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.
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Habit No. 9: Wearing the wrong clothes
The fibers in your closet could be the culprit for body acne, says King.
Fabrics like polyester and lycra can trap dead skin cells and sweat against your body. We lose one million skin cells every 40 minutes, says King, and when we wear super-tight clothes, those cells don't really have anywhere to go.
The solution: Choose clothes with natural fibers (think cotton and bamboo) that breathe so your skin doesn't suffocate.
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Habit No. 10: Smoking
While some doctors disagree on whether smoking causes acne or not, there is evidence to suggest it does. Researchers at the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Rome identified non-inflammatory acne (NIA) to be common among frequent smokers. They also found that smokers who had experienced acne in their teen years were four times more likely to have acne as an adult than non-smokers who also had acne in their teens. So if you're breaking out and still lighting up, reconsider your deadly habit. If not for your life, for your vanity.
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.
