FitSugar

Skin Quiz: Pimple Problems

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:00:58 -0700

Who hasn't had a blemish show up at the worst time? As embarrassing as breakouts can be, knowing what is behind these flare-ups can help. So take this quiz to test your acne aptitude.

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Favorite Excuse Not to Wear Sunscreen: I Break Out

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:30:50 -0700

If you're regularly exposed to the sun's harmful UV rays, it can lead to skin cancer, wrinkles, and sunspots. The obvious solution is to protect your skin with sunscreen. One problem though is that lathering your skin with SPF lotion can cause breakouts on your face, neck, shoulders, and back. For some people, it's so embarrassing that it makes them want to forget the sunscreen altogether. Remember though that not all sunscreens are created equal. To help prevent breakouts caused by sunscreen, read more.

First of all, if your skin is acne prone, you'll want to use a special sunscreen designed just for your face and another for the rest of your body. Go for an oil-free face lotion like the one shown that is specifically formulated not to clog your pores - the technical terms is noncomedogenic. If your body is prone to breakouts, choose an oil-free body sunscreen that's also noncomedogenic.

If you have acne lotion or topical medication you use, apply it to your clean skin first, and then apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before heading out into the sun. As soon as you come inside wash the sunscreen off. If you've tried a certain brand of sunscreen, and it's caused pimples then try another one. It may take a few tries or a visit to your dermatologist for suggestions, but whatever you do, don't give up and forget the sunscreen. Your skin will thank you later.

You Asked: I Started Exercising, But Now I'm Breaking Out!

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Dear Fit,
I just got on an exercise kick and joined a gym. I've been doing 30 minutes of cardio three times a week and finishing with 30 minutes of strength training and stretching. I feel amazing and am starting to lose weight, but now I have a new problem - acne. And it's not just on my face. I have it on my neck and back too. How can I prevent this?
- Blemished Back

Acne and bacne can be unfortunate side effects of exercise, especially in hot weather. There are definitely ways to prevent breakouts caused by sweating.

Wash your face before working out to remove excess oil and makeup that can clog your pores. Then apply a facial moisturizer that's made for acne-prone skin such as Neutrogena's Oil-Free Anti-Acne Moisturizer.
Always wear clean workout clothes, and choose sports bras and tank tops with shoulder straps rather than racerback style. You want the skin on your back to breathe as much as possible, and if there's material covering it, heat, sweat, and bacteria get trapped, which can lead to bacne. Also, the more your skin is covered, the hotter you'll feel, and the more you'll sweat, which also leads to breakouts.
Wear clothes made of wicking material that pulls sweat off the skin.

To find out what else read more.

After cardio, wash your face before you strength train and stretch. Also dry the rest of your body off. You can even change into a dry bra and top if you're especially prone to bacne.
Shower immediately after you're done exercising. Not only does it rinse the sweat and pimple-causing bacteria off your skin, but the water also helps to cool your body temperature down so you don't continue sweating once you get out. Don't have time to shower? Definitely wash your face and put on clean, dry clothes.
Unclog pores and remove dead skins cells from your skin by exfoliating in the shower with loofah gloves. They're gentle enough to use everyday on your face and the rest of your body. Use the gloves with an antibacterial cleanser such as Cetaphil, or soaps that have acne medicine in them, such as salicylic acid.

Whatever you do, don't stop working out. If acne is still a problem after trying out these tips, see a dermatologist.

Source

DrSugar Answers: Could Soy Cause Acne Outbreaks?

DrSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:24:16 -0800

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

I am struggling with acne and have been for a while; topical options just don't seem to cut it, and I'm not sure how I feel about antibiotics. Anyway, I eat a lot of soy products and recently have noticed that my acne gets worse during periods when I eat more of them. I've been doing my own research, but the opinions on the web are conflicting. Is there a link between soy and acne?
-Suspicious of Soy

No one likes to deal with blemishes. If you're curious what the doctor has to say about this matter, read more.

When I first received your inquiry, I was not sure about the relationship, so I did an extensive online search of medical databases, including the biggest, PubMed. The search for "soy and acne" returned no relevant papers or articles. Next I went to a reputable online source of medical information called Emedicine and again came up empty-handed. The next place I turned was Google. The search for soy and acne led me to a number of forums, message boards, and health-related websites/blogs. Similar to your experience, I found these sources contain conflicting information. There are quite a few reports of people eliminating soy from their diets and noticing an improvement in their acne. However, there are also a number of websites that actually promote increasing dietary soy to improve acne.

