Acne Vulgaris (Pimples) Prevention

Acne vulgaris, commonly known as “pimples”, is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous follicles. It is a common problem among adolescents, but it could occur in adults, too. Adult acne tend to be low-grade and chronic. Aside from its physical effects, it can also bring emotional and psychological effects to a patient.

Acne is preventable, although some patients appear more predisposed to the disease, especially those with hereditary influences and taking some medications that can cause acne. Because it is a common problem, many tend to take it for granted until it worsens. Although, there are numerous acne medications available in the pharmacy, not many of them may prove useful for curing your acne. We have to bear in mind that prevention is always better than cure.

Here are some simple ways to prevent acne:

1. Wash your face regularly but avoid washing too much as it may create more damage to your skin. Washing can help remove excess oils and dead skin cells. Washing twice daily gently is all that is required.

2. Clean your face gently (without scrubbing or hard rubbing) using a gentle cleanser. Avoid using soap as much as possible because it can cause drying and breakouts. Seek a dermatologists advice on some gentle dermatological products for your skin.

3. Wash your face after exercising because sweat can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. Sweat, along with skin oils, can lead to trapped dirts and bacteria on your pores.

4. Don’t squeeze, pop or pick your acne because it might lead to irritation, infection and scarring. We have been hearing these to our parents and it appears that they are right.

5. Avoid using hair gel or spray as much as possible. These formulations contain oil that may worsen your acne. Or if you can’t live without your hair gel or spray, make sure to keep it away from your face.

6. When sleeping, try to make sure your hair isn’t in your face. Hair, according to some studies, is a good oil carrier.

7. Always use clean towels and pillowcases. Dirty towels and pillowcases may harbor bacteria and dirt, which are among the causes of acne.

8. For girls, remove your makeups when going to sleep Makeup can also lead to clogging of your pores and trapping of dirts and bacteria.

9. Avoid stress and get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep for at least 8 hours everyday can boost your immune system. We know that our immune system helps in preventing invasion of foreign materials to our body, which include bacteria.

10. Always seek your dermatologist’s advice when trying out a new skin product. Some products can have comedogenic or acnegenic effects, which means they have tendencies to cause acne.