Others

Top 7 Reasons for Breakouts on Face

Q: Top 7 Reasons for Breakouts on Face

Best acne scar treatment & preventing acne scars internally is to take supplements containing vitamin C and zinc. Chicnutrix Super C is one of the best skin care products for acne.

Published : July 2, 2021 4 mins read Updated On : Aug 09, 2024

Acne during puberty is common and it usually subsides as you grow beyond your teens. Adult acne can be very disappointing, and it is very difficult to get rid of. Of course, there are many lotions, serums and potions available in the market, but the real cure lies in getting to the root of the problem. In order to treat acne, it is first necessary to understand what is causing it. If you find out what is causing the problem of skin breakouts, then it becomes easier to treat it. There are some common causes for adult acne. Let us look at them in detail. Top 7 Reasons for Breakouts on Face

What is a Breakout?

Breakouts are common in areas where our skin has the most oil glands. This includes the face, chest, and even upper back and shoulders. During the breakouts the hair follicles are filled with dead skin cells, sebum (oil), and sometimes bacteria. This results in swelling, redness, and inflammation. Finally, these clogged pores push the content on to the skin surface.

If only pores get clogged, then there is no inflammation. This is called a comedone. But if the comedone is closed it is called a whitehead. If a pimple has a black head, it is called a blackhead. This is due to bacteria and oil which turn black when exposed to air.

Many people mistake whitehead and blackhead for pimples. But pimples are formed when a plugged hair follicle contains bacteria, which leads to inflammation.

Types of Pimples on Face

Here are 7 types of acne

Pustule
Nodule
Whitehead
Blackhead
Pimples
Papule
Cyst

What are the Causes of Acne?

Hormone Fluctuations

There are many hormonal fluctuations before a woman’s menstrual cycle. For instance, increase in progesterone production increases sebum production and excessive oil secretion can cause clogged pores and pimples. Androgens which are male hormones like testosterone also have a similar effect on the sebum production and this is the reason that adult acne breakouts are a problem for both men and women.

Stress

It is common knowledge that stress plays a major role in skin problems like acne. Most researchers believe that stress causes extra production of the hormone cortisol. This hormone is also produced locally in the hair follicles of the skin. However, cortisol is also an important compound that helps in regulating many different bodily functions. In spite of that excess production of the hormone can affect in a negative manner such as causing pimples on the skin (1).

Diet

Avoid foods like refined sugar and grains, fast food, certain dairy products and chocolate. Skin experts recommend avoiding foods with high glycemic index as they can also make acne worse. When our blood sugar level spikes, our body produces more insulin and more insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). This increase in insulin production leads to higher sebum production. All this oil can cause acne (2).

Dehydration

Water is important for our body to maintain its regular functions. One of the main benefits of staying hydrated is that water is useful to help reduce acne by keeping skin hydrated. Dehydration can lead to oil production which can trigger acne breakout.
A study with 50 women found that those who drank two liters extra water for 30 days saw significant increase in their skin hydration levels (3).

Pollution

Although most researchers are certain that pollution causes acne, they are not sure about the effect of the UV rays in this matter. Of course, it has been proved that harmful UV rays of the sun cause fine lines, wrinkles leading to premature aging, and they also increase the risk of skin cancer. However, it has not yet been proved that they cause acne. Pollution dirt on the other hand covers your skin with a layer that clogs pores and hence causes acne. It is a good idea to make an acne breakout chart to understand when and why you get acne.

Using The Wrong Skin Care Products

If you have oily skin, then you should use skin care products that are non-comedogenic water based or oil free. This will ensure that these products don’t clog your pores. It is good to try using a gel-based moisturizer and sunscreens to prevent acne breakouts.

Too Frequent or Intense Cleansing

Of course, cleansing your face and skin is necessary, but too much of it can make acne worse. Too much cleansing can dry your face and in reaction to this the sebaceous glands will produce more oil than necessary to compensate for the dryness. The same is true of exfoliation. If you exfoliate too often or with harsh products, then it will increase the breakouts on your skin.

Some Health Conditions

Some health conditions like PCOD or Polycystic Ovarian Disorder can cause acne due to the upsetting of hormones. This ailment also causes irregular periods, weight gain and facial hair. PCOD is also known to cause hormonal acne and for this you need to take the right kind of medication after consulting a doctor. These are the major reasons that cause skin breakouts, and you need to adopt different measures for treating them.

How to Soothe a Breakout

Wash your face regularly
Eat healthy food
Drink plenty of water
Avoid touching your face
Manage stress
Get adequate sleep
Use supplements

Conclusion

Hope this article has made you aware about the causes of pimples on the face. Acne breakouts are almost inevitable but there are certain remedies you can try to prevent and treat them. Supplements play an important role in clearing breakouts on the skin. Supplements containing vitamin C and Zinc are excellent in clearing breakouts, but also prevent further breakouts, provides added sun protection and boosts collagen production.

FAQs

1. What causes breakouts on the face?