Contrary to what you may have heard, acne is not caused by dirty
skin. Acne is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and an
accumulation of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, which leads
to inflammation in pores. Oil glands become stimulated when
hormones become active during puberty, which is why people are
likely to get acne in their teens. Because the tendency to
develop acne is partly genetic, if other people in your family
had (or have) acne, you may be more likely to develop it too.
Although there is no surefire way to prevent acne, try these
tips to help reduce the number and severity of your breakouts:
Washing your skin is essential (it helps remove excess surface
oils and dead skin cells that can clog your pores), but washing
too much can actually cause damage by overdrying your skin or
irritating existing acne. Remember to wash after exercising
because sweat can clog your pores and make your acne worse. If
you work around greasy food or oil or if you've been sweating
from heat or because you'