Breakouts occur as a result of clogged pores. This can happen when overactive sebaceous glands (which are more active in men than women) produce too much sebum and clogs the hair follicle with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria which results in acne. Bacteria that builds up under the surface of the skin causes your body to naturally respond with white blood cells that leads to inflammation, worsening the acne.

Mistake 1: Abrasive Physical Scrubs or Exfoliators

While a well-formulated exfoliant is great for unclogging pores and preventing acne, many men don’t realise that they have been using the wrong kind of exfoliant/scrubs!

Most of the more common physical exfoliants available in the drug stores marketed for men contain some type of rough material such as micro-beads or grounded grains. These exfoliator or scrubs can be harmful to skin’s surface because the friction created from rubbing micro-beads against your skin may enlarge pores or cause irritation.

Whilst scrubs and exfoliators can help to remove dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, it is not oil-soluble and are not effective at unclogging blackheads and sebums that are deep within the pores.

Instead of using abrasive physical exfoliants, opt for a gentle chemical exfoliant with no alcohol or fragrances to remove dead skin cells or unclog pores and minimise skin irritation.

Mistake 2: Shaving Carelessly

Acne is an inflammatory problem that is worsened and perpetuated by irritation. This means that you should minimise irritation of your skin as much as possible, including when shaving. It is important that your shaving cream (if you use any) does not contain any alcohol or fragrances, which have been shown in studies to be skin irritants. Another way to minimise irritation of the skin is to shave in the direction that the hair grow (downwards on your face, upwards on the bottom half of your neck) and to use an effective razor so as to minimise excessive pulling of the skin.

Mistake 3: Overlooking Uncomfortable Clothing

Acne is not limited to the face. Experiencing breakouts on the other parts of your body (such as the back or chest are) is common. As with acne anywhere else on your body, acne on the back and chest are caused by the build up of bacteria in clogged pores and worsened by irritation. To prevent excessive clogging of pores on your back and chest, it is important to be wary of the clothing that you wear – opt for breathable, comfortable clothing. After a sweaty workout, wash up and change out so as to minimise clogging of pores with oil and dead skin cells.