What is your breakout telling you?
Breakouts are always inconvenient — and they always show up when you least expect them, such as before a big job interview, a presentation at work, or a promising date.
It’s clear that acne can take both a physical and an emotional toll.
Acne may negatively affect your personal relationships, your job or schooling, and even daily tasks like grocery shopping and tidying your home.
While impossible to pinpoint the exact reason why, at times the location of your breakouts can give you some clues that can help you determine what’s behind it, and how you can get rid of them.
Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, pustules: call them what you will, they all arise from inflammation.
Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition in the skin caused by a combination of skin cells within your pores, oil production, bacterial growth, all leading to inflammation.
Acne is NOT the result of “dirty” skin.
Hormonal fluctuations, diet, cosmetic use, and stress can all lead to acne flares, but the number one reason someone has acne is because of genetics
Acne in adult women tends to occur on the lower third of the face, jawline, and neck, and around the mouth.
The full face should be treated to get rid of pimples that you see and to prevent new ones from popping up in other areas.
Stress leads to hormonal surges that rev up your oil production and increase inflammation.
Approaching a deadline or a test at school, you may notice a breakouts in the forehead, nose, and chin.
Taking care of yourself and having a skin-care routine can help you regain some control.
Hairline Acne Acne along the sides of your face and or around the crown of your head.
Could be from styling gels and mousses, or sweating and hair oils blocking the pores around your face.
Don’t overdo it with makeup. Concealer and foundation might help cover up pimples, but they don’t always help them heal.
Some people buy concealer to cover up their acne, not knowing it’s going to make it worse. Make sure that everything that goes on your face is noncomedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog pores and cause pimples.
Also we advise against sharing makeup, makeup brushes, and makeup applicators, as these habits can increase your risk for breakouts, too.
If you’re going to wear makeup, be sure to wash it off before bed. Don’t scrub the makeup away with cleanser and water, but rather gently wash it away.
Say yes to sunscreen. There’s a myth that acne gets dried up in the sun, but what happens is a delayed . You might notice your skin is better for a couple of days after you’re out in the sun, but a few days later it will get worse.
Sun interferes with your immune system’s ability to fight acne.
Not to mention that limiting sun exposure can help reduce your risk of skin cancer. Your vitamin D needs can vary based on factors like where you live, your ethnicity, and the time of year.
Talk to your healthcare team to find out how much sun exposure you need to get an ample amount of the sunshine vitamin.
Body Acne When it comes to body acne, your clothing could be the culprit.
For example, some players wear goggles that they sweat under, so sometimes they’ll get acne under the goggle line.
Also chin-strap acne. If you’re sweating under something on your face, head, neck, or body — or hanging out in sweaty clothing or equipment — that can be a problem for sure.
Have a towel in your bathroom that’s just dedicated to drying your face, so you’re not using a towel on your face that has hair oils on it.
Wear the right gym clothes. Some workout clothes can make body acne worse.
When it comes to butt acne, underwear choice could be to blame.
A lot of women work out in a thong and Lycra bike shorts or spandex pants, all of these materials are made to wick the sweat off your skin, but they don’t breathe very well and tend to hold moisture in, too.
Opt for full-coverage bikini-cut underwear or boy shorts (cotton when possible) and take off your workout clothes as soon as your sweat session is done.
Keep your skin-care products handy. That’s especially true if you’re headed somewhere after the gym, or if you’re handling oily or greasy food while also sweating at work.
Washing any acne-prone areas of your body ASAP after your sweat session at the gym or work. Clean your cell phone. If you tend to break out on your cheeks only, make sure that you clean your cell phone often.
They’re a breeding ground for dirt, oil, and bacteria, which can lead to breakouts when coming into contact with your face on a regular basis.
Ultimately, your acne specialist can help you determine what may be triggering your breakouts and how to best treat them.
Sometimes blemishes are out of your control, but take comfort in knowing that tweaking some of your daily habits can go a long way to helping you keep your complexion clear.