Skin Breakouts most frequently occur where our skin has the most oil glands. During a breakout, the hair fills with dead skin cells, sebum (oil), and occasionally bacteria. This leads to swelling, redness, and rash. Eventually, the pores become blocked and force their contents to the skin’s surface.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SKIN BREAKOUTS?
Plenty of things can cause breakouts. If you have a breakout, think if the subsequent causes may be contributing to your skin breakout issues.
Skincare products: The ointments and lotions you use may be to reprimand for breakouts. Oily makeup and some liquid foundations block pores. Non-comedogenic by-products, which don’t block pores are advised to be used.
Dry Skin: Dry skin can also cause skin breakouts. Oily skin is indeed the cause of bad breakouts, but so is the other extreme. Dry skin can have tiny gaps and cracks in which bacteria can breed, and multiply thereby causing skin breakouts dry skin flakes can clog pores.
Excessive usage of skin breakout products: Too much use of everything is bad. Sometimes, excessive use of skin breakout products can lead to skin irritation, rash, and dry skin. Overly dry skin will react by creating more oil and that oil can block pores. Resulting in skin breakout.
Dehydration: Water is needed in the body to maintain its physiological equilibrium. Water is also believed to help reduce breakouts by keeping skin hydrated. Having dry skin can increase the production of oil — and too much oil can initiate a skin breakout.
Stress: Stress itself doesn’t cause breakouts. However, stress is linked to an increase in skin breakouts. When we’re stressed, the bodies release corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH triggers the release of inflammatory cytokines and promotes the production of oil. Excess oil can clog pores and, when combined with inflammation, lead to breakouts.
Facial hair Removal: Products applied to the skin most especially the face before or after hair removal can block pores and increase skin breakout. Scratchy pimples or spots after hair removal may not be skin breakouts but rather an irritation of the hair strand that causes a rash. You can reduce the scratchy spots or rashes by applying a warm compress to the spots until you feel comfortable around that spot. To avoid rash, clean the hairy area, and apply products that won’t block the pores.
Smoking: Cigarette smoke is not just detrimental to the lungs and skin; it also causes skin breakouts. Several examinations suggest that smoking contributes to skin breakouts. Researchers believe that smoking may change the composition and production of sebum, thereby leading to skin breakouts.
Lack of sleep and rest: When we rest, our body recovers. Energy is repaired, cells are restored, blood supply supplements to the muscles, bones, and tissues develop and repair, and our immune system is boosted. Lack of sleep can lead to stress, and stress raises the production of skin oils which can cause skin breakouts.
Change of environment: change of environment can trigger skin breakout, the sun, heat, humidity even water can trigger acne. When the skin is not used to an environment, the skin can be challenged, and the reactions might result in a breakout.
Dirty beddings: Not washing your pillowcase and bed sheets at least every week can also transfer bacteria, makeup, dirt, and hair care products onto your skin, especially your face. This can clog or block your pores and lead to skin breakouts.
Cell phone exposure: Many of us don’t know about this factor but throughout the day, we expose or reveal our cell phones to surfaces with bacteria. When we pick up the exposed phone, we make contact with this bacterium either close to our mouth or ear. And also, the radiation from cell phones can lead to skin breakout.
Makeup or lack of Remover: Pore-blocking cosmetics can mix with your natural skin oil to cause breakouts. Sometimes the products are not the problem but how to use them to remove the makeup. Some women hastily clean their makeup, without paying detailed attention, or not removing the makeup entirely. Not removing the powder and foundation on the face can block the pores and that can trigger a breakout.
Heavy sunscreens: As much as sunscreen is very good for the body, excess or heavy sunscreen can also cause skin breakouts. Heavy sunscreen can block or clog the skin pores and cause more breakouts.
Sunscreens have two types of active ingredients. Chemical agents absorb into the skin and protect against harmful ultraviolet rays, and physical agents (also called mineral sunscreens) sit on the surface to create a sun shield.
Physical sunscreens are often recommended for sensitive skin because they deflect the sun’s rays. But these sunscreens can be thicker, leaving a white cast on the skin and possibly clogging pores, whereas chemical sunscreens are invisible, very light, and leave the skin shine-free, explains Dr. Harth.
EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR SKIN BREAKOUT
Skin breakouts are very annoying, they appear from nowhere when you enjoy looking your best, and they can be discouraging and even feel like they’re throbbing. In addition, attempts to conceal them with powers and foundations only make them stand out even more and that may only make you self-conscious. Here are some ways to treat skin breakouts.
Drink a lot of water: Dehydration can cause the body to create excess oil and lead to breakouts. So, a lot of water is needed regularly to avoid skin breakouts.
Manage stress: Stress boosts rash in the body and also ramps up the display of oil. You can consider regular exercise, and meditation, to reduce stress.
Sufficient sleep: Insufficient sleep can raise stress. Sleep is also when your body restores itself and when all kinds of cells are restored.
Use of sunscreen: For your skin to look fresh, avoid too much sun exposure, and use sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium oxide. It might help reduce skin breakouts.
Exfoliate skin: Gently exfoliate your skin a few times a week and hydrate with a noncomedogenic moisturizer intended for dry skin.
Wash your face: When you awake and before you go to bed, appropriately wash your face to remove excess oils, dirt, and cosmetics. St. Surin-Lord recommends using a foaming cleanser. If this causes your skin to feel dry, follow up with a non-comedogenic facial moisturizer. Also, wash your face and body after an exercise to terminate sweat.
Keep your phones away: let your phone rest every once in a while, and clean it with an alcohol wipe regularly. You can use ear pods or earpieces and try not to keep your phone close to you. Always place your phones on the bedside or tables and not close to you, or your pockets while not in use.
Wash your dirty beddings: Cleanliness they say is next to godliness. Always wash and keep your beddings neat and dry, if possible, iron them, warm and clean material can keep bacteria at bay.
Stay away from Processed/refined food: Especially as adults, cut down on greasy or refined, processed food as it can cause pimples. Processed foods have been shown in numerous examinations to boost high levels of insulin-like growth that can trigger or worsen breakouts. Slash down on snacks, like chips and ice cream, and switch to whole grains, veggies, fruits, and high-protein foods.
With these few points of mine, I hope to convince you that skin breakouts are not contagious, and they can be easily managed and treated. If they persist, visit your doctor for medications and advice.