Here are just a few things to watch for.

When exercising, wear as little make-up as possible. Even oil-free and non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) cosmetics can clog pores if worn during heavy exercise. When you’re done working out, wash as soon as possible.

If your regimen takes you outdoors, always wear sunscreen. While acne may improve slightly after brief periods in the sun, studies show that prolonged exposure actually promotes comedones (clogged pores) and, of course, sun damage. Some kinds of acne medication make skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is even more important. When choosing a sunscreen, look for products that are oil-free and have a protection factor of at least SPF 15 for both UVA and UVB rays.

Like make-up, sunscreen can travel across the skin’s surface and lodge in the pores — so wash your skin with acne-busting cleanser immediately after working out.

If you’re prone to body acne, avoid garments made exclusively with lycra or nylon. Why? Some synthetic fabrics can trap the heat and moisture against your skin, creating a fertile breeding ground for the bacteria that contribute to acne. For moderate exercise, your best bet is lightweight, loose-fitting cotton, or a lycra-cotton blend. Natural fabrics allow the skin to breathe, and loose garments are less likely to cause friction. If you’re exercising vigorously and working up a good sweat, however, you may want to try some of the new fabrics designed to wick moisture away from your skin. If you tend to break out after exercise sessions, always follow your shower with a topical acne treatment.

Some people are more likely to get acne or have their lesions aggravated in the areas affected by sports equipment. The best defense against friction-related breakouts is a good fit — make sure your helmet doesn’t slide around on your forehead, or your wetsuit isn’t too tight under the arms. You can also curb equipment-triggered breakouts by lining your helmet with a layer of soft, washable cotton fabric; it’s a great use for those old t-shirts, too. And no matter what the sport, it’s always a good idea to keep your equipment clean and dry when not in use.

No matter how you get your exercise — treadmill, trail, tennis court, or whatever — don’t sit around in your sweaty clothes or wet bathing suit when you’re done. If you can, shower off immediately and change into dry clothes before driving home. If this isn’t possible, change into dry clothes and wipe down as well as you can. When toweling sweat off your face, always use a clean towel, and blot gently rather than wipe. Vigorous wiping can irritate your skin, driving make-up and sunscreen deeper into the pores. Always use skincare products suitable for acne prone skin.

Again, it’s best to shower immediately after working out. You may want to use a medicated exfoliant cleanser, but always be gentle with your skin. Scrubbing harder isn’t going to make you any cleaner, or make your acne go away — and it may actually irritate existing lesions or promote the development of new ones. If you can’t shower right away, you can still curb breakouts by wiping down with medicated pads; keep a few in your gym bag just in case.

A healthy exercise program is an integral part of your overall health; and a healthy body is more likely to have healthy skin. Just keep an eye on the various factors that accompany your regimen, and try to remove the acne triggers — you’ll be on your way to breakout-free workouts.

The acne-like breakouts we know as “shaving bumps,” or Pseudofolliculitis barbae, are the result of inflammation in the hair follicle brought on by shaving. As hairs begin to grow back after shaving, waxing or plucking, they get trapped inside the follicle, resulting in irritation and swelling.

Anyone can get shaving bumps, but they’re more common in people with curly hair. Fortunately, you now can take steps to prevent them and completely erase with the right topical acne treatment.

 Before you begin shaving, prep the area with warm water. The hydration makes your skin more pliable; the heat will dilate your blood vessels, bringing blood flow to the area. Some people find that shaving in the shower brings better results.

By following a few simple steps, you can learn to “shave smart” your acne prone skin for fewer acne breakouts.

Lather well. Pseudofolliculitis barbae can also be diminished by using the right shaving cream. Thinner, more filmy shaving creams help the razor glide over the skin, reducing irritation.

Use the right razor. If you can, use an electric razor. The shave won’t be as close, but you probably won’t break out. If you prefer blade shaving, use a new single-blade razor each time you shave. As part of the skin’s natural healing process, the epidermis grows over the opening of the follicle. Then, as the hair grows back, it has to fight to get out of the closed follicle — causing an inflammatory response.

Go with the grain. The closer your shave, the more likely you are to get shaving bumps. So try to get into the habit of shaving with the grain — for both men and women, this usually means shaving down rather than up. This will cut down on irritation and may help with nicks and cuts, too.

Tone up. When you’re done, you may want to apply a mild alcohol-free toner (witch hazel is a gentle alternative) or antibacterial gel; this will kill bacteria before it gets into the open follicles — and help you stop Pseudofolliculitis barbae before it starts. Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are available in gel form as well.

For most people, these simple practices go a long way toward the prevention of Pseudofolliculitis barbae. If your shaving bumps persist, consult your dermatologist; he or she may be able to prescribe a more aggressive topical acne treatment.

Does chocolate cause acne?

