If you want smooth, glowing skin, you must develop ways to prevent or cure acne breakouts. Acne can appear anywhere on the skin, but it is most common on the face, and although the condition is often associated with teenagers, it can also become an issue in adult life.

If you have been experiencing acne breakouts on your face, you can go for acne treatment or use the available prevention methods to contain its spread. Here are 6 of them.

Have a daily routine for washing your face

To avoid breakouts, it is important to remove dirt, sweat, and oil by washing your face at most two times each day (washing your face more than twice can worsen your acne). You should also use an alcohol-free cleanser instead of harsh products that leave the skin dry, causing irritation. Below are some tips on how to wash your face properly.

  • Wet the face with warm water
  • Using your fingers, apply a mild cleanser in a gentle circular motion.
  • Rinse with clean, warm water and pat to dry.

Moisturize your skin

Since most acne treatment products dry the skin, it is advisable to moisturize your skin after washing and whenever it feels dry. This will keep your skin hydrated to prevent dry skin and irritation. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid moisturizers containing synthetic fragrance, oil, or other ingredients that can irritate the skin and cause breakouts. The best option is non-comedogenic and fragrance-free products.

Stay hydrated

If you are struggling with acne, you should avoid dehydration at all costs as it promotes the production of more oil by the oil glands in your skin. Dehydrated skin also gives your skin a dull appearance and promotes redness and inflammation.

To stay hydrated, you should drink at least eight glasses of water each day. You can increase the amount after exercise if you live in a hot environment or are breastfeeding or pregnant.

Avoid makeup during breakouts

If you have pimples on your face, you can be tempted to use makeup to conceal them. However, applying makeup over spots will clog pores, thus worsening the breakout. If you cannot go natural, avoid using heavy and greasy foundations. Instead, you can use fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and sheer products.

Wash your hair often

Since the products you use on your hair can leak to your skin and clog pores, you should ensure that your hair is clean before going to sleep. If the hair is long, find a hairstyle that puts the hair away from the face to prevent contact with the skin.

You should also watch what you use to wash your hair as it will most likely get to your face, especially the forehead. You can avoid using oils, fragrances, gelds, or pomades as they can dry your skin and cause irritation when they get on your face. Some hair products like hair oil will also clog your pores and trigger breakouts.

Stay out of the sun

Though the sun is a good source of vitamin D, too much exposure to sunlight exposes you to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays can increase inflammation on your skin, cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or even skin cancer.

The best way to protect yourself is by limiting your exposure to the sun, especially after 10am. If you are walking or working under the sun, you can wear protective clothing like hats, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and sunglasses. Also, ensure that you have applied a broad-spectrum sunscreen at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.

Parting words

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions caused by biological and external factors. Luckily, you can treat acne using over-the-counter medicines and antibiotics prescribed by a dermatologist. The above tips will help you contain the spread of your acne as your continue treating it.