Top 9 Ways to Prevent Acne Breakouts (from Guest Blogger Samantha Pope-Cubillos)

Clear skin is beautiful

After many hours of research, I found list after list of what makes someone beautiful. Every country and culture has their own idea of beauty. However, there was one main characteristic that seemed to be at the top of every list… clear skin.

Acne breakouts can be embarrassing and painful. If you want to beat acne breakouts, it’s important to understand the two primary types of acne:

(1) Follicular Acne- This is a more localized form of acne caused by a combination of dead skin cells and oil that builds up and blocks the hair follicle openings. Over time, the follicles become impacted and inflammation and infection can occur, resulting in acne.

(2) Systemic Acne - This form of acne is called “systemic” because it is caused by an imbalance in the whole body, not just localized to the skin. Poor food assimilation and hormonal imbalance can affect the skin tissue, resulting in the skin being more at risk for constant break out, which can escalate to acne.

Here are the top 9 ways to prevent acne breakouts:

1. Commit to an effective twice-daily cleansing regimen with your favorite natural skin care products. Regular exfoliation of the skin to prevent the build up of dead skin cells and debris in the follicles.
   
   
2. Control oily hair. If the oils from your hair make their way to your face it can cause a breakout. Oil can also build up on your pillowcases so it is important to wash them regularly.
   
   
3. A healthy diet will assist in restoring the skin and body to give you the acne relief you are looking for. Try dark green, leafy vegetables, such as Spinach or Kale. Supplement with probiotics, algae, and seaweed. Drink plenty of water to flush harmful toxins out of your body.
   
   
4. Do not pick at your skin. It is important to work with a licensed esthetician to perform extractions and facials.
   
   
5. Avoid touching your face and resting your chin on your hands as this can block follicle openings and cause buildup of dead skin cells and sebum (congested follicles).
   
   
6. Use makeup in moderation. Go bare when possible. If you do wear makeup try using a mineral powder instead of liquid, but if you do use liquid, make sure it is non-comedogenic (not blackhead producing).  Make sure you clean your applicators regularly. It is important to remove your makeup before you go to bed.
   
   
7. Moisturize your skin daily. Drying out the skin will dry out the follicle, thereby producing more oil and possibly lead to more breakouts.
   
   
8. Minimize stress in your life. When the brain recognizes stress, it releases stress hormones called cortisol. Cortisol thickens the hair follicle's lining, causing blackheads/whiteheads. Workout, get more sleep, and set aside time for relaxation to help your body in maintain a healthy cortisol level.
   
   
9. Steer clear from chemicals. It’s important to understand how drugs, chemicals, fast foods, and other environmental aspects of our lives weaken our body’s immune system and the quality of our lives. Avoid exposure to synthetics and harsh chemicals such as petroleum.

You can purchase your acne skin kit here.

About Guest Blogger, Samantha Pope-Cubillos

Samantha is an avid health enthusiast, owner of Sovi Fit, and daughter of former Source Vitál owner Jerry Pope.