NHS global health learning
Global Health Exchange
The Global Health Exchange was a Health Education England programme, run with a team at the University of Salford, that tied NHS learning to volunteering and health partnerships in low and middle income countries.
Independent explainer. This is not the website of the Global Health Exchange, the NHS, Health Education England or any partner, and it has no connection with them.Updated 2026-10-28
The programme at a glance
- Who it served: NHS staff and students looking for global health learning, volunteering or placements.
- Projects: public health e-learning, the Uganda UK Health Alliance, education transformation and leadership.
- Aims: set out in its vision and objectives.
- Website: paused in August 2017 for a refresh and never relaunched.
From an overseas placement to sweat, sun and breakouts
The Global Health Exchange was built around NHS staff and students who learn by working abroad. A volunteer placement in Uganda or India puts a nurse or a junior doctor on long shifts in a hot climate, often walking between clinics in the open. Heat brings sweat, and a few months under strong sun bring far more UV than most skin gets in a British winter.
Both of those reach the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology advises washing the face gently after sweating, warns that tanning can make acne worse, and asks for a sunscreen labelled non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores. So for anyone packing for a placement, how to prevent acne starts with what goes in the wash bag. The full routine from howtopreventacne.org is below.
- After a hot shift: wash with a mild cleanser and your fingertips, then pat dry.
- Before going outside: broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher that says it won't clog pores.
- On days off: skip tanning and look for shade.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, Acne: Tips for managing
Next comes the complete prevention guide: daily habits, common triggers and when to see a dermatologist.
The full guide, from howtopreventacne.org
How to prevent acne
How to prevent acne: find the habit that keeps feeding the oil and dead skin that plug your pores: oily hair products, makeup left on overnight, or gear that rubs. Once skin clears, dermatologists may suggest staying on adapalene.
Wash gently twice a day, keep your hands off your face, use non-comedogenic makeup, and keep using adapalene (a retinoid) after your skin clears. Salicylic acid also helps unclog pores and prevent new breakouts.
- Wash gently
- Check your labels
- Hands off
- Manage your hair
How to prevent acne with 11 daily habits
Wash gently
Scrubbing irritates your skin, and irritated skin breaks out.
How: Twice a day and after sweating, use a mild, non-comedogenic cleanser, your fingertips and warm water. Pat dry.
Moisturize
Dry skin is irritated skin, and irritation can bring on more acne.
How: If your skin feels dry, use a moisturizer for acne-prone skin twice a day, after washing.
Check your labels
Some makeup, skin and hair products contain oil or other ingredients that cause breakouts.
How: Use only products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores,” and build your routine around non-comedogenic skincare for acne.
Remove makeup nightly
Even non-comedogenic makeup can cause acne if you sleep in it.
How: Take it off before bed. Too tired? Use a non-comedogenic makeup remover towelette.
Hands off
Popping pushes pus, dead skin cells and bacteria deeper, which adds inflammation and can scar. Pits that are already there won't fade with habits alone; that is a job for acne scar treatment from a dermatologist.
How: Don’t touch your face during the day; treat spots with acne medication.
Manage your hair
Oil from your hair can cause acne on your forehead.
How: If your hair is oily, shampoo more often and keep gels and other hair products off your face.
Wash items that touch your face
Phones, helmets and pillowcases can pass oil and sweat to your skin.
How: Clean them regularly, and never share makeup brushes or applicators.
Skip tight gear
Pressure and friction from tight clothing, sports equipment or backpack straps irritate skin.
How: Loosen straps and collars, and shower after hard workouts. If itchy bumps of the same size keep showing up on your chest or back after sweating, it may be fungal acne, which needs a different fix.
Eat a balanced diet
Small studies link high-glycemic foods, like white bread, and cow’s milk to more acne; others found no link.
How: If a food seems to trigger breakouts, skip it for a week or a month.
Manage stress
Stress doesn’t cause acne, but it may make acne you already have worse.
How: Notice whether flares follow hard weeks. Stress and hormone changes are part of why some people still break out long after their teens.
Keep treating after it clears
Dermatologists may recommend a retinoid such as adapalene to keep skin clear once acne is under control.
How: Spread a thin layer over all acne-prone skin.
Check your triggers
- Touch, pick or pop spots
- Sleep in makeup
- Stopped treatment once skin cleared
- Use oily hair products
- Same pillowcase for a week or more
- Wear tight straps, helmets or headbands
- Lots of skim milk or sugary foods
Why acne forms
Acne is a skin condition that starts when oil (sebum) and dead skin cells plug hair follicles, the openings we call pores.
It means how to prevent acne comes down to the plug, stopped before a spot ever shows. The cause of a breakout is a mix of four factors: excess oil, pores clogged by oil and dead skin cells, bacteria and inflammation.
- Open pore
- Oil and dead skin plug
- Bacteria grow
- Inflamed pimple
How a pore clogs: sebum and dead skin cells form a plug (a comedo), bacteria grow inside, and swelling follows.
How to prevent acne: what doesn’t work
- Scrubbing harder
- Dirty skin doesn’t cause acne; scrubbing irritates it and makes acne flare.
- Drying your skin out
- Astringents and rubbing alcohol leave skin dry and irritated, which risks more acne.
- Toothpaste
- Its abrasives, whitening agents, color and flavor don’t fight acne and can irritate skin.
When prevention isn’t enough
A dermatologist is a doctor who treats skin, and some people need prescription-strength treatment. If breakouts continue after 2 to 3 months of these habits, book a visit. Go sooner for deep, painful lumps, scars, dark spots or sudden severe acne later in life.
Reader questions
What is the #1 cause of acne?
There isn’t one single thing. Oil and dead skin cells plug a pore, then bacteria and inflammation turn the plug into a pimple. Puberty hormones that enlarge oil glands are a big driver.
Does what you eat cause acne?
Less than people think. Chocolate and greasy food have little to no effect. Small studies link high-glycemic foods and cow’s milk to acne; others found no link.
Does sweat cause acne?
Oil and sweat left on your skin can lead to breakouts. Shower after hard workouts and pat sweat away with a clean towel instead of rubbing.
How often should you change your pillowcase?
The sources listed below don’t give a number. Keep anything that touches your face clean, and that includes pillowcases.
Can makeup cause acne?
It can. Oily makeup can clog pores, and even non-comedogenic makeup can cause acne if you sleep in it. Pick non-comedogenic products, don’t share brushes, and take it all off before bed.
Sources
- AAD: 10 skin care habits that can worsen acne
- AAD: 6 skin care habits that can clear acne
- AAD: Can the right diet get rid of acne?
- AAD: Acne diagnosis and treatment
- AAD: Adult acne treatment dermatologists recommend
- MedlinePlus: Acne
- NIH News in Health: Acne breakouts
- NIAMS: Acne causes and risk factors
- MedlinePlus: Salicylic acid topical
Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. See a dermatologist if breakouts continue despite these habits for 2 to 3 months, or if you get painful lumps or scars.