When you make a lot of effort to keep your acne under control, it can be extremely frustrating to get nasty breakouts.
And if these breakouts keep happening, you might start to feel desperate and ask yourself questions such as: Am I doing something wrong? Why is my acne getting worse? Do I have to change my entire skincare routine to enjoy clear skin again?
Why is your acne getting worse? There can be various causes for your problem. Learn more to be better equipped and stop these nasty acne breakouts.
1. You might be stressed out and anxious
Have you been feeling particularly anxious lately? It’s no secret that stress can be responsible for acne breakouts. This happens because stressed-out bodies produce more cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone.
Cortisol triggers your skin’s oil production, leading to acne breakouts.
To try to keep your acne from worsening, try to find better ways to manage stress and anxiety. Of course, meditation and yoga can help, but adding some exercise to your daily routine should make you feel more relaxed.
2. Your diet might have changed
Your acne might worsen because of a few changes in your diet. Unfortunately, junk food, greasy, and dairy products can trigger acne breakouts.
But since our bodies are all unique, maybe a particular food you have recently added to your diet could be responsible for your acne breakouts, even if it’s not considered unhealthy.
If you have been eating more junk food than usual, try making healthier choices. If you have not been eating more greasy foods than usual, think of any food you might have added to your diet right before your acne worsens.
3. You might be using the wrong skin care products
It’s simply not a good idea to try a new line of acne-fighting skin care products each time you get a new pimple. Changing your skincare routine too frequently could worsen your acne, like using too many products simultaneously.
And if you have started using anti-aging lotions or thick moisturizing creams, these products could block your pores and cause breakouts. Make sure you are using gentle products which are right for your unique skin.
In addition, you may want to add some professional treatments to your routine. Visit a Toronto cosmetic clinic and consult a professional for potential beauty treatments. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
4. Your daily routine might have changed
Our skin can react to any kind of change. Have you made some changes to your daily routine or your environment? Have you changed your skin care products or the temperature of the water you use to wash your face? Have you been spending more time outside? Is there now more humidity in your home than there used to be?
All of these changes could have led to the frequent acne breakouts you are experiencing. You can either wait for your skin to hopefully adjust to your new routine or try to go back to your previous one.
5. Your hormones might have changed
Hormonal changes could explain why your acne seems to be getting worse. Did you start taking birth control pills or stop taking them? Are you pregnant? Have you suffered from an illness that might have influenced your hormones?
Although you can decide which changes you want to bring to your diet or daily routine, you are not responsible for your hormonal fluctuations.
If your acne keeps getting worse and you suspect your hormones might be responsible, speak to your doctor about possible acne treatments.
6. You could be washing your face too often or too aggressively
Although it’s important to wash your face daily, washing it too often could strip away the natural oils your skin produces. Your skin might react by producing more oil, which can easily lead to acne breakouts.
And if you are using a harsh acne-fighting cleanser to wash your face, it could dry your skin and make your acne worse. Look for a product containing more gentle ingredients, such as salicylic acid.
Wash your face no more than twice each day, and be sure to use a gentle cleanser.
7. Your phone could be very dirty
Finally, your acne might worsen simply because you never clean your phone. Did you know that cell phones are thought to carry more bacteria than toilet seats?
If you spend a lot of time holding your dirty phone to your face each day, it makes sense to think it might be responsible for your acne breakouts.
To prevent these nasty bacteria from touching your face, clean and disinfect your phone regularly with an isopropyl alcohol solution. You might also want to use your speakerphone to avoid bringing your phone close to your face.