Acne is a common skin concern that most people face at some point in their lives, and find to be bothersome or embarrassing. Caused by hormones and genetics, acne can be annoying and painful and in some cases, go completely out of control. Though it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of acne breakouts, it’s a fact that some lifestyle habits worsen this condition.
Skin Care Practices to Avoid if You Have Acne-Prone Skin
To reduce breakouts and maintain a clear, glowing complexion, you first need to identify the potential acne triggers. Here are 6 common skin care habits that can make acne worse:
- Popping or squeezing pimples: Never poop or squeeze pimples, as doing this could push some of what’s inside – bacteria, pus, and/or dead skin – deeper into the skin, which might increase inflammation, pain and scarring. Instead, find the right way to treat the condition. If you have deep or painful acne, see a dermatologist for effective treatment.
- Vigorous scrubbing: Many people think that scrubbing the skin can address acne. But it doesn’t. In fact vigorous scrubbing – using a washcloth, loofah, or harsh exfoliant – can irritate your skin more, causing the acne to flare. To prevent this, cleanse your be gentle when washing your skin and use a mild cleanser and lukewarm water.
- Sleeping with makeup on: Make sure to remove your make-up before you hit the bed as not doing so can trigger or worsen acne. Makeup can clog your pores with sweat and dirt that’s built up on your face throughout the day. This clogging can form a microcomedone, which can attract the P. Acnes bacteria into your pores and cause a breakout. Even makeup marketed as non-comedogenic can cause acne.
- Over-washing: One of the basic steps of keeping your skin clean is by washing it properly. But overdoing it can irritate the skin and lead to more acne/breakouts. Instead, wash your face once a day and be gentle while doing it.
- Rubbing sweat: Rubbing your sweat roughly with towel after your workout can irritate your skin and cause acne breakouts. Use a clean towel and gently pat the sweat from your skin.
- Switching a new acne treatment frequently: If you on an acne treatment, give it some time to work – say 6 to 8 weeks. If you don’t give the treatment time to work and switch to a new one every week or so, it can irritate your skin, causing more breakouts. Acne treatments usually take time to work.
Take care to avoid these skin care habits that can worsen your acne and replace them with good skin care practices.
