Common causes of acne in adults and teens

We’ve all had a pimple from time to time. But acne is a completely different story. It’s a chronic skin condition that can result in multiple spots and pimples on your face and other body parts. Did you know that a staggering 85% of people in the U.S. experience acne? This makes acne the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting over 50 million Americans every year. Below you’ll see the five most common causes of acne in adults and teens.

1. Diet and exercise
Research shows that your diet can have a big effect on your skin and the development of acne. Foods that are high in refined grains and sugars, dairy products, chocolate, and fast foods put you at a higher risk of developing acne. Exercise is also an important factor. Regular physical activity will increase the blood circulation, which is better for your skin. The extra flow of blood will deliver more oxygen to your skin cells and it will carry waste away.

2. Stress
If you suffer from acne, you’re probably aware that breakouts are more frequent when you’re feeling stressed. Experiencing stress releases the corticotrophin-releasing hormone. This hormone will increase the oil production in your skin, causing pimples. Also, stress causes an increase in nerve signaling in the skin cells, which leads to an itchy feeling. The itch will cause people to scratch their skin a lot, which will only worsen the swelling and redness.
So acute stress can lead to spontaneous breakouts. But chronic stress isn’t doing your skin any favors either. Chronic stress will make it more likely that your breakouts last longer and leave scars.

3. Touching your face often
When you think about it, your hands come into contact with so many germs and bacteria during the day. If you then touch your face a lot without washing your hands, there’s a chance that those bacteria will infect the delicate facial skin, which can cause an acne breakout. Especially if your hands are sweaty or greasy, they can cause your skin follicles to plug up and therefore increase the chances of breakouts.

4. Pillowcases
You’ve probably not considered this, but one of the items that touches your face a lot is your pillowcase. If pillowcases aren’t washed regularly, they will get filled with dirt from our own skin and hair. Heat, sweat, and bacteria pile up in the cloth, which can cause an acne breakout. It’s best to wash or replace your pillowcases and sheets at least once a week to minimize the chances of your pores getting clogged.

5. Not washing your face twice a day
In your day-to-day life, the skin on your face comes into contact with many things. There are makeup and dirt but also the oil your skin produces naturally. If you don’t wash your face often enough, these substances will clog your pores, which causes pimples and inflammation. Ideally, you should wash your face two times a day: once in the morning and once in the evening. This is enough to wash off all the dirt and oil but not so much that it will damage your skin.