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Acne is one of those annoying conditions that affects just about everyone at some point in their life. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to get rid of either. And the causes can be anything from poor skin care products to high stress levels. If you’ve struggled to figure out what’s making you break out, here are 5 common acne causes and how to treat them. Remember to consult your physician if your skin does not improve or worsens.
Common Acne Causes #1: Not Removing Makeup before Bed
After a big night out or a hard day at work, it’s easy to commit the biggest beauty sin- Sleeping with your makeup on. Unfortunately, although this is something all makeup wearers have done, it doesn’t make it any less detrimental to your skin. Leaving your makeup on overnight leads to blocked pores and inflammation, especially if you are a night sweater.
If time and energy is a concern before bed, keep some makeup remover wipes handy for a quick swipe. This fast cleaning job won’t hurt to do every once in a while. For the most part, however, try to stick with your normal skin care practices.
Common Acne Causes #2: Everyday Stress
Everyone has stressful days, but ongoing stress is worse for your health and your skin. The release of stress hormones over a period of time causes a disruption in the normal chemical make up of your body and skin. And, we all know what a dreadful zit does to your self-esteem…one more reason to be stressed. The horrendous cycle continues.
The only way to combat this is to learn how to manage your stress more effectively. While this may not be easy or always doable, it helps to have a plan in place. Know your limits and have several options to lower daily stress in various situations. Yoga and meditation, exercising, catching up with loved ones, and even drawing and coloring can be positive stress management techniques. Some women, even myself, are giving natural stress reducers like those found at Thoughtcloud.
Common Acne Causes #3: The Wrong Skin Care
If you break out quite regularly, you’ve probably tried a bunch of different skin care products. Some are appropriate for acne-prone skin and some are not. Do your research and find products that are as natural as possible and made for your skin type. Also, try to get clarity about your skin type, as far as whether it’s oily, combination, or dry. Yes, even dry skin can get acne.
Understand that acne can be caused by inflammation due to using heavily scented products or ones with high chemical content. Know the ingredients of each product you use. I always visit the skin deep website before I purchase anything new.
Common Acne Causes #4: Too Much Scrubbing
Regular exfoliating is a great way to clear the face of dead skin cells, but it is something that should only be done once or twice a week. Again, keep in mind your skin type and observe how your skin reacts after washing it. Older women might need to exfoliate more frequently because aging skin does not renew itself as easily as younger skin does.
Common Acne Causes #5: Poor Diet
One thing that many women don’t think about is their diet and how it affects their skin. Poor nutrition and the consumption of processed foods is a huge cause of skin irritation and acne. This is one reason why so many teens struggle with regular breakouts. After all, the standard diet of this age group is usually not the best. Additionally, you could also have food intolerances or even allergies playing a part in a bad skin condition.
Focus on eating a well-balanced diet with lots of fresh greens, veggies, and whole foods. You don’t have to be perfect, but try to limit that pizza and coke as much as you can.
While these are some of the most common causes of acne, there are other possibilities, such as hormone imbalances or other medical conditions. Often a spot or two can easily be dealt with at home, but if your acne becomes a problem, you may need some help. Professionals, like dermatologists and estheticians, can diagnose and treat a variety of skin issues.
*** This post is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Women’s lifelink, it’s owners, administrators, contributors, affiliates, vendors, authors and editors do not claim that this information will diagnose, treat, or improve any condition or disease. Furthermore, these parties don’t necessarily support, use, or endorse any products, tools, businesses or services mentioned in this article.
