You might have used almost all treatments of acne that promise to clear skin, even avoided favourite foods including chocolate and pizza, and yet, your acne keeps on showing. It is believed that there are other things as well that may contribute to acne that you probably are not aware of. Read on to discover seven reasons that may cause your breakouts.
Acne is the worst, and if you are among those 40 to 50 million people in the USA who have acne, according to the data, then you know how frustrating it is. It is believed that there are other things as well that may contribute to acne that you probably are not aware of. Read on to discover seven reasons that could be causing you your breakouts. So, what cause pimples? Hormonal imbalance and overproduction of oil are the leading causes of acne. Your hair follicles become clogged due to excessive oil production which gives rise to the pimple-causing bacteria, P.acnes. However, genetics plays a crucial role in how your body responds to acne stimulating hormones, along with certain lifestyle pattern you may be following that contributes to worsening of acne.
Fortunately, top dermatologists and skin care experts identify some of those surprising triggers that may cause to have zits. So before blaming your parents for your genes, look below and meet with some real culprits or causes of acne:
- Your acne spot treatment is making your acne worse- No doubt acne treatments are extremely beneficial, especially those with the proven acne-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. But knowing about an acne treatment that best suits you are not enough. It is equally important to know when to use it, how often to apply and what is the duration of the treatment. If you are undergoing treatment of acne, you have heard or might be using a benzoyl acid formulation, and it is commonly found an ingredient in topical treatment for acne. According to dermatologists, the anti-acne formula takes 3 to 4 hours to work and if any other topical preparation comes in contact with it, will likely inhibit the active ingredient from working appropriately. It is advisable to wait for at least an hour before applying a moisturizer or sunscreen to get the best results.
- Your pillowcase- it might seem unrelated to you but consider the fact that your face rests on a pillowcase for almost eight hours while getting a night sleep. So, if you are not changing your pillowcase often, you might be lying on bacteria’s, dust and dead skin cells. Pillowcase and towel are some things that repeatedly come in contact with your face, and if not washed between uses, you can make them ideal sources of bacterial accumulation.
- Popping a pimple– Squeezing or picking an already existing can irritate your skin even more and leave a permanent scar. Keeping your hands from making contact with your pimple will help prevent bacteria from spreading to the rest of your skin.
- Cleansers that are not according to your skin type- In the war against acne, finding the acne cleanser for an acne prone skin that suits your skin means you have already won half the battle. Dermatologists recommend cleansers with acne fighting ingredients like alpha hydroxy acid, which unclog the pores without being irritating. Benzoyl peroxide is another acne fighting ingredient that has been around for a long time. It is loaded with antibacterial properties and works to dry pimples. If you have oily skin, try the one with salicylic acid that can help to exfoliate blocked pores. If you are someone who believes in a natural solution, can go with tea tree, which is well known for its ant-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Also Read: Connection between Oily Skin & Acne
- Exfoliation can do more harm than good– If you have a mindset that scrubbing your skin with rough exfoliants, or cleansing brushes will make your skin clean. But let me tell you that your acne is only going to get worse. To get rid of pimples, it is important to repair your skin’s protective barrier to keep the bacteria away and not causing worsening by scrubbing the zits out of it.
- Your hair products could be the reason- Your shampoos, conditioners, and hair styling products may contain sulfates, silicones and other strong ingredients that may cause breakouts on your face. Such ingredients can seep into the skin pores and logged them, resulting in pimples along your hairline and other areas of your forehead.
- The sun- Excessive exposure to sun not only cause tanning or increase your risk of skin cancer but also triggers breakouts on especially with acne prone skin. Heat can cause your oil glands to become overactive, which can contribute to pimple formation, says dermatologist. To avoid the situation, it is best to apply sunscreen and wear protective clothing whenever you step out in the sun. To make sure you don’t break out further, use an oil-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen.
