Why is your skin breaking out?

Are you on the quest for clear skin? And…. Just when you think you have found the right skincare regime a new breakout pops up!

First, let us understand what causes your skin to break out….

Hormones and excessive production of oil are mainly responsible for breakouts. What happens is actually, the hormones stimulate the production of oil and congests your hair follicles. This then leads to the development of the zit-causing bacteria.

However, everyone’s skin is different and genetics play a huge part in how your body responds to acne boosting hormones. It is because of this reason, that no particular skincare ingredient or routine will work for everyone. Therefore, a good place to start this is by consulting your dermatologist. This way you will not only get an insight on what factors contribute to a specific case but will also set you up with all the essential skincare products.

In the meanwhile, you would also want to reflect on a few patterns that you are iterating that trigger these breakouts. At times even the best skincare regime is not effective, if you are continually repeating bad skincare practises. So what could be these?

Are you eating too many carbs?

High-carbohydrate diets may cause your skin to break out. These include cookies, white bread, pasta, crackers, cake etc. They have a high glycaemic index, i.e. they can fluctuate blood sugar levels.

Dairy products also have an impact on insulin levels and trigger breakouts. One of the most dangerous is the cow’s milk. It contains high amounts of progesterone and high sugar content that lead to breakouts.

How can we help?

You should cut down on munching snacks like chocolate, ice cream, pastas, cookies etc. switch to fruits, whole grain and high protein foods.

Are you stressing out over something?

Are you worrying over the deadline of your project? Are relationship issues troubling your mind? It is true that while stress alone cannot cause breakouts, it can aggravate them. Inflammatory chemicals like neuropeptides are released in the body, when you stress. These can worsen acne. This explains why a huge pimple appears on your face before an exam.

How can we help?

You can use skincare products with salicylic acid to get rid of stress related breakouts. To avoid future flare-ups, find ways to calm your nerves by indulging in yoga or a light hearted chick flick.

Is your facemask triggering acne?

If you are noticing more breakouts on your jawline, cheeks and chin, this means your facemask might be causing it. The sweat, humidity, bacteria and oil locked in under the mask can generate a seamless breeding ground for breakouts.

How can we help?

There is no way you can avoid that mask, so it is best to switch yours to one that is made with a breathable material and keep a few so you always have a clean one whenever you need. Make it a part of your skincare to wash your face when you take off the mask and wash your cloth mask to keep it clean. Otherwise, just get yourself a box of disposable ones, so you can throw them away after use.

This will prevent the dirt and grime accumulated on the mask from transferring on your face. Moreover, try to avoid wearing makeup. Since you cover your face with a mask, you will not need that foundation that clogs your pores.

You are confusing acne with something else

At times, your usual acne skincare treatments are not working flat out! This takes us to a more complicated matter that is what if you do not have acne. If you notice tiny bumps appearing along your hairline, chin, chest, forehead and back, you might have fungal acne. This is a result of an infection of the hair follicles. It may look like acne, but requires a completely different treatment.

How can we help?

If you have fungal acne, consult a dermatologist. He will recommend the skincare products needed to treat you. In case, the condition is mild, you can opt for an anti-dandruff shampoo and apply it on the affected areas. Leave it on for ten minutes, and then rinse off with water. Bear in mind that fungal acne thrives on sweat and excess sebum. So be particular about washing your sweaty clothes and body.

Your pillowcase needs a wash

Your face is exposed to ultraviolet radiation and pollution the entire day. This mounts up dirt and grime on your face. If you do not wash your face in your skincare regime, you take all that dirt to your pillowcase. This transfers it back to your face whenever you sleep. This kind of fouling and contact with your pillowcase encourages inflammation and breakouts.

How can we help?

This calls for washing your pillowcase every few nights or changing it completely with a new one. Another tip would be using a satin pillowcase, which will reduce any chance of friction altogether.

Use of heavy sunscreens

Sunscreen is necessary in every skincare routine. However, which sunscreen you need to choose is what is important. If your skin is prone to breakouts, you need to choose oil free, non comedogenic sunscreens. Heavy sunscreens can cause clogging of pores that leads to breakouts.

Sunscreens contain two types of skincare ingredients. Chemical agents that absorb readily into the skin and shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation and physical agents that sit on the skin surface to guard the skin against sun exposure.

Physical sunscreens are recommended for sensitive skin because they rebound the sun’s rays. Nevertheless, these can be denser, leave a white cast on the skin, block pores, while chemical sunscreens are imperceptible, very light, and leave the skin dull.

How can we help?

If your skin breaks out after using a physical sunscreen, you will need a skincare product that is not as dense. You should switch to a sunscreen that is infused with ingredients like oxybenzone, octocrylene, methoxycinnamate and avobenzone. Moreover, do not forget to wash the sunscreen off as they can clog pores if left overnight.

Lack of sleep

The body goes under daily circadian rhythms in which certain activities take place in the day and some while we are asleep. During sleep, the body rests and the cortisol levels go down. Lack of sleep means that the body is exposed to high levels of cortisol, which can stimulate breakouts.

How can we help?

Get off the phone and give yourself the eight-hour sleep.

Girls if you are struggling with breakouts consider the options given in this piece. When you think all your attempts are going into vain, just book an appointment with the dermatologist