by Skylar Blue

Created on: January 22, 2010   Last Updated: February 13, 2012

Acne isn’t always caused by poor hygiene. In fact, most likely it is not even caused by poor hygiene. There are numerous other reasons why you may break-out and it is important to know why it is you have a break-out and then finding ways to avoid these factors and then clearing your acne. Some common things that make people break out include:

STRESS:
Come exam time where you spend nights trying to cram all the dates for the Russian revolution with remembering quotes from Macbeth and then onto all the concepts of quadratics and it is a party time for acne. Beauty does come from the inside and if we are a tangled mess of worry then our skin is going to reflect that.

Solution:
Find time during the day to de-stress. Even if you have to get that 50-page assignment done by tomorrow and can’t afford time to eat, sleep, drink water, hose the garden (water restrictions!), take a shower, wash your face, read a bedtime story to your nine-year-old sister, etc. etc. you must and I repeat MUST have at least ten minutes of time to de-stress. Whether it’s throwing paint on a bare canvas and just making a mess, as long as it makes you feel better for a bit then it’s worth it. Or try free association writing. Get a piece of paper and just write out anything that comes to mind. ANYTHING. You will find that it feels so much better because it feels like you’ve unburdened yourself of something. Besides, de-stressing will clear your mind and get the job done much better.

JUNK FOOD:
Some people say chocolate doesn’t give you pimples. Some people say it’s not what you eat that affects your skin. Well, you know what? If you’re eating chocolate everyday and drowning yourself in soft drinks and then stuffing yourself with potato chips, then your acne is most likely caused by your diet.

Solution:
Yup, food DOES affect your skin. Ever heard the saying: you are what you eat? It’s true. Eating healthy will promote better health. Better health equals more happiness and confidence. Happiness and confidence equates to much better skin because all these warm feelings make you glow from the inside out. So basically, eat healthy and you will improve internally and externally.

TOUCHING YOUR FACE:
Sometimes you can go paranoid from having acne and you consistently worry about whether a new one has popped up or whether the pimple you woke up with has increased in diameter and swelling. You touch your acne to have a feel for its present condition. BIG MISTAKE. Your hands are full of bacteria. From writing with a pen to typing on your keyboard, you are in contact with gazillions of those pesky microbes. And what is even worse for acne? More bacteria. It can lead to pus build-up.

Solution:
Don’t touch your face. Just don’t. I know. I used to be guilty of this crime. But you must overcome your desire to check up on your acne and leave it alone. When you next get an urge, just sit on your hands or something.

HORMONES:
Acne can just be caused by hormones. I know when I first hit puberty, God, it was a whole festival of acne. Or when that time of the month comes, I break out too.

Solution:
Regular cleansing and moisturizing will help but as for an instant solution? Sorry, but it’s hormones. Most likely they will just pop back. Just stay strong and stick with a good daily cleanser for sensitive skin and a moisturizer that actually moisturizes and your skin should start clearing after a while.

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