Acne, regardless of your age, is such an annoyance. Breakouts always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times. However, they can be avoidable with a few tricks. If you’re used to otherwise blemish-free skin, here are a few reasons you may be breaking out and how to correct the issue.
Stress
Stress is a part of everyday life, but it can also be a contributor to your breakouts. In the simplest terms, stress impacts your hormones, which in turn can create build-ups that clog your pores.
While it’s not the most glamorous or quick solution, the best way to eliminate this type of acne is to reduce your stress levels. So, if you’re starting to feel overwhelmed with work or personal situations, find a stress-relief solution that works for you. Whether you meditate, exercise, or turn on your favorite TV show, a little self-care will make all the difference.
Lack of Sleep
Your sleep schedule is important for many reasons, one of which is your skin’s health. If you’re not getting a minimum of seven hours of sleep at night, your stress levels are likely heightened, as are your hormones.
The solution? Get some rest. For healthy cell regeneration, you should be going to bed around the same time every night and getting up around the same time every morning. Once your sleep schedule is back on track, your acne will begin to disappear.
External Germs
Our faces are constantly in contact with external fabrics and devices, including facemasks, pillowcases, and even your phone. These items come in contact with your face and transfer oils and bacteria, which, in turn, increases the chances of breakouts.
To solve the problem, make sure to clean those external factors before you touch them to your face. Start with washing your facemask after usage and your pillowcases weekly; additionally, make sure you frequently clean your phone.
Diet
Your diet impacts your skin greatly. The skin will often show aversions to carbs, sugars, or dairy products (though aversions are not limited to those food groups). If you drink soda everyday or enjoy candy bars regularly, the solution is to limit those delicious but unhealthy treats. While this isn’t to say you can only eat kale salads, it is to say that you should pay more attention to the food groups you’re consuming and back away from those unhealthier groups.
Water Intake
Lastly, but most importantly, water intake is vital for clear skin. So if you’re a caffeine addict or enjoy a boozy night out, you could be doing your skin a disservice. It’s recommended that men drink about 16 cups of water a day while women should drink about 12 cups a day. It’ll take some getting used to, but drinking more water will become a habit that becomes easy to maintain.
Breakouts are the worst, whether it’s a single pimple or a full-on acne outbreak. More often than not, once you narrow down the cause, you’ll be able to correct the problem before it becomes a repeat event.