The following are ways to aid in the prevention, control and treatment of acne:

  • Diet. Although diet does not cause acne, control and treatment can be helped by maintaining a healthy diet. Cut down on fried foods, spicy foods, soft drinks, coffee, tea, alcohol and excess sugar. A good detoxifying diet includes whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables (particularly green leafy), nuts and seeds.
  • Fluids. Drink lots of water, (8 glasses per day is recommended) as this helps to flush out toxins, and hydrate the skin.
  • Exercise. Get lots of exercise; this is a great way to manage stress. Stress causes the body to produce more androgens which stimulate the sebaceous glands creating more sebum (oil).
  • Hygiene. Wash your face 2 times a day using sensitive skin cleansers. Don’t use regular soap that leaves scummy deposits on your skin that clog pores and increase oiliness. Try to use as many natural products as you can, rather than chemically-based ones that can irritate the skin further and strip away the natural oils of the skin, thus making your body increase sebum production to make up for what it feels it is lacking. Use your fingers when cleansing, rather than harsh face cloths. Pat dry; do not rub.
  • Topical Treatments. Use a topical acne gel that incorporates an anti-inflammatory, and reduces redness. Look for products that penetrate the skin with healing nutrients and provide anti-bacterial activity against causative organisms of acne.
  • Oiliness. Blot you face with soft tissues throughout the day. Adding a little bit of witch hazel to the tissue works as a great oil absorber.
  • Hands off! Touching your face a lot can push bacteria into your pores. Don’t pick or squeeze pimples, whiteheads or blackheads! This can cause scarring and spread infection.
  • Cosmetics. Use oil-free and noncomedogenic (doesn’t clog pores) make-up and moisturizers.

Skin Care Regimes

All skin care regimes consist of 4 stages: cleansing/toning, exfoliating, moisturizing, and sunscreening. The particular products used, and frequency of each of these stages will depend on the type of skin you have and your age.