Breakouts; no matter what your skin type is, we all get them. I'm not going to say I'm lucky to have regularly clear skin now because I've been through the trenches, struggled through years of cystic acne and came out victorious. But sometimes a familiar panic strikes as I see bumps pressing under my skin, threatening to emerge as dreaded pimples. Although breakouts aren't nearly as stressful as cystic acne, they can really ruin your mood and confidence levels. Luckily, if treated properly, a breakout can go away as quickly as it came on. Here are some questions I ask myself when I feel a breakout coming on and what I do to treat it quickly and effectively:
What is touching my face?
Think about everything that touches your face on a daily basis. Pillowcases, makeup brushes, face cloths. How regularly are you cleaning them? If you can't remember the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes then it's time for immediate action. As a general rule, you should wash pillowcases and face brushes/sponges every week, and change the cloth you use to dry your face every few days.
Are the products I'm using right for my skin?
Have you recently introduced any new products into your skincare routine? If so, check their ingredient lists to ensure nothing in them is causing irritation. If you're suspicious of a particular product then discontinue use for a week and see if your skin looks better. Alternatively, it could be that your current routine isn't working now that the weather is getting warmer and more humid. It might be time to switch to lighter, non-comedogenic formulas as it gets hotter.
What's going on in my diet?
Are you drinking enough water? Have you been eating more sugar than usual? The cause of my last breakout was definitely figolla-induced so there's no judgement here. If you're not sure what ingredients your skin is intolerant to, the following are the most common causes of acne: dairy, sugar (especially in fizzy drinks, sugary cocktails and dessert foods), and processed carbohydrates (like white bread and pasta). I'm not saying that your diet needs to be perfect, but try avoiding these foods and eating more leafy greens and vegetables for a few days and see if your skin improves. It's also really important to stay hydrated so make sure to carry your water bottle around with you and try to switch out your coffee for a herbal tea like peppermint or ginger.
Where are the breakouts showing up on my face?
This isn't an exact science, but if your breakouts are consistently showing up on a particular spot on your face then it probably means something. If your breakouts come out on your chin, cheeks and jawline, they're probably hormonal, because hormonal imbalances can cause excess oiliness around these areas. Now might be a good time to make sure that everything is ok with your hormones and check what phase of your cycle you're at. Eating healthy, drinking a lot of water and doing more cardio to stimulate the proper metabolism of estrogen in your body would be the best ways to treat hormonal acne. If your breakouts are happening around your T-zone (nose and forehead), then they're probably caused by an unhealthy diet. If the breakouts on your T-zone take the form of blackheads, whiteheads and comedogenic acne, then you're probably using products which are too heavy for your skin and causing excess oiliness.
In my next post I'll be discussing the products and routines which I find the most effective at treating acne, so stay tuned! Make sure to follow this blog on Instagram and Facebook for more beauty, wellness and lifestyle advice.
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