Many acne sufferers understand how breakouts occur - when oil glands go into overdrive and pores become clogged and inflamed. But for some people it may be difficult to pinpoint why and what is triggering the breakouts from occurring.
Understanding the cause helps people to minimise the severity of the breakout and to better manage potential factors that may be causing continuous breakouts.
Here are 5 common triggers that may surprise you:
Pillow talk
Cleanliness of your pillowcase could be a massive culprit to acne breakouts. When your pillowcase is not washed regularly, a build-up of dirt and oil manifests there and is transferred back onto your skin. This can lead to a cycle of clogged pores and blemishes/breakouts. Not everyone is going to break out from a pillowcase but if you have acne-prone skin, your pillowcase can exacerbate an already delicate skin condition.
You should wash your pillowcases every two to three days.
But please wash with caution - liquid fabric softeners leave behind a waxy residue that is highly pore clogging. Fragrance-free fabric softeners are unfortunately not any better - in this case, it is the softening agents that are a problem for acne-prone skin.
Not having a balanced diet
If you are consuming a diet high in processed foods, dairy and sugar and not eating a wide range of plant-based and fibre rich foods, chances are you are compromising the overall health of your skin.
Certain foods can further promote inflammation throughout the body, and it is possible this can trigger acne breakouts.
To best nourish your skin, you need to nourish your body from the inside out and ensure you eat a wide variety of wholesome foods to promote high levels of good bacteria and not let the bad bacteria overrule.
In general, the most effective way in dealing with acne triggers is to be eating a wholesome balanced diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy protein sources, and whole grains.
Foods containing the following ingredients are also thought to be beneficial for the skin because they reduce inflammation:
High stress levels
Acne is an inflammatory skin disease that can be exacerbated by hormones released during stress. It is common for stress to cause your skin to go into ‘defence mode’ at the first signs of stress and produce more oil. Our cortisol levels - appropriately referred to as the “stress hormone” rises. This imbalance may trigger or aggravate existing skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, hives and eczema. Prolonged stress can also make it harder for skin problems to heal. The best solution is to find stress relievers that work for you and dedicate some time to self-care every once in a while.
You could try:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Walk/exercise
- Talking to a friend
- Social media detox
Mask-related breakouts
Many of us are wearing masks for extended periods, and whilst there are many positive benefits to mask-wearing, acne breakouts can be one of the downsides. Acne breakouts triggered by masks occur due to the pressure from the mask in conjunction with humidity and sweat being trapped underneath causing irritation and pimples. Furthermore, microbes can rapidly build up and sit on the skin for many hours under the mask leading to breakouts. People wearing fabric masks face an elevated problem as material such as cotton blends may absorb natural oils causing dryness and irritation. For people washing and re-wearing their mask, residue from the washing detergent can also lead to clogged pores and irritation.
Prolonged use of antibiotics
Whilst in some cases antibiotics are critical to recovering from an illness, taking antibiotics for too long can be detrimental to the colonies of your good gut bacteria. When bad bacteria overrule, it can quickly trigger a variety of skin conditions.
Your gut’s microflora is directly related to the health of your skin. When your gut’s microflora is unhealthy or out of balance your gut leaks toxins, that are then carried to your skin - resulting in breakouts. Bottom line is the healthier your gut, the healthier your skin.
Taking probiotics and plenty of fermented foods is a really important part of healing your gut. If your digestive system is not functioning properly, then neither will your liver nor lymphatic system which will end up causing havoc with your skin.
If your skin is suffering ongoing breakouts, Kiri Yanchenko, founder of AMPERNA® is here to help. Kiri suffered severe health complications from stress and side effects from medication. She found by that adopting holistic principles she was able to help herself back to full health and glowing skin.
The AMPERNA® range features products that are full of anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial ingredients and contain our probiotic complex. The products and ingredients are inspired by Kiri’s learnings on Holistic Skin Health and the link that she found between gut health and skin health.
