Every girlie who deals with acne should know about these 12 common causes and eliminate them from her life asap!
Like every other woman on this planet, I have my fair share of skin, body, tummy, and hair troubles. But if I had to pick the worst of all, it would be acne (duh).
I hate getting breakouts just like every sensitive skin girlie out there.
But over the past few years, thanks to Internet and a cool dermatologist who has been a savior more times than I can count, I have developed a sort of expertise in dealing with breakouts.
Dealing with acne (whatever type it may be) involves many steps, but the very first one of them is to know why you are getting acne in the first place.
Every time you get a breakout, it could be for different reasons, or it could be that the same issue is giving you breakouts after breakouts.
In either case, you need to pinpoint the cause of your acne and then discard it from your life.
This is even more important than seeking treatment. Because as long as the root of your acne is lurking around you, you’ll keep breaking out.
Also, if you rid of these acne-inducing habits, you’d also reduce your chances of future breakouts and maintain a clear skin.
Now, with the importance of knowing this shiz out of the way, it’s time to actually delve into the main post.
For you, pretty lady, here are 12 causes of acne to know about. See if you are in touch with any of them:
12 Things That Can Give You Acne
1. Using DIY Stuff
Last year, I had the worst breakout of my life, all because I tried to be a diva and gave myself a facial at home.
I used a DIY facial kit that claimed to be the best in the market, but my skin didn’t think so.
It took me three months to heal the acne and am still just getting rid of the marks. Ugh!!
DIY skincare sounds fun and all, but you never know how your skin would take to it. It’s a big risk, one that I am never ever taking again.
You might have thought about using kitchen ingredients for facial, but not everything natural is good for your skin.
A lot of ingredients, like lemon juice and baking soda, are way too harsh and can mess up your skin barrier.
If you love facials but have sensitive skin, get it done professionally or just don’t bother. It can make things worse.
2. Eating Too Much Junk
Listen, I love a good burger and fries just like everyone else, but greasy and processed food isn’t doing your skin any favors.
Too much sugar, refined carbs, and unhealthy fats can spike your blood sugar and increase oil production, leading to clogged pores, and the dreaded breakouts.
I am not saying you should quit your favorite processed foods altogether. God knows I can’t do that either.
But…moderation, please? Instead of grabbing takeouts every other day, limit it to once a week.
And balance your diet by including whole foods, fruits, and veggies that support your skin.
It doesn’t have to be all healthy or all bad. You have the power to eat whatever you want to.
So, make the healthy choices as often as possible, and indulge ocassionally so that your skin can thrive instead of breaking out time and again.
3. Consuming Food That You’re Intolerant To
Listen, I know what it’s like to be intolerant to a food, but still reach for it because you just can’t help it.
I am lactose intolerant (yay, me), and when I let myself forget this fact, my gut suffers, and then my skin follows up shortly after.
Like, I can’t ever have pizza without seeing a pimple pop on my face the next day. It’s crazy how well our skin is connected to our guts.
That’s why you need to be very cautious about consuming things that your gut doesn’t take well to.
Some people react badly to dairy, gluten, or even eggs. There may be no other symptoms for it except acne, which is a big enough sign but people still ignore it.
If you keep breaking out and can’t figure out why, pay attention to what you’re eating, as there could be something in your diet messing it all up for you.
Keeping a food diary might help you pinpoint which foods are causing your skin to go crazy.
I’d also suggest taking a food intolerance test to know which food items your gut is intolerant to. It really helps!
4. Hormonal Imbalance
When I went to me dermatologist for the first time (which was five years ago), the first thing she did was run tests on me.
The tests showed I had hormonal imbalance, and she immediately put me on meds for it. Only then did my acne start to clear up.
If you have hormonal imbalance, it can be hard to get rid of acne. You can do everything by the book, but still not get clear skin.
I know the pain of dealing with hormonal acne. Trust me, I really do.
Initially, it can be hard to believe you’ll ever get rid of your acne, but once you get on the right treatment and show patience, your skin starts healing and the acne starts to clear up.
Some signs that your hormones might be out of whack?
Irregular periods, excessive hair growth (especially in weird places like your chin), sudden weight gain, and, of course, persistent acne—especially around your jawline.
If this sounds like you, go get some blood tests done, bestie. You’ll be doing a big favour to your skin.
5. Using Dirty Makeup Brushes
When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? Be honest, okay?
