Overview

Affecting people young and old, acne, the equal opportunity complexion destroyer, can be a problem for some for many years beyond the predictable puberty phase. If you have it under control at the moment, that's no reason to let your guard down. With a few precautionary measures, you can help to keep acne from becoming a problem in the future.

Step 1

Keep your hair and hands off of your face. Oils in your hair and fingertips can cause acne. Keeping your hair clean may also help for the inevitable times that it may come in contact with your face.

Step 2

Wash your face daily with an acne-specific soap or antibacterial soap. Make sure never to go to bed with makeup on as this will clog the pores and may cause you to break out. Forgo wearing makeup as often as possible to give your skin a break.

Step 3

Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and your system flushed. This can help to prevent pimples.

Step 4

Mix raw oatmeal with water to create a paste and apply it to your skin twice a week to help clean your skin and keep it from getting too oily. Leave the paste on your skin for 20 minutes before washing it away with warm water.

Step 5

Maintain a healthy diet, as sugars and greasy foods may affect your skin. Avoid both chocolate and coffee as both are natural excitants and can cause acne. Be sure to get plenty of zinc and vitamin A in your diet. Talk to your doctor about increasing your vitamin A intake, as too much vitamin A may not be good for some people.