Health Factors That Can Help Prevent Acne

• Acne can affect any race or age.skin image by Robert Kelly from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the National Institute of Health, acne is a disorder triggered by hormones and other substances on the sebaceous glands of the skin. It often affects the face, shoulders, back and chest. Acne may come in the form of small tender red bumps, whiteheads and blackheads.
  
  Other problems that arise due to acne are the development of papules, which are small pink bumps. Pustules are white or yellow and are pus-filled, while nodules are large solid lesions deep within the skin and cysts are deep, pus-filled lesions.
  
  While the exact cause of acne is not well known, doctors believe it is a caused by androgens, which are male hormones, along with heredity. There are increased chances of acne if a parent or family member has the condition.
  
  

Healthy Eating

• Eating right is important for your health and skin.fruit salad with pepino fruit image by Tomo Jesenicnik from Fotolia.com
  
  According to Acne.org, eating well may help aid against acne outbreaks. The reason for this is that diet impacts the body's insulin levels. Insulin affects all other hormones within the human body, especially androgen. Because androgen levels are considered a cause of acne, eating foods that stabilize insulin is important. These foods include fruits, seafood, vegetables and grass-fed meat.
  
  

Diet and Exercise

• Keep stress levels low.stress image by Andrii IURLOV from Fotolia.com
  
  According to Acne.org, high stress levels may trigger acne flare-ups and make present flare-ups worse. Stress can be caused by school, family or personal issues and can make us tired and sick. It also can cause increased hormone levels. Stress causes inflammation because the body's adrenal glands work extra hard, releasing high levels of androgens. The androgens, then, lead to flares and outbreaks.
  
  Great ways to help lower stress levels include exercising daily, meditating and avoiding negative situations. Maintaining a healthy emotional and physical lifestyle can help prevent skin problems that lead to more emotional distress.
  
  According to Sensible Acne Advice, exercising is a great way to ward off acne. Fitness leads to proper sleeping patterns and higher self-esteem, which can decrease stress.
  
  

Vitamins

• According to Vitamins to Health, acne patients may have low levels of linoleic acid, an acid in the Omega family. Vitamins can help aid in increasing the levels. Vitamins to Health recommends flax seed oil, which supplies omega acids. It also suggests taking zinc, vitamin C and vitamin E.
  
  

Drugs

• There are many over-the-counter drugs that can prevent acne and keep skin healthy. According to the the National Institute of Health, common drugs found in face-wash products that can be bought at a local drugstore include benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, sallicylic acid and sulfur. Talk to a dermatologist about prescription drugs that may relieve acne if store-bought products do not work.