5 Common Causes of Acne & What You Can do About it

by: Ashley Parker

Acne is common and is something that people can experience on a daily basis.  Every day we can run into acne and blemish causes. If you are prone to breakouts, pimples, and blemishes, you might find yourself asking what causes acne? The answer isn’t necessarily straight forward considering unique factors such as age, hormones and lifestyle.  That’s why we created a guide of some of the most common causes of acne and blemishes that people experience quite frequently. Helping you take steps to reduce the amount of acne and blemishes you are experiencing.

Stress

Most people experience stress every now and then, occasional stress is unavoidable.  In fact, stress can cause an increase in adrenaline and cortisol, which sometimes helps people perform better.  However, too much stress over an extended period can have a negative effect on the skin.  Stress is often known to cause flareups of acne due to an over production of cortisol in the body. 
Cortisol is a hormone produced when stressed, which causes your glands to produce more oil, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria.  This can lead to acne breakouts. 
With that said, find ways to reduce stress in your life.  Some ways might include

• 7-8 hours of sleep every night
• Yoga
• Meditation
• hot bath
• leisurely stroll in the park.

Traveling by Airplane

I can personally vouch for this one.  Traveling on airplanes throws my skin out of whack.  The cabin of airplanes typically have very low humidity, which cause the skin to get dehydrated and lack water. Ensure you are properly hydrated when traveling by air.  You can even carry a facial mist spray to provide a quick spritz when the face is feeling dry.

Touching your Face

One of the most common causes of irritation to the face is by touching it.  We touch our faces countless times throughout the day without realizing it.  Throughout the day our hands come in contact with a variety of things that carry different germs and bacteria.  This is then transferred to our face when we touch it. 

Take a mental note of times you touch your face.  Try to reduce the amount of times touching your face unless it’s a necessity.  Wash your hands regularly, keeping hand sanitizer easily accessible.  In addition cleanse the face when possible.

Increased Intake of Dairy

When developing chronic breakouts (painful, under the skin pimples, on the chin and neck area) it might be a sign that the body is consuming more dairy than it can tolerate.  When excessive amounts of dairy are consumed, naturally it is going to be harder for the body to digest.  The best way to test if dairy is the cause is to cut dairy out of your diet and see if the symptoms lessen.  Typically, symptoms occur on the lower part of the face.  Keep an eye on that area when monitoring lessening or worsening symptoms.

Skin Care Products

Surprisingly sometimes harsh chemicals or abrasive skin care products that are new to a skin care regimen can irritate the skin.  In addition, synthetic ingredients in skin care products may not be a good fit for your skin.  Some products may cause excessive exfoliation which strips the skin of moisture and essential oils.

Be mindful of your skin type.  Keep an eye out for product labels that include “not recommended for sensitive skin”.  If your skin is sensitive, this may not be the best product for you.  Look for skin care product descriptions that say the product can be used by all skin types.