7 Sneaky Causes Of Acne
Acne can hit anyone at any age. If you’re like me apparently it skips high school and waits until you’re in your 30’s. There are so many factors that can contribute to it, big and small. We hear reasons like stress and hormonal imbalances. This could be the case, however sometimes it’s much simpler. There are things we do every day that could be creating those nasty little bumps on our skin. Below are seven sneaky reasons you’re breaking out.
1 – Your diet
Put down the white bread and potato chips. We all know these foods are bad for our waist line but can also wreak havoc on our skin. According to an article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology by Whitney P. Bowe MD, FAAD. Studies have shown that low-glycemic index diets may improve acne. The consumption of high-glycemic index foods (breads and cookies) appears to trigger a cascade of responses, which can lead to acne through effects on growth hormones and sex hormones.
2 – Cell phones
Our phones are filthy. They are plastered with dirt and bacteria that we cannot always see and they go a ton of places they shouldn’t. Now, we can’t go spray our phones with Lysol. What can we do? To start, make sure you are constantly washing your hands or using antibacterial sanitizer. Since your hands are always touching your phone it’s vital that they are clean and are transferring as little germs as possible. Try not to keep your face pressed tightly against the screen since that is where the contact will mostly occur. Also remember to wipe down your screen to remove dirt. Think about investing in antibacterial wipes that are specially designed to clean electronics and do this every day.
3 – You’re washing your face too much
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association washing your face several times a day can further irritate your skin, leading to more breakouts. Only wash your face twice a day. Wash it when you wake up to remove any oil and sweat that can accumulate while we sleep. Then wash it before bed to remove any dirt and makeup from the day. I personally like to carry cleansing facial wipes on me at all times. They are great for after the gym or other times where my face feels dirty and I can’t wash it right away.
4 – You’re popping pimples
We’ve all done it. It is embarrassing when you have a big zit on your face, especially as an adult and it’s so easy to pop it. It may feel good but in actuality you aren’t making it any better. This does not only lead to scarring but you can possibly push the bacteria back into your skin, which could make the acne spread. Having a professional do an extraction is a whole other story. Get into a good skin routine and get regular facials to cut down on the pimples in the first place. When an extraction needs to be done, a trained esthetician is the way to go.
5 – Dirty Sheets and Pillowcases
They may not look dirty but they are. Our body pumps out tons of natural oils everyday on top of the ones we add to it like, moisturizers and hair products. When we lay at night these oils get absorbed by our bedding and can leave buildup that cannot be seen. We snuggle up every night with a bunch of dirt and oil which seeps into our pores, clogging them and causing breakouts. According to an article in US National Library of Medicine by Albert Kingman and Otto Mills Jr, this is known as acne mechanica. Acne forms due to pressure, friction, rubbing, or squeezing against something. This doesn’t only happen from our sheets but can also happen from our tight sweaty workout clothes and other daily activities where we sweat and there’s pressure, like sitting in an office chair all day. What to do differently. Make sure we wash our face before bed and remove hair products. If you do leave in overnight masks or treatments, make sure it is wrapped up or under a hair net, assuring it is off of your face and pillowcase. Also wash your sheets weekly and try to flip your pillow over in between washes.
6 – It’s your hair products
According to the American Academy of Dermatology. The sulfates, heavy moisturizing agents, and silicone in your shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products can seep into our pores. This clogs them which could cause acne on our skin. If you think this may be your problem start by finding products that have less oil in them. Also if you have longer hair, try washing it by flipping it to one side while you wash it. This will keep some of the aggravating ingredients off your face. Also wash your face last. In case any of the product from washing splashes on your face, this will ensure that it’s not sitting on your face overnight.
7 – Medications
Certain medicines we are prescribed can be a leading cause to acne. Steroids and androgens are some of the types of medicines that can do this. That is because they effect hormone levels, according to Kevin Olivieri, PharmD; clinical pharmacist in Tampa, FL. Those are the most prominent ones that contribute to acne, but so can lithium, phenytoin, isoniazid, bromides, thiourea, disulfiram and vitamin B2, 6 and 12. If you think this could be contributing to your skin problems, talk with your doctor and see what your options may be.