Acne is the worst, and it seems it’s no longer stopping in your teens and 20’s. You might have even had clear skin until after having kids, or even later in life. There is no known cause or cure of acne. But after many years as an Esthetician myself, and my team, these are some things we have seen that could be triggering your breakouts. It’s important to note that we can do SO much with skincare, but a holistic approach addressing lifestyle, diet and skincare is what is going to give you your healthiest and clearest skin.

#1 Stress

Stress increases oil production in the skin which can lead to more bacteria growth and breakouts. Using a masque like Rapid Response Detox Masque during a stressful time and doing your best to manage your stress can help. Less screen time, walking, baths, facial massage, reading a relaxing book, talking with a friend.

#2 Hormones and hormonal changes

All acne is hormonal, but if you recently started or stopped birth control, have had a baby, or started a medication that affects hormones, this can trigger breakouts. I’ve also seen some birth controls cause breakouts starting a year later. My assumption is the specific hormone of that birth control builds up over time, then triggering breakouts. You can always ask us to look into if what you’re taking is one we’ve seen issues with.

#3 Touching your face (Also, a dirty phone, headphones, hair/bangs on your face.)

Keeping your dirty hands off of your face, wiping your phone down and keeping your hair off of your face can help reduce bacteria and breakouts. I LOVE my phone soap and put my phone in it every time I come home.

#4 A dirty pillow case

If you have acne, I highly recommend changing your pillow case daily. The oils on your skin sit on your pillow case and breed bacteria. You don’t want to be slather thing those on your freshly clean skin while you sleep. We love silk or satin pillow cases for skin health because it won’t wrinkle up as easily under your face. Cotton also absorbs the moisture from your skin.

#5 Your shampoo and conditioner

I always recommend with acne that you shampoo and condition your hair, then clip your hair up. Then, wash your face and body. ESPECIALLY if you get back breakouts. Conditioners often contain lots of panthenol (vitamin B5) and emollients that are great for your hair, but not skin that is prone to breaking out. If you are breaking out around your hairline, I always recommend trying a different shampoo and conditioner.

#6 Diet

Our modern American diet is a big issues for our skin. Ideally, you would eat whole foods like meats, fruits and veggies, organic grains etc. Processed food is much more convenient of course but it’s giving us all gut issues and so much more. A few specific things to watch with acne are:

B 12 supplements

Energy drinks

Peanut butter

Gluten

Dairy

Whey & pea protein

Eggs

Now, you don’t need to cut them all out. I always recommend try one at a time for 2 weeks. Then, if your skin improves you can make the choice to cut it out for a period of time, or be mindful of your consumption and understand it may trigger breakouts for you. You can also keep a food & skin journal for a month and see if you notice any patterns with your skin related to food and where you are in your cycle. Do you breakout before your period? Around ovulation? All month? Are they cystic and painful? Just small and come to a head? What areas of your face?

#7 Cellular hydration

Our cells (internal cells, not skin cells) need hydration to thrive. Getting not just water but also minerals is really important. Here is an adrenal mocktail I love to nourish my cells and hydrate my skin from the inside out too. There are other versions with orange juice etc but I like this option for less sugar which means more balanced blood sugar. Externally, our skin cells also need hydration to function properly and only 2% of what you drink reaches your skin. Products like Beta Serum and Hydrotant Gel are lightweight and keep skin cells hydrated and shedding properly.

#8 Wearing SPF

SPF is so important for age management prevention, keeping even skin tone, skin cancer prevention and helping post breakout red marks to heal. Some sunscreens have pore clogging ingredients so it’s important to choose one that doesn’t when you’re managing acne.

#9 Toothpaste

A common foaming agent, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), carrageenan, algae extract, coconut oil, and heavy fluorides can contribute to breakouts. We recommend trying brands like Revitin or FYGG and brushing your teeth before you wash your face.

#10 Dirty makeup brushes

If you have acne and are using especially liquid foundation and brushes, you MUST wash your brushes every week. This is what I use.

#11 Pore clogging makeup

You can be using great skincare, but then wearing makeup that is clogging your pores. We love brands like Jane Iredale for powder foundation and Merit for a stick foundation. You can view all of our makeup favorites here.

#12 Using the wrong skincare for your concerns

This is probably what we see most often. You’re trying all the things but when we take a step back, you’re not using the right skincare, and/or not being being consistent with your skincare. To manage acne well you need the right routine for YOUR skins needs, and to use it consistently. The boring daily work does 80%. Coming to see us every month does the other 20%.

Cleveland acne facial

For the best recommendations for YOUR skin, come see us for a facial! We recommend our Clear + Glow New Client Facial + Consultation for those with acne. We’ll talk with you all about your skin concerns and goals and curate a professional skin care regimen for you at home. Because what you do every day does 80% of the work!

Note: This is not medical advice. Speak with your doctor or functional medicine practitioner about anything related to your health.