The short answer to your question is no. There is no evidence of a direct link between acne and soy. However, everyone's body is different, and some people may have improved acne by eliminating soy. The only way to know for sure is to try a week or two without soy and see if it helps. Most health professionals, including dermatologists, actually do not believe that there is a strong relationship between food and acne. This is because most old wives' tales about the relationship between acne and foods, such as chocolate, have never been validated by scientific studies. However, this Newsweek article reports a possible link between highly refined carbs (such as bread and pasta) and acne. More well-established causes of acne include bacteria, hormones, stress, and inflammation. Wikipedia actually has a surprisingly good review of the causes of acne and the issues surrounding the relationship between food and acne.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Eat Whole Wheat For Clearer Skin

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

If you've tried every cleanser, cream, and gel, and your skin is still breaking out, it might be time to change your thinking. Instead of dabbing your pimples with anti-acne meds to make them disappear, try tackling the problem from the inside out before the spots appear on your face. Australian researchers have found that nourishing your body with wheat and other whole grains can reduce acne. That means you should ditch refined carbs such as breads, cookies, and crackers made with enriched white flour, and choose ones made with whole grain flour instead. Whole grains are considered low on the glycemic index, and they help maintain a steady balance of insulin. When you eat refined carbs, your insulin spikes, and this can cause a boost in certain hormones called androgens, which cause zits. In this study, after 12 weeks on low-glycemic diets, people noticed a 20 percent decrease in breakouts.

If it's clear skin you're after, include at least three servings of whole grains in your daily day. Some great options are brown rice, quinoa, barley, oats, and millet, or eat foods made out of these whole grain flours. Not only are they great for your skin, but they can prevent constipation and lower blood pressure too.

Source

Just Minutes to a Healthier You . . .

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0700

You're probably busy with a lot on your plate: exercise, kids, dog, work, grocery shopping, socializing, etc. I'm sure you barely have enough time to shower every day, let alone do all those little household things you're supposed to do like wash out your garbage can (eww mold) and vacuum under your bed (sneaky dust bunnies). Changing my sheets goes along with that, too. In a perfect world, I'd put fresh sheets on the bed once a week, but realistically speaking, I admit that doesn't always happen. For my face's sake though, I definitely make sure to at least change my pillowcase every Sunday. Just think about all the oils, hair products, lotions, (and drool) that come off your head and onto your pillow. All that gunk can clog your pores and cause breakouts. Prevent acne breakouts by changing your pillowcase at least once a week. If you can, toss your entire pillow into the dryer to kill bacteria that collects in there.

Source

The Worst Acne Fixes

FitSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:30:00 -0700

It's red. It's big. You want it gone and you want it gone fast.

You may think you have a few tricks up your sleeve for making a zit disappear fast but those tricks may be doing more harm than good. Newsweek uncovered the worst home acne cures that you may want to think about cutting from your bathroom routine. I'm guilty of one of them, what about you?

Source

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What You Eat Goes to Your Face: The Truth About Acne Quiz

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Pimples. Zits. Blemishes. We all get them and we're all on a quest to get rid of them. Take this quiz to see what you know about what causes them and how to prevent them from popping up.

Source

Take the quiz

Chocolate Causes Acne: Myth or Reality

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:15:00 -0800

We have all heard that chocolate causes acne, but is it true? Take this quiz and see if getting your chocolate on brings on the dreaded spots.

Source

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Favorite Excuse for Not Working Out: Sweating Makes Me Breakout

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Part of getting a good workout means that I sweat a lot. I don't necessarily need to be sopping wet like when I take a Bikram yoga class, but a little sweat makes me feel like I pushed myself.

The bad thing about sweating when you workout is that it can lead to breakouts, and not just on your face. Blemishes can appear on your back, neck and chest, but they don't have to.

Here are some tips on preventing exercise-related pimples:

Wash your face before working out to get all the oil and makeup off. Then apply a facial moisturizer that's made for acne-prone skin such as Neutrogena's Oil-Free Anti-Acne Moisturizer.
Always wear clean workout clothes. Choose a sports bra and tank top that has over-the-shoulder sleeves instead of a racerback or t-shirt that covers your back. Wear the least amount of clothes while still feeling comfortable, since the more your skin is covered, the hotter you'll feel and the more you'll sweat.
Wear clothes made of breathable fabric. Many sports bras and tops are made of wicking material that pulls sweat off the skin.

There are more tips. To see them read more

If you like to do weight training or stretching after your sweaty cardio routine, dry yourself off in between and then change into a dry bra and top.
Shower immediately after exercising to prevent body acne. Not only does it rinse the sweat and pimple-causing bacteria off your skin, but the water also helps to cool your body temperature down so you don't continue sweating once you get out. If you can't shower, definitely wash your face and peel off those sweaty clothes. Completely dry off and put on clean, dry clothes. Then hit the shower as soon as you can.
Exfoliate your skin. I like to use loofah gloves in the shower (My fave are from The Body Shop, $7). They're gentle enough to use everyday, on your face and the rest of your body. Use the gloves with an antibacterial cleanser such as Cetaphil, or soaps that have acne medicine in them, such as salicylic acid. Gently scrub your skin to unclog pores and slough off dead skin cells.

Fit's Tips: Whatever you do, don't stop working out. If acne is still a problem after trying out these tips, seeing a dermatologist is a great idea.