6 Things That May Be Causing Your Acne

Acne is a skin condition that is most associated with teenagers; however, it’s never restricted to growing teens, as acne can affect anyone, at any time. Indeed, adult acne can be a serious problem for a lot of people, and the potential for acne is always there, even long after you’ve passed your teen years. Acne usually affects everyone at some point in their lifetime. It’s most common among teenagers and young adults undergoing hormonal changes, but acne can also occur during adulthood. Adult acne is more common among women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). You may be more at risk of developing acne if you have a family history of acne (genetics).

Here are six other things that may be affecting your skin.

1. Clogged pores

If you’re using anything on your skin, such as makeup, which is high in oil content, this could be clogging your pores and making acne worse. If using makeup, it’s important to clean your skin regularly and thoroughly in order to make sure pores always remain clean. You could also consider being more mindful about your skin products, such as switching to more oil-free versions.

2. Hormones

Hormones are one of the main reasons why a lot of teens can suffer with acne during the changes happening in the body during this period, but anyone can be affected by hormones at any time. Acne and spots may worsen during times when hormones are causing more oil to be produced in the skin, and those times may be during pregnancy, during periods or when taking anything which affects hormone production.

3. Stress

Stress can play havoc on your body, in many ways. It may mean that you aren’t getting a healthy dose of sleep, which could have repercussions for skin health, and it also may mean that your hormone levels are elevated, which can result in more oil production and breakouts.

4. Your diet

What you eat is going to directly affect your body, and this doesn’t just mean health problems or putting on weight. Food also has the power to affect how the body looks, including the appearance of the skin and the potential for breakouts and blemishes.

As well as an unhealthy diet being a potential cause of skin breakouts, it’s also possible that a food intolerance or allergy may be causing acne breakout, too. If you suspect that it could be a dietary issue, you can always take a test, like those at IntoleranceLab, to learn if you have any food intolerances that could be contributing to your skin’s condition.

5. Touching your face

The amount of bacteria on your hands that you could be rubbing on to your face throughout the day has the potential to make acne worse, especially if you are constantly rubbing, picking or squeezing spots.

6. Buildup of sweat

If you enjoy high-intensity workouts that leave sweat pouring down your face, that’s great for your health — but isn’t so great for your skin if you’re not washing your face or skin after your workout. Be sure to always clean and cleanse your face to avoid clogged pores after a workout.

While acne can be a problematic skin condition that is hard to overcome, there are ways you can improve your chances for healthy-looking skin and avoid making breakouts worse.