Many people are prone to acne breakouts, especially teens. For those who suffer from acne, a prevention program is the best solution. A common myth is that acne is simply a part of growing up and that there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. However, if people simply view the skin as the largest living organ the body has, they can then begin to recognize the importance of taking care of the skin

In order to fully embrace an acne prevention program, you must first understand the variety of causes. Each person is different and may experience acne for different reasons. The different causes of acne include hormones, genetics, overactive sebaceous glands, accumulation of dead skin cells and even stress. Another step of acne prevention includes eliminating bacteria found in the pores, not using anabolic steroids and avoid skin lesions.

Firstly, a hair follicle will push hair through the skin within a tunnel that is kept lubricated by a substance called sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands. When the tunnel gets blocked, it forms a lump which then collects bacteria and results in acne. One way to prevent this is to keep the pores open killing off any bacteria before it can form.

For most people that suffer acne outbreaks, once the blackheads and pimples appear on the skin, it can take several days and even weeks to get rid of the unsightly blemishes. By using an appropriate acne prevention routine, they can limit the frequency and duration of the outbreaks. Keeping the skin clean and free of dead skin cells is probably the most important aspect of acne prevention they can use.

Topical bactericides such as benzoyl peroxide are commonly used in the treatment of acne outbreaks, but are not recommended in an acne prevention program. While keeping the skin clear and the pores open is an integral part of preventing the development of acne, products containing this chemical should only be used to kill the bacteria once it makes its presence known as it can also dry out the skin.

Washing the skin with non-perfumed soap that contains no oil at least twice a day is also a good acne prevention treatment. While blackheads may appear to be dirt in the pores, the blackheads are actually spots of bacteria growing in the pores and can be eliminated by washing the face often and removing dead skin cells daily.