Q: Cotton and linen are the most breathable fabrics, and they let sweat evaporate instead of forming a layer on your chest that clogs your pores and invites bacteria to grow. Eat a handful of walnuts every day to reduce skin inflammation. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Get lean protein, such as poultry breast or soy, into your diet, along with whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids.  People who eat more fruits and veggies, and less milk and sugar, tend to have less acne. Make sure you get 5 to 9 servings of healthy vegetables (especially leafy greens) per day. Healthy fats, like omega-3s, help fight inflammation and promote healthy cells. Omega-3s are damaged by oxygen, meaning if you eat foods that are rich in omega-3s, try to eat them raw. Foods rich in omega-3s include:  Fish, particularly salmon, sardines, and herring.  Seeds and nuts, particularly flaxseed.  Leafy greens, particularly spinach and arugula. Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Like other organs, it needs plenty of water to stay hydrated and functioning on a healthy level. Many doctors recommend that you drink between 9 and 12 cups of water per day (2.2 to 3 liters), depending on whether you are a girl or guy.  Cut sweet, sugary drinks like sodas, juices, and smoothies out of your diet. Although the evidence has been disputed for decades, new reports seem to indicate that diets do have a substantial effect on acne, listing sugar as a trigger. Sugars cause a spike in insulin, which in turn stimulates a certain pimple producing hormones. Unsweetened green may work, too. Green tea contains antioxidants that help fight free radicals; free radicals affect the cells that may be responsible for signs of aging in the skin. For a healthy alternative to water, brew some tasty and healthy green tea! Dairy products contain hormones from cows, and these hormones stimulate your pores and your oil glands. If you have to drink milk, choose skim milk. The hormones are largely concentrated in the fatty portion of the milk, so drinking skim will limit your exposure. Look for labels that say "non-comedogenic" or "oil-free." Comedogenic ingredients have a tendency to clog pores.  Comedogenic ingredients include cocoa butter, pigments and dyes, coal tar and isopropyl myristate. If your skin is oily, you should always look for non-comedogenic lotion and cleansers. If you have germ-ridden hands and then touch your chest, you transfer bacteria onto your chest skin that can clog your pores. So wash up. You'll not only prevent acne but also a variety of diseases. Doctors aren't completely sure why, but they do know that there is a link between stress and skin disorders, specifically stress and acne. Somehow, the cells that produce sebum, which is the stuff that ultimately causes acne, become unregulated when a person experiences a lot of stress. Get plenty of rest. Doctors know that the less you sleep, the more likely you are to experience stress throughout the day. And the more stress you experience, the worse your acne gets. Exercising is almost a universal panacea. In this case, exercise promotes healthy circulation and helps ease anxiety and stress. So find an excuse to run — or walk — around the block, join an intramural sports team, or hit the stationary bike.  Shower after you exercise. This is very important. Your pores may be clogged with sweat after you exercise. If you shower and clean them, there's a good chance that you might avoid some of the chest acne that is caused by simple neglect after exercising.
A: Wear cotton or linen tops. Change your diet. Drink plenty of water. Skip dairy products. Use non-comedogenic body lotion to prevent additional breakouts. Wash your hands after you go to the bathroom. Remove as much unhealthy stress from your life as possible. Exercise.

Q: Avoiding dairy isn't as simple as no longer drinking milk. Dairy is used in many different foodstuffs to give it a better taste. As such, you'll need to read food labels. Most foods that use some form of dairy, will list “milk” as an additive. The FDA requires that milk be listed under its provision for allergies. If milk isn't listed as an ingredient, you should be ok. You'll want to look for casein and whey as well. Both of these additives are proteins found in cow's milk and make their way into a variety of foods. Whey is used in a variety of products from muscle building supplements to canned chicken broth. This is often the hardest dairy category to give up because we are conditioned to enjoy milk with so many different foods. It becomes a part of our daily activities. Here are some of the most common milk- and cream-based foods:  Milk (whole, 50/50, skim, or condensed milk) Heavy whipping cream Custards Coffee creamer Cream sauces and soups Ice cream, gelatos, and sherbets (sorbets contain no dairy products) Yogurts Some mayonnaise, mustard, and other condiments Non-dairy coffee creamer. Casein is an animal byproduct so it won't work for vegans. Check the labels of your products before you buy to ensure they don't contain butter or margarine. Butter is made by separating cream from whole milk. The cream is then churned until it thickens.  Some nutritionists claim that butters are the least harmful form of dairy to those with dairy allergies or lactose processing problems. Most people who face these issues have problems with the proteins found in milk. Since butter is 80 to 82 percent fat and contains relatively little protein, it doesn't tend to bother patients with dairy problems. For vegans, there are many margarines made without any cow byproducts. Check the label to make sure they don't contain whey, casein, or lactose. Cheeses in all forms constitute dairy. Obviously, you'll want to skip sliced cheeses on your sandwiches. Main dishes like pizza, burritos, tacos, and casseroles have cheeses in them. Don't eat cheese-based chip dips either. If you're at a restaurant, make sure that you ask if their dishes include cheese. Aged cheeses normally contain less lactose, while soft and hyper-processed cheeses contain higher levels. Cheese spreads are high in lactose as well. Most pastries are made with milk. Sadly this includes cakes, muffins, and doughnuts unless made with soy, rice, or hemp. Some breads are made with mono and diglycerides or lecithin — both of which are vegan and include no milk additives. Generally, these bread products will be labeled as vegan.
A:
Read labels on your food purchases. Avoid milk- and cream-based foods. Get rid of butter and most margarines that contain whey, casein, or lactose. Don't eat cheeses. Be wary of baked items.