6 Reasons Why You Still Have Acne

You probably thought that your acne days should have left you when you graduated from high school, but many adults are finding themselves plagued with breakouts through the college years and beyond.

Many adults are dismayed to find that they continue to have breakouts during middle age. You can spend thousands of dollars on acne treatments and procedures, but if you are continuing to make the following six mistakes, you may never have clear skin.

Take a look at these 6 common acne blunders and how you can reverse them to uncover your clearest skin yet.

Switching Routine Too Soon

According to the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, it is vital that you try an acne treatment for more than just a couple of weeks. The clinic recommends that you stick with each cleaning routine for 3 months before trying a new method. It can take up to 2 or three months before your skin fully turns over and all of your skin cells are new skin.

This means that a skincare regime that looks like it may not be working right now could provide greater benefits in a month or two. However, if your skin is worse or not any better after three months, then your current routine will probably never clear your acne.

Forgetting the Inside

Most of the acne treatments available today focus on the outside appearance of the skin. Although you can do a lot to improve the health of your skin from the outside (mainly by clearing bacteria and preventing clogged pores), the inside is where your skin is developed. Your skin starts developing several months before you see it on your face (which is usually why you will see stress outbreaks after you have already recovered from the incident mentally), and something that you eat today may influence the way your skin looks several weeks from now.

Luckily, there are many supplements that are scientifically proven to improve the appearance of your skin. Much research has been done recently on how acne appears, and researchers have uncovered that many individuals with acne are deficient in certain vitamins, minerals, and fats. You can improve the appearance of the outer layer of your skin by keeping your intake of these vitamins and minerals high.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a necessary vitamin that can reduce sebum output and prevent the buildup of keratin in the follicles of the face, which leads to fewer clogs and acne breakouts. Vitamin A works well with vitamin E and zinc, which are also two essential vitamins for curing acne. Without enough vitamin E, vitamin A levels remain low.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E works well in combination with selenium, which is an antioxidant trace mineral. Selenium works to produce the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which can help prevent inflammation from acne. In an 1884 study, it was found that supplementing with a mix of vitamin E and selenium was able to reduce hormonal acne in teen girls.

Zinc

Zinc is necessary for blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Men and women with acne are more likely to have higher levels of DHT in the body, which can increase sebum production that leads to acne. A French study from 1989 examined the role of zinc in blocking DHT and slowing sebum production. It was found that low doses of zinc were able to reduce the number of acne breakouts in study participants. The most effective types of zinc were effervescent zinc and zinc gluconate.

Gum Guggul

In a study from India conducted in 1994, researchers examined the acne-fighting powers of gum guggul against antibiotic acne treatments for curing nodulocystic acne. The researchers found that guggul was more effective than the antibiotic in treating nodulocystic acne.

Probiotics

In 2011, researchers from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center examined the possible role of probiotics in the treatment of acne. The researchers concluded that “gut microbes, and the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract itself, are contributing factors in the acne process.” The researchers suggest trying a course of probiotics as a possible acne treatment. Several older studies have uncovered a link between skin health and intestinal health, and adding probiotics to the diet could help prevent the spread of p, acnes bacteria on the face.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is a controversial supplement that can benefit the body in many ways. The main benefit of fish oil is to restore the balance of inflammation-producing omega 6 oils and inflammation-fighting omega 3 oils. Some research has suggested that inflammatory foods, like a diet high in omega 6 oils could make acne worse. Researchers from California State Polytechnic University examined the possibility in a small study in 2012. The researchers found that supplementing with fish oil benefited about 2/3 of study participants, but for those that the supplements helped, it helped dramatically.

For the remaining third of the study group, however, the supplements actually worsened the condition of the skin, which indicates that fish oil may only help those who are deficient in the fatty acid.

Ignoring Genetics

If you have acne, you can probably thank your mother, father, or grandparents. Acne is a genetic condition to some degree. Researchers are not sure why some families have a greater predisposition to acne, but it is certainly true. If you have a family history of acne, then your chances are greater of seeing a crop of pimples on your own skin. This does not mean that your acne is untreatable though- you can actually use that fact to your advantage. If someone else in your family has found the secret to curing their acne, it may work for you as well.

For example, some families have more acne because they are sensitive to harsh cleaners. Others may have chronic dry skin that leads to the overproduction of acne. Another family may have trouble digesting food properly or allergies which can lead to breakouts. Always research your family history before starting any new treatment method. The cure for your acne may already have been found by another family member.

Forgetting Outside Factors

Just as the inside is important to remember, the outside is as well. For example, there are some medications that increase your chances of seeing breakouts. Other factors include hair in the face, frequent touching of your skin, frequent sweating, wearing a hat, grease in the air (such as from frying vats at a restaurant), grime and grit from soot in the air, and many others. If you cannot remove these factors, you may find that you continue to have breakouts even if you avoid the other blunders.

Doing Too Much

Too much attention given to your face can actually make your acne worse. You might think that constant exfoliation will make your face less likely to break out, but the opposite is often true. Over-exfoliating your skin puts it into a constant state of distress, which actually triggers your face to produce more oil and sebum. This triggers more clogs, which leads to bigger, more numerous breakouts. A similar effect can occur if you apply too many products to your face.

Many dermatologists recommend cutting back dramatically on the treatment you give to your acne topically. A gentle cleanser (like an oat-based exfoliating cleanser) applied daily along with an olive oil-based moisturizer (others recommend coconut oil, which can fight acne bacteria) may be the only two skincare products you ever need. Do not be afraid to use an oil-based moisturizer for acne.

In most cases, it is not the oil itself that causes acne breakouts, but clogged pores, increased sebum production, and a larger number of p. acnes bacteria on the skin.

Ignoring Diet

Research offers conflicting information on whether what you eat can influence the condition of your skin. However, since your diet can influence the health of your entire body, it stands to reason that it can affect your acne as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, two food groups are most likely to lead to acne breakouts- dairy products and simple carbohydrates.

Sugar can quickly cause blood sugar spikes, which may cause acne to flare up. Dairy, can be an inflaming food, which could lead to an increase in acne breakouts for others. The best diet to eat to ensure you have clear skin is the same diet that will help you lose weight and avoid preventable diseases. Fill your diet with protein, fruit, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates that fuel the body in a sustainable manner while offering vital nutrients that your body needs.

Avoiding Blunders that Cause Acne

Your skin is a delicate organ that requires balance, harmony, and the right materials to create soft, supple skin that glows. Much of the best treatments for acne starts on the inside and work outward. Clearing your body from the inside out can help you achieve the beautiful skin that you have always wanted. You may not see clear skin overnight, but if you avoid the blunders listed in this article, you will be well on your way to uncovering your best skin yet.