Stay Acne Free

When you were a teenager, acne may have been a daily fact of life. As you got older, you may have found outbreaks were fewer and farther between, or you may continue to struggle with adult acne. However some people, both teenagers and adults, may find that they are completely acne free part of the year, but suffering from noticeable outbreaks at other times.

Causes of Acne

Acne is generally caused by a combination of products: The sebum produced by your skin, dirt, oil, dead skin cells and acne causing bacteria being the primary ones. Depending on where you are and what you do, some of these elements may not be present in sufficient quantities at certain times of the year to produce acne at those times. This may result in some parts of the year where you are acne free, while other parts find you struggling intermittently or consistently with breakouts.

Seasonal Acne

Seasonal acne can be a different matter entirely. Certain people may experience skin irritation due to the change of seasons, particularly from summer to fall, where there is a drop of humidity. This decrease in moisture in the air may agitate certain types of skin, promoting flaking, peeling and even outbreaks of pimples, whiteheads or blackheads. People who suffer from this type of acne may be acne free all summer when humidity is high, but then have outbreaks at other parts of the year. This type of acne may also occur to someone who moves from a location that has a climate with high humidity to one that does not. If you can identify your outbreaks with a change in climate, there is a good chance that you are suffering from seasonal acne.

Acne Treatments

You should consult with your dermatologist to determine what kind of acne or other skin condition you have and what the best way to treat it is. That being said, if you are suffering from seasonal acne due to allergies or sensitivity to dry air, you will generally want to treat the condition with more gentle products. Mild cleansers and moisturizers that draw water to the skin will tend to be the most helpful. Sufferers from standard acne may wish to pursue more aggressive treatment, such as a system that incorporates benzoyl peroxide.

Benzoyl peroxide is a strong acne fighting compound that, in the right dosage, can safely unclog pores and kill acne causing bacteria. Using a benzoyl peroxide solution day and night on a regular basis can help reduce standard acne outbreaks. Any acne fighting system that uses benzoyl peroxide should also incorporate cleansing and moisturizing products to keep the skin clean and hydrated while the acne is being treated. Whether you are suffering from seasonal acne or some other kind, washing the face and hands with soap and warm water twice a day can also not only help keep one acne free, but can promote better general health as well.