As an example, not smoking and avoiding exposure to pollutants may prevent lung cancer. Avoiding sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and applying sunscreen may help prevent skin cancer even if your parents or grandparents have had skin cancer. You may also prevent pigmentation changes and loss of elasticity.

When it comes to skin care, the 80 percent nurture, 20 percent nature rule applies as the same scientific facts apply to the skin’s look and feel. If you have inherited your mother’s sensitive, paper-thin, dehydrated, and wrinkle-prone skin, you can combat your skin condition by using products that are made of large numbers of active ingredients developed to address those conditions. The products must be calming, soothing and non-toxic to turn sensitive skin into strong, resilient and healthy-looking skin that feels good to the touch.
Acne is hereditary and more prevalent than before industrialization. It generally starts at an earlier age, and may last through a person’s 40s and 50s, especially in women. Your parents or grandparents may not have had breakouts but your gene pool may trigger extrinsic factors that cause acne, such as hormones (hormones in meats are among the substances blamed), stress (causes hormonal changes), pollutants (in your food, the air, garden, and around your house –think pesticides, cleaning products, antibacterial soaps, tampons, smoke, phthalates, dioxins – 84 chemicals found in skin care products1 have been linked to skin conditions, and diet). While it is impossible to completely avoid acne triggers, making lifestyle changes and adopting excellent skin care as early as possible can prevent acne, or greatly reduce it. A good non-drying acne cleanser can keep a child or teenager from developing acne.
You possess the tools your mother never had at your age. Healthy skin is possible. You control 80 percent of the outcome.