The Common Unknown Causes of Breakouts

Most people know about the common causes of acne breakouts; touching your face, fluctuating hormones, eating greasy food, etc. However, there are other causes of breakouts that most people are not aware of. There are certain patterns you could be repeating on a daily basis that can cause you to break out or can even exacerbate your already annoying issue.

Here are some of the most surprising triggers that you can start taking care of today!

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is a major factor in skin dryness, which can ultimately lead to breakouts. Cold, artificial air isn’t the least bit friendly to your skin. When the skin is lacking in moisture, it can go into oil production overload, which leads to those pesky blemishes. Spending all your time indoors – whether it's at home, in class, or at the office – can easily lead to frequent breakouts.

The best solution, if you are required to spend a lot of time indoors, is to place a humidifier in the room to bring moisture back in!

Hot Showers

We tend to shower to keep our skin clean and blemish-free. Cranking up the temperature in your shower is a great way to start the day or relax after a long one, especially when the weather is colder. Unfortunately, this is something you should avoid doing frequently. Hot water is incredibly drying, and dryness leads to breakouts. Here’s how it works: cold water tightens the skin’s pores, which doesn’t allow the natural secretion of acne-causing bacteria. On the other hand, hot water opens pores and leaves it prone to further irritation.

An important tip to keep in mind: if your skin is turning red, it’s time to either end your shower or lower the temperature.

Try keeping the water lukewarm in your shower and see if you notice a change!

Skipping Meals

Missing a meal means missing out on key vitamins and nutrients that your body (and skin) need in order to thrive. By not getting proper nutrition, your skin can lose elasticity and dry out. On top of that, there’s the issue of blood sugar. Keeping blood sugar balanced is important to avoid the spikes that cause breakouts.

Lastly, there’s the psychological issue: when you skip meals it’s easy to snack on bread and other foods that lead to high blood sugar, which then leads to breakouts.

Do your skin a favour and keep a consistent meal schedule!

Not Cleaning Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes harbor a ton of bacteria, so essentially every time you apply makeup to your face you’re applying all that bacteria and it gets worse over time. On top of that, with every application, your brushes and sponges collect oil, dust, dead skin, and residual makeup. If not regularly and properly cleaned, these tools can re-deposit these less-than-pleasant substances back on your face, clogging your pores.

To prevent this from happening, make sure to wash your brushes at least once a week with mild shampoo and warm water!

Taking the time to notice the little things you do throughout the day can go a long way in maintaining healthy and beautiful skin. Each entry on the list can be taken care of starting today! If you start addressing these minor lifestyle changes, you may just find your overall health improves as well!