We all hate acne. It is plain unsightly, lowers our confidence, and disrupts our mood. There’s nothing worse than finding out that you have a zit on the most evident part of your face — especially when you have somewhere special to go. However, it is inevitable. We all get it at one point in our lives. But, the thing is, getting rid of it is so challenging! There are endless acne treatments on the market today and it can be pretty tiring to keep purchasing some of them, only to find out that it isn’t working for your face. Fortunately, we’re here to help you out by preventing acne from happening.
To do this, you have to first get to the bottom of why it is occurring in the first place. You wouldn’t want to treat or prevent something for the wrong reasons. This could even be a cause for a breakout! Below, we’ve rounded out a list of some of the main causes of acne and how you can prevent each one of them. Continue reading for more!
Bacteria
The sole reason why your skin produces acne is because of the accumulation of oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt.
While you may be showering every day, you might not be cleaning your face (or the spot in your body where there is acne) enough. Make sure that you are scrubbing or washing for at least 2 mins with a good cleanser to get rid of all the dirt. With this, you are also removing all the accumulated bacteria that’s been on your body within the day — preventing acne from happening.
However, many also believe that there are other contributors to acne. Here are some of them:
Hormones
Hormones are thought to be one of the main causes of acne. As we grow older, we get more androgen levels. The rise of this causes the oil under the glands of the skin to grow and produce more sebum than usual. Puberty related hormonal acne usually starts in the T-zone (your forehead, nose, and chin). While on the other hand, hormonal acne forms in the lower portion of the face (bottom of the cheeks and the jawline). To prevent this, limit eating sugar, dairy products, refined carbs, and red meat. This will all increase inflammation and trigger higher hormonal levels. You can also try drinking green tea or drink a Zinc acne supplement.
Diet
What you eat plays a huge role in your body. This goes without saying. And acne is not an exception to this. Foods that are high in glycemic index such as sugary food, soft drinks, white bread, potatoes, white rice — all of these elevate hormones, which increase the activity of oil glands in the skin, and ultimately forms acne in the body. This is why these kinds of foods are really to be avoided and limited. It does your body no good. Always eat the right food and drink plenty of water.
If you’re looking for an acne-preventing diet, make sure to incorporate leafy greens, and food with a good supply of vitamins a, e, and zinc.
Stress
Your lifestyle may be taking a toll on your acne as well. Stress-related hormones called cortisol, when mixed together with the oil on your skin, will likely send your glands into overdrive and cause acne, and sometimes even acne breakouts.
While stress is inevitable in our daily lives, it’s important to limit it and not push yourself, especially if you want to prevent acne. With this, you should also be strict in your typical skincare routine. Wash your face twice daily and moisturize.
Soap and Cosmetics
Soap and cosmetic products wouldn’t be released in the market if they cause acne. However, your skin may be sensitive to certain ingredients. If you’ve been wearing makeup or using bath and body products often, yet acne still keeps popping up, it may be time to change up your products.
Key Takeaway
Getting rid of acne is truly frustrating. Especially now, when there is a plethora of acne treatment on the market. How can you find the best one for you? The best way to treat and prevent acne is by getting to the bottom of why it is happening in the first place. This way, you get to narrow down your choices for treatment and pick out an effective treatment.
