There’s never a time when having acne is a “great” experience. So here are 4 tried and true tips that can keep your skin acne-free!
- Steer clear of overeating sushi (I know, I know…); because it’s raw, it can contain higher levels of bacteria.
- Sweat toxins out of your skin regularly in a sauna.
- Wash your pillow (as well as pillowcase) every few weeks. Microscopic bacteria love to settle in the pillow and can easily become trapped in the pores.
- Exfoliate.
Just to knock down the old myth of ” Foods “… There is absolutely no proof, that what you eat causes acne, it’s one of those myths, that has been floating around the world for way too long now.
I often see a specialist, cause i have been dealing with very problematic skin, since 2003, for some reason.. Being that i have “Combination Skin” it is pure hell, to find good products, cause what works on my dry cheeks, will not work on other facial parts 🙁 Example.: If i use anything for my dry cheeks on lets say my forehead, 3 hours later, my forehead will shine like a lamp!
So since 2003, i have going through a lot of tests and products, but there is no “Easy” solution, it all depends on the individual, you just have to find out what works for YOU!
Exfoliate??? I was told to avoid this when learning how to DE shave saying shaving alone exfoliates skin.
Martin, that’s a great point! Everytime a person shaves the skin an exfoliation of that particular area occurs. So yes, following with an exfoliation regimen afterwards will only irritate the shaved area. However, since exfoliation of the skin aids in the removal of dead skin so younger skin can reach the surface, you must be mindful to not neglect other areas of the face that aren’t getting shaved on a regular basis and are prone to acne, such as: the forehead, nose and rest of the face. Hope that clarifies my point, and thanks for the feedback!
I went dairy free and it dramatically made a big difference, acne almost all away now. Alan
Now I know why I never had a acne problem when I was young @#%&@ years ago. I never ate sushi and still don’t. 🙂
I avoid mustard because it can cause me some acne but nothing like the full bloom I get from electric razors 😉
The sushi thing made me spit coffee, such was my incredulity.
The first two suggestions are just ridiculous and pillow cases need to be washed more often than every few weeks, IMO, just for hygienic reasons alone.
I would be interested to know if you have any peer-reviewed scientific references for any of these suggestions. It seems a little unusual for a barber to be dispensing medical advice. I am a board certified dermatologist, and of your four suggestions, only exfoliation seems to qualify as reasonable (albeit only of very mild benefit). Acne has a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Sushi may contain bacteria, but does it contain P. acnes, the bacteria involved with acne? And would those bacteria survive the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract to disseminate widely throughout the body to colonize the hair follicles and cause acne? There have been countless claims about diet influencing acne, and there are good studies to support avoiding sugary foods and refined carbohydrates. Avoiding sushi in hope of clearing your skin is not worth your effort. Cleaning your pillowcase is good hygiene but again, what is the evidence for acne prevention? The P. acnes bacteria involved with acne is everywhere, and you could eradicate that bacteria and still have acne lesions. Retention hyperkeratosis at the hair folllicle, excess sebum, and androgen production are all critical factors in the etiology of acne. Sweating in a sauna may flush your eccrine sweat glands, but it does not clear retained keratinocytes and follicular plugs from the follicles, which is where acne occurs. I think it would be best if people remain true to their particular expertise and not dispense unsubstantiated and erroneous medical advice, especially with so many unsuspecting people believing anything they see in writing on the internet as truth. This post is medically irresponsible and should be considered for removal.
Dr. K,
Thanks for your professional input. I wish you had stated more about what does work to help control acne, however .. even though we didn’t pay our co-pays. When I read this “tips list,” I didn’t take it as medical advice but simply as one persons opinion of what works/worked for him. I certainly wouldn’t come here for medical advice of any kind. I get all that kind of advice from TV. 🙂 AND, the more sushi the more better nearly everything is for me!
Dr. K, your points are well taken. Since you are a board certified dermatologist, it stands to reason that you would have some good tips for preventing acne. Why don’t you write an article on dealing with acne and submit it to Sharpologist? I’m sure that many wetshavers would benefit from your expert thoughts on the matter.
There is a lot of misinformation floating around regarding acne, since long before the web ever existed. The only things that worked for me, out of the many I tried back in the day, were using an alcohol-based aftershave, changing soaps and washing my face with a washcloth every morning.
Thanks for all the feedback. I enjoy – and welcome – discussions like this, and appreciate reading everyone’s points of view. First of all, I would like to explain that what I write is not based just on opinions or solely my experience, but includes extensive research into the subject matter. Additionally, I only offer tips that are backed by experts in each field. I have a variety of experts I consult with before writing anything, in any category related to men and grooming. While I am a barber, I am also a licensed Cosmetologist by the state of California, which has provided me with training and experience allowing me to delve deeper into skincare concerns related to my clients.
What I have presented here is not an extensive list of anti-acne methods, just simply a few unique ideas I wanted to point out that go beyond traditional treatments. I appreciate the additional ideas you have presented here, and hope that other readers will benefit from them as well! Each person is unique, and what works for one may not for the the other (as I am sure you know, Dr. K.), but these are suggestions that dermatologists have found to work for certain patients. And I am the first to advise men to seek medical advise from a dermatologist or physician should their conditions worsen. As for the pillow vs. pillowcase washing, I agree… wash your pillow every few weeks, the case itself should be washed 1-2 times a week, along with your sheets. Let’s chalk that up to an editing glitch!
Clearly doctors don’t know how to prevent acne, otherwise it wouldn’t be such a problem.
The sushi thing I do doubt to have scientific evidence behind it.
Using a sauna does wonders for my acne. I don’t need a prescription for it so it doesn’t support doctors, no wonder its not recommended. I wouldn’t trust all doctor’s opinions since they are very influenced by pharmaceutical companies which are in business to make money, not heal people. I’m not saying “don’t trust any doctors”, that would be stupid.
Doctor K, I agree that peer reviewed scientific journals are the way to go to prove results. I’m willing to bet you have no peer-reviewed evidence for your claim “Avoiding sushi in hope of clearing your skin is not worth your effort.”, though I doubt the correlation myself.
You don’t really think its strange for a barber to be giving advise about acne, right? What planet are you from? You’ve come off as blowhard quack, just so you know. Next time try to be less condescending and perhaps it will seem less like you’re shilling for your industry out of self-interest. Also, you provided no credentials, for all we know you’re a sushi chef.
This scientifically minded person very much disliked your post, “Doctor”.
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