If it’s been weeks (or, yikes, months), you’re literally rubbing bacteria and oil back onto your face every time you do your makeup.
To prevent acne from dirty makeup brushes, wash them at least once a week.
And don’t keep using the same brushes. Change them once they start feeling rough on your skin.
Overused makeup brushes can irritate the skin and make you more prone to acne.
6. Wrong Skincare Products
I once got breakout from using a mendelic acid cleanser. It was the hot new product around me and I wanted to try it just because I loved the moisturizer from the same brand.
All of us have different skin types, issues, and history. Just because your bestie loves a moisturizer, doesn’t mean your skin will love it too.
Boy, did I regret it or what.
If you have sensitive skin, be very very cautious before you put on a new skincare product.
When you already have products that are working well for you, you don’t need to go around trying new products just for the sake of it.
If you need a product to target a skin issue (like acne scars), consult a dermatologist for safe product recommendation.
Related post: 13 Skincare Mistakes You Should Avoid At All Costs
7. Sleeping On Dirty Pillowcase
I am sure I’m not the first person who’s telling you this, but not changing your pillowcase is a major cause of acne.
Your pillowcase collects oil, sweat, and bacteria from your skin and hair.
So if you’re sleeping on the same pillowcase for weeks, it’s basically a petri dish for acne.
The straightforward solution is to stop being lazy and switch out your pillowcases every few days.
When combined with other healthy habits, this will help you clear up your skin and keep it from being clogged.
8. Over-Exfoliating
Do you scrub your face raw every day, or even on alternate days? Okay, you gotta stop, like right now.
When you over-exfoliate, you damage your skin barrier. It irritated your skin, gives you redness, and as you may have already guessed, leads to breakouts.
Sensitive-skin ladies should not exfoliate more than once a week. And when you do, you should be opting for gentle exfoliants instead of harsh scrubs.
I personally don’t exfoliate at all, as it strips my skin dry too quickly. Sticking to cleansing twice a day works well for me.
But hey, if you have oily skin and go out a lot, I get the need to exfoliate. Just do it less instead of more, and you’ll reduce your risk of getting acne.
Recommended: Ultimate Guide To Skin Purging (What is it and How to deal with it)
9. Using Comedogenic Products
You might think your skincare and makeup are helping your skin, but if they contain comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredients, they could be making things worse.
While selecting my skincare and makeup, I only buy the products that are non-comedogenic, like this:
I highly recommend you start looking out for this label too, both for skincare and makeup.
Comedogenic products are a major cause of acne; the more you steer clear from them, the better it will be for your skin.
10. Touching Your Face Too Much
Touching your face too much is a bad habit, and you know it.
Your hands carry dirt, bacteria, and oils that can transfer to your face and clog your pores, leading to acne.
Please try to be mindful of this, and definitely don’t pick at your pimples, as tempting as it may be.
11. Not Drinking Enough Water
If your skin is prone to acne, it needs water like a lifeline.
Dehydrated skin produces more oil to compensate, which leads to clogged pores and then causes acne breakouts.
You can reduce your chances of acne just by levelling up your water intake.
Drink at least 10 glasses of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.
Track your water intake, always carry a water bottle with you, or write it on your hand as a reminder if you have to.
I don’t care how you do it, from tomorrow onward, you are going to drink your water and save your skin from the acne drama, capiche?
(Uh, tough love is so not my style).
12. Stress
Every time I visited my dertamologist regarding pimples, one of the questions she asks me is ‘Are you under any stress?’
There was a time when I would underestimate this factor, but I’ve gotten acne after being under stress so many times now that I can’t dismiss this anymore.
Stress increases your cortisol levels, which makes your skin produce more oil and trigger breakouts.
Well, shoot! Does that mean you just have to roll with it?
Absolutely not. Dealing with stress can seem hard, especially if acne itself is one of the things causing you stress.
But if you want to start removing those pimples, you need to become a self-care guru, my friend.
Here are some acitivites to include in your routine life:
- Morning yoga
- Guided mediation before bed
- Read fun books
- Watch your favorite TV show without any guilt
- Practice self-love affirmations
- Don’t think about your acne too much
Break the cycle of stress so that it can stop giving you acne.
You are so much bigger than all your worries combined, my friend. You can do this.
So, those were the 11 major causes of acne that every woman ought to know about. What are the points that you’re guilty of? Let me know in the comment box, and I’ll reply with loads of motivation.
