Fall Skincare Checklist: What You Can do to Prevent Acne

Fall is a wonderful time for lots of reasons-the leaves change to beautiful hues of red and orange, the cool weather allows us to bundle up with fun sweaters and scarves, and mugs of hot cocoa are never in short supply. Unfortunately, in addition to all this fun, breakouts have a way of sneaking up on us. But not to fear! There are actions you can take to ensure this doesn't happen to you. The following checklist was designed especially to keep your skin glowing and acne free during the chilly fall months.

Enjoy fall treats in moderation.

Fall holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving are centered around delicious treats, such as pumpkin pie and candy. Unfortunately, all those sweets can help spur on breakouts, since sugar can cause skin inflammation-which makes you more susceptible to acne. Thankfully, sugar is not a primary cause of acne, and that means you don't have to completely eliminate your favorite fall foods. However, be sure to enjoy them only in moderation to avoid any unnecessary blackheads, whiteheads, or cysts.

Prepare your skin for dry weather.

Fall is a time of cooler temperatures, and often times it brings drier air along with it. Dry air can lead to dry skin and may cause your body to ramp up its production of skin oil (or sebum), which helps protect you from weather-related skin damage. Unfortunately, too much sebum can cause your pores to become clogged, and this allows acne-causing bacteria to flourish. To avoid this, start including a light, noncomedogenic moisturizer to your daily skincare routine. This will provide your skin with enough hydration to ensure it doesn't have to work overtime to produce sebum. This is especially important for people with naturally dry skin to begin with.

Don't forget about the sun.

Many people think that since the weather is getting cooler the sun no longer poses a threat to their skin. However, this just isn't true. Even if it's freezing outside, the sun's UV rays can still cause skin damage, which is why you need protection just as much in the cooler months as you do during the summer. Long-sleeved clothing is a practical and easy choice for fall, but you might want to consider choosing an acne-friendly sunscreen to protect your face as well.

Stay healthy.

Flu season begins in October, and a compromised immune system can make your acne problems much worse. Poor immune system function can cause inflammation and make your body less capable of dealing with the development of acne-causing bacteria. Start to do the following now:

• Take good probiotics (LINK) now in order to strengthen your immune system  -these good bacteria help to combat toxins, germs, etc.
• Drink a half-gallon of water each day.  Fill up a half gallon glass bottle in the morning and bring it wherever you go during the day.   This helps to flush out any toxins in the liver.
• Get your green on -each day, in some form, include a green superfood, like kale, in your diet - superfoods have a ton of vitamins & minerals that will only help to strengthen your immunity
• Make a homemade chicken bone broth soup - include whatever you'd like in it - various vegetables (ie. Kale), beans, some more protein -  it is high in nutrients and minerals and also helps to detoxify the body.
• Make sure to practice good hygiene-like washing your hands frequently, avoiding contact with sick people, and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze.
• Lower your sugar intake - bacteria thrives on sugar!  It also can compromise your immune system, leaving you defenseless!

Don't ignore the internal causes of acne.

While certain factors in the fall months may make your acne worse, they aren't directly responsible for breakouts. Instead, most acne begins internally-and at any time of the year. One of the most common causes of breakouts is a hormone imbalance, which sends signals to your skin to overproduce sebum. This excess oil then clogs your pores and the cycle begins. To avoid this predicament, you need something that can regulate the effects of hormones on your skin. Products like AcnEase do just this in a safe and natural way, not by altering your hormone levels, but by preventing them from sending signals to your skin to produce sebum. With AcnEase, you can enjoy all the fun of fall without worrying about breakouts!

With a promise of clear skin,
Dr. A