The main cause for acne is the overproduction of oil; blocked hair follicles that don’t allow the oil to leave the pores, thus often resulting in a clogged pore. However, aside from overproduction of oil, hormones and genetics there are other factors for acne breakouts that you can control!

1.     Foods 

Spicy foods containing acidic lycopene can throw off your skin’s pH levels and trigger breakouts. Aside from spicy foods, there are also foods like bread, and dairy (i.e. chocolate!) that can cause breakouts (depending on your own personal make-up). The cure for a food induced breakout is to pay attention to what you’re eating and how your skin reacts. If you find a trend you can find the culprit and monitor your future intake.

2.     Stress 

Ahh, the vicious cycle of stress and acne. With stress comes acne and with acne comes more stress! Whenever you’re feeling under pressure, your skin produces stress hormones, including cortisol, which can stimulate your oil glands to make testosterone and then increases oil production and clogs the pores. Try working out more regularly, meditation and taking some time every day to focus on yourself.

3.     Sweat 

Started working out regularly to reduce stress and therefore, acne but still suffer from breakouts? The problem could stem from your pre and post workout wash (or lack of). It’s important to wipe off makeup before hitting your workout, or at the very least immediately afterwards. If you don’t wear makeup, it’s still a good idea to clean the skin of any dirt, dust and whatever else might be waiting to get soaked into your open and sweaty pores.

4.     Over Exfoliation 

Some seem to be under the false pretense that rigorous exfoliation is the answer to clearer skin. Although exfoliation is a great way to clear the skin of dead cells, it shouldn’t be a part of your daily routine. Over exfoliation can lead to scratching of the skins protective layer and also drying. The former leading the skin to become an easier target for clogged pores and the latter leading to an overproduction of your natural oils and thus breakouts. It’s best here to minimize the amount of exfoliation to once a week and to use products that are right for your skin type. Kamedis CLEAR for example is an oil-free product that treats the skin without drying it, but rather by hydrating it.

Do you have any other tips on how to stay clear of breakouts? Let us know!

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