It doesn’t matter if you’re in the midst of puberty or if you just recently celebrated your 40th birthday – there’s one skin concern that is not bound to age or skin type: blemishes, pimples, zits – whatever you wanna call them – can say “hello” at any given moment. Of all the skin problems out there, this is the one that seems to cause the most stress & aggravation (no pun intended). Really, I’m not talking about this lightly… since I myself struggle with acne every single day.

If memory serves me right, I have been experiencing breakouts for about the last 10 years. I remember that it was my grandma who pointed out to me that I should go see a pharmacist when I was about 15 years old. Back then, I thought that breakouts were normal and just an inevitable side effect of puberty. I covered them in cheap concealer and hoped that no one would notice. Little did I know that if I wanted clear skin, I would have to do a little bit more than just slathering on an orange paste onto my troubled skin every morning.

So… what actually causes acne?

Oh god, where shall I start? Anything can cause those red bumps to suddenly appear, which is why so many people suffer with this horrible skin condition. But let me tell you about the most common causes —

• Hormones: More specifically, I’m talking about that “time of the month” – those of us who go through menstruation tend to produce more oil during this time, plus our skin is shedding way slower than usual. Combine these two effects together, and you’re creating the perfect breeding ground for pimples.
• Inflammation: These can be caused by food allergies, stress, medication or illness. Inflammation can transfer to your skin, making it sensitive, red & itchy. All of these symptoms can cause acne.
• Bacteria: Dirt doesn’t cause acne; bacteria does. To be more precise, the bacteria that is responsible for hurtful acne breakouts is called propionibacterium acne. It lives in and around sweat glands, causing acne & other related skin woes.
• Allergies: Reactions to food, the environment or other substances can totally throw your skin off balance.
• Foods: Oh, this list is really endless. Sugar, dairy, fried foods, red meat, heavily processed foods, alcohol… all of these can also influence acne buildup. Try cutting down on these types of foods, in general. I found that skipping on my daily dosage of milk has helped tremendously with my breakouts.
• Dehydration: Dehydrated skin will try to help itself by overproducing oil. This oil can clog pores and increase breakouts tremendously. Dry skin is also more prone to redness and irritated skin in general.
  
  

What you can do that might help…

Here are some suggestions that have helped me (and many others that I know) keep their breakouts at bay —

• Leave those red bumps alone: No news here… you should really try not to pick at your zits – especially the ones that sit under your skin. These usually cannot be popped and can cause serious inflammations if aggravated. You can always dab a little bit of Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel directly on any spots to decrease redness & inflammation. It works wonders, especially if you leave it on overnight.
• Don’t strip your skin: Try to stay away from foaming & oil-free products. These will strip your skin of its moisture, causing even more inflammation & sensitivity. A nourishing cleanser is the way to go – and I always recommend an oil-based cleanser. Even if you have oily or combination skin. Putting an organic, natural oil onto your skin will not only remove makeup and any other residue, it will also keep your own oil production in balance – so it’s amazing for all us oily or combination skin types out there. Whamisa’s Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil contains soothing avocado oil and dandelion extract, which will keep your skin cleansed & hydrated.
• Avoid mineral oils & shea butter: Mineral oil is a comedogenic ingredient, frequently used in a lot of cleansers. It is also one of the biggest causes for clogged pores, which can result in blackheads & acne. Shea butter might be a great option to moisturize your body, lips & hands, but it is also a ‘hard’ oil – meaning that it takes your skin quite a bit of effort to break it down, and it can also clog your pores in the process. Try to skip these two ingredients in your daily skin care routine, if possible.
• Moisturize your skin: Even if you consider your skin ‘oily’, it can still be dehydrated. Make sure to always moisturize, especially after you have cleansed your skin. Therapi makes a great Honey Moisturiser that also kills of bacteria naturally – all while keeping your skin plump & hydrated.
• Try out topical exfoliants: Acids can remove dead skin cells, alleviate blocked pores, and kill off any acne causing bacteria. Try products that contain glycolic or salicylic acid, like Votary’s Blemish Rescue Oil.
• Be gentle to your skin: This essentially means that you shouldn’t tug on it, use harsh chemicals or any scratchy face brushes if you suffer from chronic breakouts.
  
  
  

Personally, I’ve found that taking more specialized care of your skin will help with all skin conditions. Invest in products that contain high quality ingredients, don’t rush through your skin care routine and – of course – ALWAYS take off your makeup before you go to bed. Your skin also might appreciate a nourishing mask two or three times a week. Oh, and don’t forget to clean the screen of your phone, and to switch out your pillowcase weekly – and, and… ♥

I hope some of these tips might help you in your battle against acne. If you have any specific questions, leave them in the comments below. And if you enjoyed reading this article, you can get an update of what’s on the magazine dropped right into your e-mailbox. Sign up here for our newsletter!

Editor’s note: this article was originally published in February 2017 and then updated in January 2020 for accuracy.