Going back to school in September can be a roller coaster of emotions. There's so much to remember, new people to meet, new courses to learn and for a few weeks there's a feeling that you're really out of sync maybe because you spent the whole summer working, holidaying or just relaxing. For many, this September stress can lead to lots of anxiety, which we know from our experience can cause breakouts, skin irritation and acne.

Here are some tips and tricks on how to prevent acne.

Stay hydrated. Keeping your body and cells hydrated ensures they're doing their job, fighting off bacteria, reducing inflammation and keeping your skin looking refreshed and ready for the new term.

Get 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Being tired stresses the body, raises your cortisol levels and aggravates acne.

Avoid high glycemic foods and refined carbohydrates.
Such as sugar, flour, refined cereal products, white potatoes, and fruit juice, are prime suspects in the development of many common diseases of civilization, including acne. These fast carbs are rapidly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, causing insulin levels to surge. High insulin levels increase the risk of acne because they promote inflammation.

During the different seasons, our skin has different needs. 
Make sure to pack products with benzoyl peroxide to keep in your gym locker or to keep handy. Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) is the most effective ingredient for killing acne bacteria on-site. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial ingredient that gets inside the pore and kills the bacteria causing acne and inflammation. It works best on whiteheads.  Salicylic Acid is considered a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) a great ingredient to treat acne or the occasional blemish. It exfoliates to remove dead skin cells inside the pore and also on the surface of the skin. Best of all, it's an anti-inflammatory (derived from aspirin), so it reduces redness.  It is best for blackheads and large inflamed spots on all skin types, especially those prone to oil and redness.

Makeup might be adding to the problem.
Makeup is perfect for enhancing our features and coving blemishes or redness in the skin. Although many products are very thick and can have the opposite effect clogging pores, collecting sebum and encouraging bacteria to thrive. This often leads to only one thing: an increase in acne.

The answer is to look for makeup products that are sheer and are oil-free or designed specifically for people with sensitive or problem skin.

Ingredients in makeup that may cause breakouts:

Artificial Color -- Look for FD&C in the ingredients list, which means the product has artificial color. This can irritate the skin and if it's in your lipstick or blush, it can cause breakouts around your mouth or on your cheeks.
Lanolin -- This is the fancy term for sheep sebum (sebum = oil) and while it can be good for dry skin, it's not right for acne-prone skin.
Mineral Oil -- This forms a film on your skin, trapping dead skin cells and bacteria (prime causes of acne) and it can also give you milia, those tiny white bumps on your skin.
Petroleum -- This is oil, and as you may have guessed, you don't need to be putting more oil on your face.
Isopropyl Myristate -- This can make your skin feel less greasy, but it also clogs pores and causes skin irritation.
Artificial Fragrance -- This can irritate your skin and cause breakouts. Try to use as many fragrance-free products as possible.



Hair touching your face might be causing breakouts.
Some hair care products that you use may cause breakouts. Think about how often your hair touches your face. And remember that unless you are washing your hair every night before bed, all that product is transferring onto your pillow.

Hair products with oil, silicones, and plasticizers will clog your pores if they get onto your skin, so if you want to wear your hair down (or have fringe touching your forehead), try to steer clear of products with those ingredients.