BACKGROUND

SOLUTION

• Prevention is better than cure, and the best way to stay acne-free is to keep your pores clear of dirt and oil, which are generated daily from sweat, grime, and airborne pollutants such as car exhaust.

• First and foremost, I devised my own exfoliation method after decades of trial and error: While in the shower, firmly but gently rub your face with the ball of your fingers to remove the dirt and grime trapped in your pores. The shower water also helps wash away dirt and sweat on your body. Slowly work your way down from the hairline, forehead, cheeks, jawline and neck. Use both hands for twice the speed, and avoid acne-areas. You can also DIY exfoliate your shoulders, upper torso, and anywhere where you’re prone to acne. Be careful if you have long nails.

• You can also use a soft sponge or loofah, although they might cause skin thinning or unwanted bacteria infection so I prefer my own fingers (have not gotten any skin thinning issues so far after 10-15 years of hand-exfoliation).

• This practice takes only 5 minutes and should be done twice a day to keep your skin clean and much less prone to acne throughout the day and overnight. Once in the morning before you go to school or work (to remove all the dirt and sweat accumulated during sleep), and in the evening after school or work (after collecting a day’s worth of crap outside). Also highly recommended to do it after sports or a long day outside.

• Do note this is a PREVENTION METHOD, NOT A CURE. Definitely do not exfoliate active pimples or angry whiteheads as it will likely break the skin and cause more damage! Only exfoliate normal, healthy skin. This method is to prevent/lower the chance of breakouts occurring.
  
  

• You are what you eat. So avoid red meat, especially beef (and especially grilled or BBQ beef) as they are known to cause acne due to the amino acid called leucine. Leucine turns on a chain reaction that stimulates the skin’s oil glands and makes acne breakouts more likely [PremierHealth]. Furthermore, some beef, especially U.S. beef, may contain hormones which may further trigger acne.

• That isn’t to say you can’t eat beef or steak or burgers anymore, but do so in moderation. I also discovered that doing my self-exfoliation ritual soon after eating my favourite steak prevents acne breakouts.

• Avoid oily & deep fried food as it can also cause acne. As usual, eating everything in moderation is key.

• Some people observed that dairy products including milk, coffee and chocolate, spicy foods, or foods high in sugars may also trigger their acne. In fact, I find consuming milk is better for my complexion, but try what suits you.

• You can also experiment with consuming more antioxidants including my favourite avocado (or avocado milkshake), green tea, and other fruits and vegetables.

3. LEAVE YOUR SKIN ALONE (**VERY IMPORTANT**)

• Avoid putting any pimple creams/lotions/patches on your face, just use good old water. I learnt the hard way from personal experience that these expensive creams or lotions touted by consultants, even “water-based” products, actually irritate my face even more and cause further breakouts. Two reasons why: They are blocking your skin pores and not allowing your skin to “breathe”, plus applying anything not 100% natural on your face is not ideal.

• If the creams/patches you use really do alleviate your acne problem, then you have to weigh their cost and ease of use with effectiveness. Bottom line is: If the thing you are using is not producing tangible results, try my solutions and see how it goes for a month or two (no harm right?).

• Also avoid applying hair gel, hair wax, heavy make-up, sunblock (try switching to a hat instead?), and such on your hair/face as that may trigger acne.

• Also change your pillowcases or bath/face towels regularly if you think they might be causing acne breakouts.

• Face masks are OK to use although from my personal experience, they generally neither cure pimples nor cause breakouts. Feels good though!

• Lack of sleep and stress may also cause acne for some people. So get sufficient sleep and avoid over-stressing yourself at work or school if that triggers a breakout.

• Anything that messes with your hormones may cause pimples. This includes your period for the ladies, and taking hormone therapy for whatever reasons.

• And yes, babies can be a handful. For those with young kids, try to catch up on your sleep over the weekends.
  
  

• Certain sports such as running may make you more prone to acne outbreaks due to sweat and dirt clogging your pores (or just being out and about in hot humid Singapore on an ordinary day). Other sports like cycling may also cause acne due to equipment like bike helmets used. 

• But the solution does not mean cooping yourself up indoors, completely shunning your favourite sports. Here are some suggestions for those sporty people with acne issues:

1. Shower and self-exfoliate as quickly as possible after the exercise or long day out.
2. Avoid eating acne-trigger foods such as red meat, oily or high sugar food in conjunction with intense exercise periods.
3. In extreme cases, you may choose to lay off those sports which may be causing severe acne (or switch to water-based or low-sweat sports like swimming if possible).

• Long hair can trap sweat/dirt around your scalp and cause acne on your face. So do not leave long hair and cut your hair regularly if you face this problem.

• This can also apply to facial hair for men in some instances.

SUMMARY