So, you're already aware that stress gets your heart racing, your stomach churning, and causes wrinkles — but did you know that it also increases the hormones that can cause acne? So sad, so true.
So what are we saying — magically chill out just because we told you to (yeah, wouldn't that just be dandy)? No, but you can do things to relax and minimize the drama. Click here to see if it is stress that is affecting your skin and see easy ways to reduce stress .
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Reason No. 5: Your laundry schedule
As if your dirty laundry isn't annoying enough to deal with, it could also be causing your acne. Think about it: Your face lies on your pillowcase for hours at a time, and if it's not clean, you're basically rolling around in a bunch of dead skin cells and bacteria. As for that towel of yours? If it's not fresh from the dryer, you could be wiping germs all over your newly-cleansed skin.
King suggests changing your pillowcase once or twice a week and using a fresh towel daily. Also, if you use fabric softeners made with tallow (aka animal fat — ew), they aren't going to do your acne any favors. And definitely keep in mind that a lot of detergents and fabric softeners contain fragrance that can cause irritation as well.
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Habit No. 6: The hair products you use
Many people don't think about how their hair products can cause acne, says Nakhla, but think about how often your hair touches your face. And remember that unless you are washing your hair every night before bed, all that product is transferring onto your pillow.
King says hair products with oil, silicones, and plasticizers will clog your pores if they get onto your skin, so if you want to wear your hair down (or have fringe touching your forehead), try to steer clear of products with those ingredients.
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Habit No. 7: Using dirty makeup applicators
Alright, so now that you are diligently checking the labels on all your makeup products for known acne instigators, you need to think about the actual brushes, sponges, and other applicators you use to apply your non-comedogenic makeup.
King points out that your makeup tools are crawling with bacteria and dead skin cells, making them absolute zit factories. Remember to only use a makeup sponge once and clean your brushes once a week with a brush cleanser or shampoo. This will keep them germ free — and your skin clear.
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Habit No. 8: Your diet
OK, so you've heard rumors that foods like chocolate and French fries are practically guaranteed to give you zits, but the good news (kinda) is that's not totally true, says Nakhla.
It's really an overall unhealthy diet that effects your skin. Shamban says that having a high glycemic index, which is caused by frequently eating foods known to spike your blood sugar levels (like refined sugar, white bread, pastas, and fried foods), will mess with your body and can cause acne. So if you are eating these foods only on occasion, it's not likely the cause for your breakouts.
Also, some people, though they might not know it, have actual allergies to foods like chocolate, wheat, or dairy that cause them to break out. So if you notice your skin goes nuts after a bagel binge or cookie dough ice cream social, take a break from these foods and see what happens.
It's so unfair. You're well past the tumultuous years of high school (ugh, thank god), but you're still dealing with skin problems. Which begs the question: Didn't your skin get the memo that it's time to move on? The quarterback married somebody else and you no longer have the time or patience to worry about acne.
While a bad breakout no longer "ruins your life," like it did in the past, it's still embarrassing and frustrating. So why are you still suffering from breakouts? First off, Annet King, director of The International Dermal Institute, says, "acne-prone people are born with about four to five times more skin cells than the average person, and produce more oil than the average person as well." And it's the winning combination of these factors that are at the initial root of the problem. But there are other, sneakier, under-the-radar ways that you could be irritating your skin as well — ways you aren't even aware of. So if you're at a loss as to why you're getting zits, the culprit is likely your daily routine.
To dig deep, we interviewed a slew of acne experts for a comprehensive list of healthy skin-offenders. Along with King, we talked to dermatologist Tony Nakhla, M.D., author of "The Skin Commandments: 10 Rules to Healthy, Beautiful Skin", and dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., author of "Heal Your Skin." They all shared the little-known ways pimples can rear their ugly heads — and of course, how to prevent and treat them as well.
