Do’s and Don’ts for Acne-Free Skin

Acne-free skin is not always genetically possible. Most people struggle throughout their adolescent and adult years with severe acne. Here are a few guidelines to help with achieving acne-free skin.
Do’s:
•    Eat healthfully and include lots of foods enriched with Vitamin A, B, E, and zinc. A multivitamin will probably have the recommended vitamins and minerals that you need to help boost your skin’s nutrition and prevent acne.
•    Shower after a workout, since sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in your pores.
•    Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to hydrate your skin and flush out the toxins in your body and skin.
•    Put on sunblock before sun exposure, since acne medications may cause adverse reactions to the sun and exacerbate your condition.
•    Use generic Retin-A to treat the acne. Retin-A is a topical medication that may be gel or cream based. Retin-A medications are offered at numerous concentration levels, each designed for a specific skin type.
•    Use non oil based makeup, and make sure to clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup.
Don’ts:
•    Don’t pop, or squeeze blemishes or whiteheads; it can lead to infection or scarring. It almost always makes the acne you have worse, not better.
•    Don’t go to bed without removing your makeup. It can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
•    Don’t stress out! There is preliminary evidence that stress may exacerbate acne. The proposed mechanisms of this effect include altered hormonal levels and suppression of immune system linked to stress.
•    Avoid the following foods:
o    Refined carbohydrates, such as white flour, especially sugar.
o    Fatty and oily foods—instead replace them with low fat options.
o    Processed foods that are hard to digest and may cause inflammation.
o    Dairy products that are high in fat can cause oily skin.