Acne is not caused by dirt or poor hygiene. However, there are both internal and external factors that can contribute to and trigger your breakouts. In many cases, internal factors can not be prevented, but can be combated by the proper topical treatments. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to help protect yourself from everyday factors that may be contributing to your breakouts.

• Genetics

  It runs in the family. Genetics can largely influence who experiences acne breakouts. Acne is a recessive gene, so not all members of a family will have it. Identical twins are equally affected while fraternal twins are not.

• Hormones

  Fluctuations affect acne. Hormonal upheaval triggers the ancient “fight or flight” syndrome, stimulating the heart rate, metabolism and sweat glands. This raises the level of androgen hormones, a type of male hormone, which activates the sebaceous glands. That's why acne tends to be worse in men, causing deeper lesions and deeper pores.

• Birth Control Pills

  Consult your physician. While some oral contraceptives are designed to treat acne and are FDA approved for this purpose, others can affect hormone levels which in turn may lead to increased breakouts. Consult your physician to discuss the side effects of each product.

• Diet

  Eat right. Although diet has little to do with breakouts, what you don't eat is actually more important than what you do eat. Chocolate and french fries won't cause acne. However, if your diet consists of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar, then you're probably not getting enough of the nutrients your skin needs.

  Drink lots of water and eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and foods rich in vitamin A to encourage skin health from within. In addition to eating right, avoid alcohol, cigarette smoke and pollution, all of which can have a huge effect on your skin.

• Sun

  Protect your skin. Avoid sun exposure and tanning. While a suntan or sunburn can temporarily mask acne, it only leads to increased skin inflammation and dehydration. UV rays damage the skin and cause cell buildup, which can add to or increase the chances of an acne breakout.

• Makeup

  Know your products. Acne-prone women should be cautious about the cosmetics they put on their faces. Though most don't actually clog pores, some cosmetics and hair products can aggravate pre-existing acne and irritate sensitive skin.

  To help prevent these problems, avoid products with stearic acid or lanolin oils, both of which are comedogenic, meaning that they can clog pores and aggravate acne. Makeup that is labeled non-comedogenic is your best bet.

  Once you've found the right products, it's important to keep them bacteria-free. Always wash your hands before applying makeup or use disposable makeup sponges.

• Stress

  Take care of yourself. Stress can have physiological effects on the body, including increased hormone activity, which can stimulate oil production and cause breakouts. In many cases, the opposite is also true, meaning that acne breakouts can lead to stress.