6 Things that Cause Acne

With our lifestyle, it really is not quite hard to see why most of us are battling with skin conditions like acne on a regular basis. But in order to successfully combat acne, we need to first understand what part of our lifestyle is causing them. We have a list of the top 6 things that lead to acne. Beyond this, acne can also be inherited, in which case the treatment route will be different for you. If you have a family history of acne, be sure to consult the dermatologist on the right way to combat it.

1. Chocolate
   Yes, yes it is heart breaking to read that word as the first on the list. But, eating too much chocolate is a sure shot bridge to acne for some people. You may or may not be susceptible to breakouts after eating chocolate. But there are people who wake up with a giant pimple the day after they binge on chocolate. It is difficult to resist the urge, but if you are able to control your chocolate obsession, you will notice clearer skin. Now isn’t that a neat natural skin care tip?

2. Greasy and spicy food
   Spicy foods mostly contain spices and peppers, which contain acidic lycopene. This can act as a skin irritant for a lot of people. It throws off the skin pH balance and hence triggers breakouts. Scientifically speaking, there is a bone of contention about whether greasy foods really affect the skin or not. But is unhealthy for you in general, so it is best to stay away from it as far as possible.

3. Bad hygiene
   Not washing your face and body often enough will cause dirt and dead skin cells to accumulate on the surface of your skin, clogging your pores and leading to breakouts. That doesn’t mean that you should wash your face too often either. Bathing is essential at least once a day every day. If you work out, DO NOT wait to bathe after cooling down. You should wash your face about twice a day with lukewarm water. If you want to know how to get rid of pimple marks naturally, it is important to wash your face after you have been out for most of the day.

4. Applying toothpaste on zits
   Contrary to the popular belief, toothpaste doesn’t really make a breakout disappear! What toothpaste with triclosan does is that it dries up pimples quickly, but it also leaves the skin red or irritated, and this could cause more acne-like eruptions called perioral dermatitis. What’s more, ingredients in your toothpaste like Fluoride and sodium pyrophosphate, tend to be quite abrasive and could potentially burn the skin, cause irritation, and initiate breakouts. Yes, it might sound like a fast and inexpensive way to spot treat a pimple, but the best place to use your toothpaste is on your teeth, not an already-sensitive skin problem!

5. Exfoliating the wrong way
   It is a skin sin to scrub your skin too vigorously and too often. Exfoliation should be carried out every third day. The scrub that you use should be rubbed in very gently in circular motions across your face and your body. Do not use your washcloth or a face brush as an alternative to a scrub, because they leave the skin raw and are bad for you. This will not only aggravate acne, it will also not help you get rid of pimple marks naturally.

6. Picking at pimples
   A lot of people have a habit of picking at their pimples, thinking that ‘popping’ them before their time will speed up the process to their inevitable demise. Well, that is in fact far from the truth. Picking at pimples just pushes the skin infection deeper into the skin, induces more pimples, and causes spots and scarring. While it may be very tempting to want to pop your pimples, please don’t. Let the pimple live out its natural cycle.

Now that you know what to do and what not to do, make sure you follow our tips for natural beauty and do tell us if it made a visible difference to your skin in our comments section below.