Although there is no known way to prevent acne from occurring, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks in most people, as well as seek the best acne treatment for your face, body, and hormones. Acne is thought to be caused by fluctuations in hormone levels and bacterial infection. A healthy lifestyle that promotes immune function and general good health may aid in lessening the frequency and severity of acne outbreaks. Some medical treatments may also be effective in suppressing acne symptoms.
Diet and Exercise
A healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, low fat dairy products and whole grains is a key to good health. Every part of the body benefits from good nutrition including the skin. Regular aerobic exercise increases blood circulation and promotes the growth of healthy cells while ridding cells of toxins which may play a role in the development of acne. Avoiding fried foods, salty or sweet foods and refined carbohydrates may also help to prevent acne symptoms.
Keep Skin Clean
Since acne outbreaks occur due to pores which become clogged and due to excess bacteria on skin, keeping skin clean and free of debris may help to prevent acne outbreaks. Harsh cleansers that irritate skin may make acne lesions worse so it is best to use a mild cleanser and to rinse the face thoroughly with cool water. A morning and evening skin care routine which includes a gentle astringent to shrink pores and a light, oil free moisturizer may help prevent outbreaks.
Avoid Stress
There is evidence that stress, which contributes to many other health problems, may also play a role in acne flares. Medical evidence on the correlation between stress and acne outbreaks is still being examined, but it may be that stress increases the level of the male hormone testosterone which is believed to be an underlying cause of acne symptoms. Testosterone causes pores to enlarge and stimulates the production of sebum which contributes to acne symptoms.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is used to balance hormone levels in adolescents and in women following pregnancy. It is believed the fluctuating hormone levels may be one of the underlying causes of acne vulgaris. Low dose birth control pills containing the female hormone estrogen are often used to suppress acne symptoms in women and medications which inhibit testosterone production are believed to suppress symptoms in men.
Photo Therapy Treatments
A relatively new development in the treatment and prevention of acne is photo therapy. Visible light, used twice weekly has been shown to kill the bacteria associated with acne outbreaks. The therapy uses no UV light and is considered safe. Laser therapy with fractional or pulsed lasers is also approved for the treatment of acne. It works by destroying the hair follicle or the sebaceous gland which prevents acne lesions from forming.
Best Acne Treatment
It may not be possible to prevent acne, but a healthy lifestyle and proper skin care may reduce the frequency and severity of acne symptoms. Blue light and diode laser photo therapy show promise as a possible method of preventing acne symptoms. Deeper laser treatments that damage sebaceous glands preventing the secretion of sebum can prevent acne symptoms, but in spite of the best acne treatments, the underlying causes of acne will still be present.