Exfoliate

Something we see in our clinic a lot is clients over-exfoliating to get rid of their acne.

But using harsh scrubs, exfoliating brushes, and abrasive washcloths can cause inflammation; they are too harsh for sensitive skin, and you can do more harm than good.

You might want to remember that brushes and washcloths are breeding grounds for bacteria.

The best option for exfoliating your face is to use enzymatic peeling lotions that gently slough away dead skin cells without causing sensitivity.

9. Use Acne Medicine and Treatments

If all else fails, acne medication may be required; retinoids are a class of substances derived from Vitamin A.

If your acne is severe, antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent the bacterial infection associated with acne and help reduce inflammation.

10. Avoid touching your skin

You may unconsciously touch your skin and have the urge to squeeze your breakouts.

But doing this can spread oil, dirt and bacteria from your hands to your face, leading to more clogged pores and putting you at risk of infection.

And if you want to know how to prevent acne scars, avoid picking your pimples, as this can result in permanent acne scars and pigmentation marks.

If you are tempted to squeeze your spots, book a professional facial, where a skincare specialist will steam your skin and hygienically extract your breakouts. This will prevent scarring and PIH.

If you love these hacks and want a deeper dive into the triggers that cause acne, our article on acne causes and how to prevent them has some great tips.

To Conclude. The naked truth

Acne is a common skin disorder that can cause pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, sensitivity and inflamed cysts;

This is why it is essential to understand the best tips on preventing acne, so you can treat your skin correctly and have clear, blemish-free skin.

Breakouts occur when excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria form within the pore, causing your body to react as it would when an infection disrupts your immune system.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce these breakouts:

• eat a healthy diet, use oil-free makeup
• avoid picking your skin
• adopt a stress-free lifestyle
• introduce good hygiene habits
• use only gel-based products, not cream

A well-thought-out skincare routine includes regular cleansing, gentle exfoliation, and moisturising with an oil-free gel.

We also advise introducing a topical spot treatment to help control your acne.

So that you can have healthy, clear skin for now and many years to come.