Of course one square of good quality dark chocolate won’t cause acne but if you are hooked on your chocolate and need a regular fix of chocolate, no matter if it’s cheap, loaded with sugar, or even past its best before date, then of couse chocolate is bad for acne.

Sorry, Hershey’s and Lindt. A clear link between chocolate and acne actually exists. In fact, chocolate is loaded with stuff that doesn’t make life any sweeter for acne sufferers.

Take a look at the ingredients of an average chocolate bar. There’s sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, vegetable oils, lecithin, dextrose, lactose, maybe some nuts, flavoring, and of course some cocoa, less in milk chocolate, more in dark chocolate variety.

So what’s good for your skin? Fat? Not good for acne. Fatty foods are known to tip the hormonal production and stimulating testosterone production which in turn increases sebum glands activity in skin. More sebum, more chances for acne to flourish. Nuts can trigger hidden allergies that may look like acne. Artificial flavourings (often as vanillin – that’s synthetic vanilla flavour) can also cause allergic dermatitis.

Sugar? Certainly not good. Sugar triggers acne by causing dramatic spikes in blood sugar, which in turn stimulates adrenal glands and increases the sebum production. Again, the more sebum your skin produces, the more clogged your pores become with dead skin cells and sebum plugs. As a result, acne proliferates.

Maybe caffeine in chocolate helps with acne? Certainly not. If anything, caffeine worsens acne by stimulating adrenal glands which trigger sebaceous glands in skin to produce more oil. Caffeine also lowers the immune system response to illness and promotes inflammation in the skin.

But wait chocolate lovers, there’s some good news. Cocoa in chocolate contains a flavonoid theobromine which is known to to lower cholesterol and may reduce your risk for heart disease. Cocoa is also rich in magnesium which helps relieve stress and stimulate libido.

So here’s the mixed bag of good and bad news. The only thing in chocolate that is good for your skin is cocoa. The rest – sugar, milk, butters, fats, and artificial flavorings – are worsening your acne. Unfortunately, sugar and fats make up the bulk of any chocolate bar. And since the cocoa content of a regular chocolate bar is 30 percent or much less, chocolate is rather bad than good for your skin.

In plain English, if you feel happy after a few squares of good quality dark chocolate, go ahead and treat yourself. But a bar of cheap milk chocolate will give you acne or worsen your existing pimples. There’s no way around it: sugar and fats are bad for your waist, heart, and acne.

Hormonal acne is most often influenced by androgens in the body. Androgens are hormones that stimulate the sebaceous glands and hair follicles in the skin. When the sebaceous glands are over-stimulated by androgens, for example around the time of menstruation, women, both young and old, tend to have acne flare-ups.

Stress can also affect the levels of androgens, resulting in further breakouts. These adult-onset acne flares occur most often on the lower face, chin and jawline of adult women.

Most women with acne have normal serum levels of androgens. However, some women with acne also have facial hirsutism, excess facial hair, or male pattern alopecia, hair loss and/or thinning on the scalp. Women with these symptoms may have increased androgen production, and a hormonal work-up that includes an evaluation for adrenal, ovarian or pituitary,abnormalities may be indicated. In addition to hirsutism and alopecia, women with hormonal acne may also have irregular menstrual cycles, obesity, infertility, or diabetes.

“Acne is an emotionally devastating disease at any stage, but as women age they often find acne is a detriment to their personal and professional lives,” said  dermatologist Diane Berson, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, New York University, New York.

“Instead of seeking medical advice, women rely on the same over-the-counter medications they used as a teenager. However,as we get older our bodies change, as can the type of acne, so traditional treatments may no longer be effective.”

Once diagnosed with hormonal acne, treatment options include oral contraceptive pills, corticosteroids and spironolactone. All three of these treatments decrease sebum production.

But all these things deal with severe acne that plagues women’s life for months. However, most of us experience acne outbreaks once a month, just before the period. Many women do, indeed, have a premenstrual flare of their acne.

“Acne has often been associated with hormones and a woman’s monthly cycle,” stated dermatologist Alan R. Shalita, MD, co-author of “The Effect of the Menstrual Cycle on
Acne.” In the study, a group of 400 women ages 12 to 52 were surveyed as to whether their acne got worse before, during or after their menstrual period as well as whether their acne appeared to be related to their menstrual period. The women were grouped into categories according to age, severity of acne, ethnicity and whether or not they took oral contraceptives. Overall, 44 percent reported premenstrual acne.

The study also found that 53 percent of women over age 33 experienced a higher rate of premenstrual acne than women under age 20, who only reported a 39 percent increase in premenstrual acne.

In fact, previous studies have shown that the oil duct opening on the skin was smallest in days 15 to 20 of a 28-day cycle, increased in days 21 to 26, and decreased again in the two days before menstruation. On average, premenstrual acne flares were found to be the worst on day 22 of the average 28-day cycle.

Diet and carefully selected herbal supplements may help rebalance hormone production during the cycle.