8 Surprising Things That Can Trigger Acne

Hormones and excess oil production are usually the ones to blame when acne or zits pop out. While it is true that both contribute to breakouts, some of the things you do on a daily basis can also trigger acne. This is true even for well-intentioned efforts like the way you treat your zits or take care of your skin.

Here are some of the surprising things that may be causing your skin to breakout:

1. Over treating your acne – Spot treatments containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can help treat acne. Overusing these ingredients, however, can dry up your skin and cause it to produce more oil. This can then clog the pores and result in breakouts.
2. Scrubbing your face – Using loofahs, face scrubs, and cleaning brushes to exfoliate your skin can sometimes to more harm than good. Again, overdoing it causes trauma in the skin, resulting in further irritation and more breakouts.
3. Sweat session – There is nothing wrong with exercising, but not washing your face enables dirt, oil, and sweat to linger in your pores. The same is also true if you wipe off sweat with a dirty towel. Check out our previous blogs for tips on taking care of your skin when working out.
4. Tanning – While the sun has a drying effect, it is not similar to those of acne medications. Exposure to UV rays can dehydrate the skin and cause the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, contribute to more blemishes. It can also make your acne look worse and increase your chances of having hyperpigmentation.
5. Smoking – The chemicals in the smoke can dry and irritate your skin. This can trigger it to produce more sebum, which can result in breakouts. The habit, furthermore, accelerates the aging process, giving your skin dull and tired-looking appearance.
6. Touching your face – With all the things your fingers lay on, it is likely that your hands are covered with dirt. This means that touching your face to pop or squeeze blemishes also means transferring dirt and bacteria to your face. This can lead to clogged pores, make breakout worse, and cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
7. Sneaky ingredients – Sometimes, the products you use to take care of your skin can give it a disservice. This is especially true for those with oils, synthetic fragrances, cocoa butter, and algae extract. These products are comedogenic and are likely to clog pores and cause acne.
8. Your hair products – Some ingredients found in your shampoo, conditioner, and hair styling products can also get into your pores and trigger pimples in your hairline, back, or chest. Some comedogenic ingredients to avoid include mineral oil, coconut oil, beeswax, lanolin, and shea butter.

Save your skin

Avoiding the things mentioned above can help save your skin and possibly avoid breakouts. You can also get help from an aesthetic doctor to help you choose the right products and build a better skincare routine.

If you, on the other hand, already suffer from acne, aesthetic treatments are worth considering. Here at Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore, we have a number of acne treatment options that can help improve your skin tone and texture. Here are some of them:

1. VI Peel – This stronger type of chemical peel can improve skin quality in a number of ways. It can clear acne conditions, soften lines, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and age spots. You can also turn to VI Peel to reduce hyperpigmentation, eliminate acne scars, and stimulate the production of collagen.
2. Cutis Anti-Acne Peel – This chemical peel treatment contains a high yet safe concentration of salicylic acid. This can unclog the pores and kill the acne-causing bacteria, which then reduces acne. Anti-acne peel is ideal for mild or moderate acne vulgaris on the face, neck, and back.
3. Laser Genesis Skin Therapy – This FDA-cleared laser procedure can treat uneven skin texture, enlarged pores, and fine lines. It gently heats the skin’s deeper layers to boost collagen formation. This then minimizes pores, reduces skin redness, and evens out skin tone. You can also combine it with chemical peel to help combat acne.
4. Clarifying Facial with Sapphire – This clarifying medical-grade facial features the Sapphire Blue Light Therapy. This is cleared by the US FDA to kill acne-causing bacteria, minimize pores, clear inflammation. It also features a specialized mask that can help heal and soothe the skin.

Schedule a consultation today

Sometimes, OTC products and home remedies are not enough to clear your acne. If you’re struggling with breakouts and are longing to have clear skin, get the help of an expert. Contact Cutis Laser Clinics today and schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors in Singapore.