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Unless you’re incredibly lucky, there’s a good chance that you’ve had at least one or two blemishes to deal with in your life. However, if you’re mortal like the rest of us, you’ve probably dealt with some level of acne before. In fact. The NHS states that “About 95% of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by acne to some extent. Acne is most common in girls from the ages of 14 to 17, and in boys from the ages of 16 to 19”, a statistic which may seem surprising. With this in mind, we thought we’d share with you some of the more obscure (but equally as damaging) things that could be making your spots worse without you even realising:
Face Masks
Since the start of the pandemic, wearing masks has become second nature for most of us, but it has been known to cause havoc with some people’s skin. If you’re wearing a mask for long periods of time, it’s essential to ensure you’re using a good , non-stripping face wash twice a day, such as Aromatherapy Associates Mattifying Deep Cleanse Face Wash which contains antibacterial ingredients to fight the causes of spots. Also, if you’re not wearing disposable masks, ensure you wash your cloth masks daily to stop them from adding dirt and bacteria onto your face each time you wear them.
Is It Acne?
There is a vast difference between occasional breakouts and full-blown acne, and as such, each problem needs to be treated differently. Breakouts can be dealt with using Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Kit, which contains everything you need to rebalance breakout-prone skin. If you do have acne, you’ll benefit from properly targeted products such as Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion, which contains a powerful combination of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, azelaic acid, antioxidants and plant extracts to address both the appearance and underlying causes of acne.
Your Products Are too Strong
Leading on from the point above, using products which are TOO strong and stripping on your skin can also lead to blemishes. Acne products should generally only be used on the exact areas where you have the acne, rather than your whole face. Using acne products on clear skin can strip the skin of its natural oils, causing dryness, which forces your skin to over-produce sebum and can lead to more spots. It’s a classic case of getting your skin into a vicious circle of skincare!
You’re Using Products with the Wrong Ingredients
Issues with your facial products aren’t always related to strength; sometimes the actual ingredients can be the problem. Facial products containing mineral oils, for instance, are a big no-no if you have acne or blemish prone skin as it can contribute to blocked pores and inflammation. One product we’d recommend is Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner as it contains no mineral oil, but is also alcohol free so therefore won’t dry your skin out either.
Unprotected Sun Exposure
In the past, before we knew how damaging the sun could be, doctors would recommend that acne sufferers get more sun to help to “heal” their skin. However, contrary to popular belief, the sun isn’t healing your acne, it’s actually making it worse. On top of all the other damage, the sun dries out your skin and triggers excess oil production, which is one of the causes of acne. Decleor Aloe Vera Sun Gel Cream is a non-greasy, yet moisturising sun protection gel which will give you SPF 50+ protection from the harmful effects of the sun. Win/win!