7 Tips To Prevent And Reduce Acne Breakouts In Men

Advertisements that promote acne-busting products often focus just on women. But a lot of men are just as frustrated by persistent acne breakouts. In fact, men have longer and more severe incidents of acne.¹ And despite the fact that acne could be caused by anything from wrong cosmetics and pollution to allergies and genetics, a proper skincare routine plays a major role in preventing acne breakouts. So if you are noticing an increase in acne episodes, incorporate these skin-friendly habits.

1. Stay Clean

Maintain cleanliness by washing your face regularly, at least twice a day, with a soap, cleanser, or at least just water. This is even more important if you spend most of the day outdoors. When exposed to the air, dirt, dust, and oil build up on your skin, clogging the pores and creating a favorable atmosphere for acne-causing bacteria.

[pullquote]You could also cleanse your face using tomato juice, lemon juice, cucumber juice, chamomile tea, or rose water.[/pullquote]

Carry wet wipes so that you can give your face a quick cleanup on the go. At workplaces, wash your face with water when you take a break. Preferably use a mild soap that suits your skin type but does not have too many chemical additives. Alternatively, you can make a natural cleanser.²

Apple Cider Vinegar Cleanser

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp water

Directions

• Mix the ingredients in a clean bowl.
• Dab a ball of cotton in it and apply it on your face with upward movements.

2. Exfoliate Regularly

Exfoliate your facial skin at least 2–3 times a week to keep your it clean. When you scrub your face clean, you remove the dead skin cells and boost new cell growth.

[pullquote]You could also use coffee grounds, oatmeal, brown sugar, sea salt, and ground almonds for exfoliation.[/pullquote]

Exfoliation also unclogs pores and keeps your face acne-free. Besides this, it also helps rid the skin of acne marks. Remember to not scrub your skin too harshly. Use a gentle, exfoliating scrub or make your own at home.³

Baking Soda Exfoliant

Ingredients

• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey

Directions

• Mix all the ingredients in a clean bowl.
• Apply the resulting mixture with clean fingers on your face in a circular motion.
• Retain for 2 minutes, rinse, and pat dry using a cotton towel.

If you’d like to mix things up and try something new every week, here are a few other exfoliating recipes that you can try.

3. Treat Oily Skin

Some men tend to have an extremely oily skin, which increases acne breakouts and makes it hard to manage.⁴ This is due to an increased sebum production.

[pullquote]Try a clay or orange peel mask every week to reduce oiliness and tighten pores.[/pullquote]

To avoid acne, take steps to reduce the oiliness in your skin. Use a face wash that makes your skin dry or a face mask to reduce the sebum production. Here’s a DIY homemade face mask that not only treats oily skin but also targets blackheads and removes dirt.

Oats And Yogurt Face Mask

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp steel-cut oats
• 3 tbsp fresh yogurt

Direction

• Blend the ingredients using a blender.
• Apply the resulting mixture on your face and leave it on for at least 15 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.
• Apply at least twice a week.

4. Use Sunscreen

While sun exposure is good for your health, in excess, UV rays can make your acne darker in color and more stubborn to get rid of. In addition to this, sun exposure might trigger acne-like conditions like rosacea and pityrosporum folliculitis (bumps caused due to a yeast infection). So, if you intend to spend a lot of hours out in the sun, use a sunscreen. Apply every 4 hours for maximum benefit.⁵

5. Shave Carefully

Be sure to avoid cuts when you shave your beard or mush. Such cuts result in a wound, tend to inflame the skin, and cause irritation. These can lead to further acne growth. In order to do this, you could either get professional help or use an electric shaver. Here are a few tips that you should keep in mind:

• Try to trim your beard with a scissor or trimmer as much as possible before shaving. This gives you a clearer look at your skin.
• Moisturize and hydrate your skin enough before shaving.
• Use the right shaving products, ones that don’t cause any further allergies.
• Shave the acne-ridden areas slowly.
• Avoid using an aftershave. Instead, try aloe vera gel.

6. Wash Your Hair

What’s washing your hair got anything to do with acne? Well, no matter how long or short your hair is, if left unclean, the dirt, oil, and dandruff can be passed on to your face and neck as you sweat, leading to acne.⁶ If you’ve noticed more acne along your hairline, this is probably why. Here’s what you need to do.

• Shampoo your hair at least on consecutive days. Use a mild shampoo to avoid hair fall.
• Do not use hot water on your hair to avoid hair fall and dandruff issues.
• Use a dry shampoo, natural astringents like black tea, or apple cider vinegar to wash your hair if it’s really greasy.
• If you notice increased dandruff, resolve the issue first to prevent any resulting skin issues.

7. Leave The Acne Alone

Yes, it definitely is tempting to pop a pimple or simply touch it often. While your skin might lose its unsightly look at that moment, you’ll get a scar that will last much longer. Also, since it’s highly unlikely that you wash your hands each time before touching your face, the bacteria from your hands pass on to your face and cause further breakouts. When you pop a pimple, there’s also a chance of spreading the bacteria to other parts of your face.⁷

Your facial skin is a lot more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body. It only makes sense to take a little extra care in dealing with your facial skin, which is out in the open most of the time. After all, who wouldn’t want a blemish-free, acne-free face? Try out these tips and let us know how they worked out for you, or if you have any more ideas to contribute.