While many people suffer from occasional breakouts due to hormones or aging, there are others where acne is part of their DNA. How do you know if this applies to you? Because there’s no actual test, your parents are a good indication of your propensity for acne. “The parents of many of my severe acne patients commonly acknowledge that they too had severe cystic acne,” explains Chico, CA, dermatologist, Kafele Hodari, MD. “In fact, understanding the severity of their parents’ scarring, the course of their acne and how they responded, is often helpful in anticipating how the child might also respond to therapy.“
So what can you do if you are genetically prone to acne? Having (and maintaining) a solid beauty routine is key. Your beauty regimen should include an appropriate facial wash, as well as a retinol to exfoliate skin and unclog pores to effectively keep acne under control. Applying sunscreen is also important because the sun can have a negative effect on existing blemishes.
Dr. Hodari also advises avoiding certain triggers that can make acne worse. “Anything that produces excessive oil production within skin can also lead to clogged pores,” he explains. This includes things like sleeping in makeup and leading an unhealthy lifestyle. High stress levels and bad eating habits can make acne worse. “Maintaining lower levels of stress, avoiding poor eating habits and trying to maintain a good sleep schedule may all decrease oil production, and therefore the effect of clogged pores.”
