How To Prevent Acne For A Younger Looking Skin

Why am I Breaking out?

This is a common question that skin care specialists get asked all of the time. There is no one answer to this question, but understanding how acne develops can shed some light on its causes and importantly, its prevention and treatment.

According to Newport Beach dermatologist Kappel, “Acne occurs when a pore becomes clogged. This starts with an accumulation of dead skin cells. Instead of shedding these cells, an overproduction of sebum oil in the body makes it easier for the dead skin cells to cluster in the pore, where they can become trapped. Sometimes bacteria, p. acnes, also get inside the clogged pore, where it can multiply quickly. When this occurs, the pore becomes inflamed and you are at risk of developing a painful acne cyst.”

The reasons this process occurs differ by ages and stages of life.

If you are a teen, acne is almost always caused by overactive oil glands. Adult acne, however, is usually caused by fluctuating hormones.

Regardless of your age, diet, sleep patterns, hygiene, lifestyle, exercise, and stress can exacerbate breakouts.

When it comes to diet, it’s not the greasy foods that are the culprits. Instead, skim milk and foods high in the glycemic index (GI) may play a role in causing acne. The GI ranks foods on a scale from 1 to 100 based on how quickly (or slowly) carbohydrates affect your blood-sugar levels. White bread scores 100 and foods that rank below 55 are considered to have a low GI. The evidence is limited and no specific dietary changes are recommended in the management of acne, as reported in the latest guidelines from the AAD.

Stress gets in the way of us living our best lives and may prevent us from doing the things that help us stay healthy including taking care of our skin. Taking steps to lower your stress levels or the way you cope with stress will have a positive effect on all aspects of your health including your skin. Find something that makes a difference and do it every day whether yoga, meditation, deep breathing or taking a walk in the park.

The right skin care regimen can treat and even prevent acne. The OC Facial Center Acne kit or Zo Acne kit includes highly effective products formulated to treat clogged pores, blackheads (comedones), papules and pustules (pimples) and cysts. It includes Exfoliating Cleanser, Exfoliating Polish, Complexion Renewal Pads and a Sulfur Masque.

When used as directed, these products work to slow sebum production, exfoliate skin cells to help unclog pores and lighten pores. If your acne is caused by hormonal ups and downs, birth control pills can help. Ask your dermatologist about your options.