Six Ways to Help Prevent Breakouts

Breakouts often happen because pores build up with dirt, skin cells and debris. Washing your face is a simple way to keep those pores clear. If you wear makeup, you can't avoid removing it at night!

Bar soap is alkaline, and skin is slightly acidic. This means that bar soap throws skin out of its comfort zone, which can make it flakey, tight and irritated. Soap can also collect bacteria (after all, it sits in a dark, damp shower all day). Use a cleanser that is pH balanced to the skin and designed for oilier skin types.

Exfoliating can make a dramatic difference on oily skin, but don't think "scrub" when you think of exfoliating. Scrubs can actually spread bacteria when you are breaking out! Leave-on exfoliants with salicylic acid are ideal...this ingredient penetrates through oil to help keep pores clear.

Reading product labels can be like reading a foreign language, but knowing which ingredients to avoid is very important! Many companies use comedogenic or unhealthy ingredients because they are cheap to obtain (and they don't think you will know better)! Here is the list of bad ingredients: mineral oil, lanolin, SD alcohol, isopropyl myristate, fragrance.

Phones are a major culprit...if you break out on your cheek and/or jawline, give your phone a quick wipe-down each morning. Hats can cause breakouts on the forehead. Be sure that your pillowcase gets washed regularly, and avoid using detergents and dryer sheets that contain artificial fragrance (this can irritate skin).

It is so very tempting to pick at breakouts, but this can damage the tissue and spread bacteria. Find a good treatment product (they typically contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur), and apply it as soon as you feel a pimple coming. Destroy it before it has the chance to surface.