Suffering from regular breakouts? You are not alone. According to The International Dermal Institute, 40-55% of people ranging from 20-40 years old are diagnosed with low grade persistent acne as well as oily skin.
If you are someone who has consistent breakouts, you will probably do whatever it takes to achieve the clear skin you deserve. Fortunately, you do not have to resort to anything extreme as all you need to do is tweak your lifestyle a bit to help prevent acne. Although the causes of acne are not always so clear, knowing what habits to practice can reduce the risk of breakouts.
6) Get More Sleep
According to experts, every hour of sleep you lose at night is equal to about 14% increase in risk of psychological stress. So what does lack of sleep have to do with acne?
According to Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist based in Danville, California, stress increases the production of the steroid hormone called glucocorticoid, which can lead to abnormalities in skin function and structure and can make conditions like acne worse.
To ensure that you get enough beauty sleep, lower your thermostat down to around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. According to a French study, a cooler body temperature can help induce sleep.
5) Tweak Your Diet
Avoid foods that causes your blood sugar to spike as this triggers a boost in insulin. Having too much insulin in your bloodstream can lead to the growth of cells that clogs your pores as well as stimulate your oil glands.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Nutrition, incorporating more beans, veggies and whole grains into your diet will lead to fewer breakouts. The same study also suggests cutting back on white rice, white bread, sugar and pasta.
4) Get Some Exercise
Aside from helping reduce stress levels, which, as aforementioned, is a contributing factor to acne breakouts, exercising also benefits your skin by increasing blood circulation, which sends more oxygen to your skin cells.
It is important to remember though that too much sweating can also cause breakouts so make sure that you shower after every physical workout.
3) Drink More Water
Increasing your water intake is an effective way to hydrate your skin from the inside out as well as flush out toxins from your body. According to a research from the University of Missouri in Columbia, keeping the body hydrated significantly boosts blood flow throughout the skin and body.
2) Use Sunscreen
You may think that your complexion looks clear and breakout-free after a day in the sun, but inflammation due to sunburn can not only cause unsightly dark spots, it can also actually make your acne worse. Furthermore, staying under the sun without sunscreen increases your risk of skin cancer.
Make sure that you put on sunscreen before spending the day out in the sun. if you are prone to acne breakouts, look for a sunscreen using lighter chemical ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, zinc oxide, methoxycinnamate and octocylene.
If you do have acne, pick a sunscreen with “noncomedogenic” on the label, which basically means it does not clog your pores.
1) Say Yes To Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Research has shown that Omega-3s can control the production of leukotriene B4, a molecule that can cause inflammatory acne as well as increase sebum.
You can find Omega-3s in foods like avocados, salmon, flaxseed oil, walnuts as well as in supplements.
