What Is Causing My Acne?
While I am definitely a believer in not letting a blemish ruin your day, I also know how challenging it can be to feel confident in your own skin if you have a breakout that just won’t seem to clear up.
Instead of throwing everything we’ve got at your acne and hoping for a fix, sometimes the best solution is to dive deep into the why and figure out the root cause of your breakouts. I’m breaking down common acne causes, some holistic solutions to acne, and some of my favorite products that work wonders when it comes to pesky breakouts.
Knowledge is power and that saying definitely applies to fighting acne!
Primary Acne Causes
A breakout occurs when a pore becomes clogged, whether that’s from bacteria, excess oil buildup or dead skin cells. The clogged pore then becomes red and inflamed, leading the contents of the clogged pore to be pushed to the surface in the form of a blemish. While clogged pores are at the center of acne, there are deeper causes that result in excess oils, buildup of dead skin cells or other acne causing issues.
Acne Caused By Stress
A common cause of acne that you may already be aware of is *stress*. Shocker, I know. Stress can cause the body to release CRH, a hormone which can lead to overproduction of oils on the skin, and trigger the release of inflammatory cytokines. While one tough day at work won’t leave you with a face full of blemishes, overtime - consistent high stress levels can lead to excess oils consistently resting on the skin, causing clogged pores and acne. Working to reduce your stress levels can be beneficial to many aspects of your life, including your skin!
Acne Caused By Lack of Sleep
A lack of sleep can also be the cause behind your acne. Consistently getting insufficient sleep will deprive your body of the valuable healing time that takes place every night during your oh-so-essential 8-hours. Every night, your energy is restored and your cells regenerate while you sleep. These important bodily functions that occur while sleeping, work to keep you healthy {including your skin}! The valuable cell regeneration, hydration, and blood flow keep your skin looking clear and refreshed, so without sufficient sleep you could be putting your skin at risk for acne.
Acne Caused Skincare
Another common cause of acne can be simply using the wrong products. Whether the products aren’t designed for your skin type or they are not made with quality ingredients, products that don’t work well with your specific skin could be the underlying cause of irritated skin and breakouts. Letting your skin take a break from products that cause irritation could be the best solution for figuring out what works for your skin type. I’ll call out some of my recommended products later on in this post!
Gut Health and Acne
Sometimes, acne is an indicator of another health issue that may be ailing you. If you’re one of the many *hot girls with stomach problems* you may notice that when your gut is acting up, your acne flares up as well.
There are many ways to improve your gut health. I recommend working with your doctor to determine a diagnosis and a solution, adding a probiotic into your routine, or cutting out certain foods that you notice cause gut and skin issues.
Hormones and Acne
Hormonal acne is a tale as old as time, and one we’ve probably *all* dealt with at one point or another {yes, even I get breakouts}. Women deal with frequent hormonal changes throughout the month, and our skin will react differently at different points. Understanding what your skin and body need at different points throughout your cycle, whether that be more water, more rest, or maybe more chocolate 😉- will help you discover what works for your skin during times that your hormones may be more prone to triggering acne.
Detox and Acne
Sometimes your acne can be caused by other parts of your body working hard to combat an infection or toxins that you’ve been exposed to. The detox process from a low grade infection or exposure to toxins in the air can result in acne popping up. Sticking to your skincare routine and providing your body with the nutrition and hydration it needs to continue fighting an infection will help you stay healthy and can help your skin clear up over time.
Best Products To Combat Acne
Acne can be frustrating, whether you know the cause or are working to figure it out, but there are always a few things you can do to try to combat breakouts. Drinking more water, keeping your environment clean, and, of course, choosing high quality skincare products that are designed to keep your skin clean and combat clogged pores.
Some of my favorite acne fighting products are included below.
Best Cleanser For Acne
You might be feeling the need to wash more frequently when dealing with acne, which can be an amazing way to keep your skin squeaky clean, as long as it is done with a cleanser that is non-abrasive and gentle enough on the skin.
I recommend Rhonda Allison’s Beta Green Tea Cleanser to provide a soothing cleansing experience every time. This cleanser combines the soothing properties of green tea with the acne fighting properties of salicylic acids to fight bacteria while reducing redness and inflammation, a perfect acne fighting combo.
Best Spot Treatment For Acne
Following up a cleanser with a serum designed to battle blemishes will help ensure you’re getting the most of your skincare routine if you’re acne prone. The Rhonda Allison Blemish Serum is gentle enough to be used on inflamed and irritated skin, but works hard to clear the skin of blemishes and enhance the natural purity of your skin. This is a two-in-one because it can be used as a serum all over the skin or as a spot treatment on your toughest breakouts. Win, win!
Best Face Wipes For Acne
If you find yourself feeling oily throughout the day or need a quick refresh after a workout, I recommend always keeping these All Purpose Cleansing Pads within reach. The blend of salicylic acid and Totarol in these pads will help immediately reduce bacteria, oil buildup and any other residue from your skin - leaving it feeling fresh and clean after just one wipe.
Another bonus: These wipes can be used to clean just about anything. If you experience butt acne {yes we all know it’s a thing}, these wipes will help decrease inflammation and clear up any breakouts.