Four Reasons Why You’re Still Breaking Out (And How To Fix It, Stat!)

Is it just us, or is acne the hottest new beauty trend? Seriously, it seems as though everyone’s starting to show up with a few zits all over their face, and it’s gotten so annoying to the point that it isn’t even annoying anymore. Okay, that’s just us ranting passive-aggressively. Zits are super annoying and nobody wants them, especially not after the shenanigans back in the good ol’ funky teenage years. 

If you’re getting older and the zits just keep coming, then you’re long overdue to serve them with an eviction notice. Now’s the time to face them head-on and get rid of them for good — no ifs, ands, or buts. And luckily for you, we’ve rounded up four ways in which you might be inviting these unwanted acne breakouts to hang out on your face, and how you can fix them once and for all! 

Reason #1: You Don’t Wash Your Face ‘Til It’s Squeaky Clean

Sure, washing your face too often is a notorious cause of dry skin, but here’s the thing. You won’t be experiencing dryness if you moisturize right after a splash. Dirty skin, on the other hand, is going to give you a lot of trouble — especially if you don’t wash your face nearly enough.

Acne breakouts are caused by excessive oils and bacteria that are trapped within your pores, and the best way to prevent them is by keeping your skin clean. And what’s the way to do that? By washing your face, of course. Washing your face at least twice a day is a must, but if you sweat a lot or work in a polluted environment, you need to step it up a bit.

And don’t go easy (or too harsh!) while washing your face. Be sure to scrub your face lightly but thoroughly, and use a gentle soap that’s sure to get all the bacteria and dirt cells broken down. If washing your face too often leads to dryness, you could try to reduce the number of washes, or just moisturize more often than you usually do. And remember, there are different moisturizers for different skin types, so choose carefully! 

Reason #2: You’re Stressing Out (And When Was the Last Time You Had a Good Night’s Sleep?)

Believe it or not, your mood has a lot to do with what your skin has decided to look like for the day. That’s because when you’re in a bad mood, your body releases some hormones (like cortisol and adrenaline) that prevent your regenerative processes from functioning normally. In turn, it can worsen acne scars and increase the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.

And your sleep schedule has a huge role to play here, too, and we’re not just talking about dark circles. Now we know that your whole month can’t be all sunshine and roses. But if you’ve been waking up every day feeling more “meh” than “Woohoo, let’s start a new day, baby!”, then it might be time to sit down and reflect to get some stress out of your system. 

Reason #3: Someone’s Eating Out More Often Than They Should Be, Huh?

Now this one’s a tip that’s probably included in every acne-prevention guide out there, and that’s because of how crucial it actually is. But we get it, diet tips are rather… confusing? To say the least, and you’re bound to read some questionable things on the internet. Like, weird stuff, like peanuts causing acne. Or does coffee cause acne at all? You might even think that everything else causes acne at this point.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to managing your diet is to stay as far away from greasy foods as possible, because duh, they’re oily. Okay, so refined, highly processed oils are bad for your skin, but did you know that refined sugar and dairy products may also cause skin issues? 

So if you’re eating more convenience foods than usual, try to avoid those that contain dairy along with highly processed, sugary foods and drinks. You can do it! There are more healthy packaged food and beverage options than ever. And your skin will thank you for it. 

Reason #4: Staying Hydrated? What’s That?

Here’s your reminder to go drink a glass of water. Go ahead, grab yourself some H2O right now. We’ll wait. The water flowing through your system gets everything moving and also supplies essential nutrients to every nook and cranny of your body. More importantly, water helps keep your skin hydrated, so you’re less likely to get dry patches and acne breakouts that can be so much more difficult to deal with. 

Most people don’t drink nearly enough water, and it’s understandable. Schedules get in the way sometimes. But you’re doing this for yourself, and you need to find a way to get yourself to drink water, be it through alarms or trackers. Remember to drink at least one glass of water every two hours for clear skin, and consider those frequent bathroom breaks as an excuse to get up and stretch your legs. 

Identify with any of the menaces we mentioned above? You need to get these terrible skincare habits fixed immediately, and we can assure you, the sooner you do, the sooner you’ll be seeing serious results. Always keep in mind that having a good skincare routine to supply your skin with essential nutrients and moisture is super important, and even better, this skincare routine combined with lifestyle changes is the one-way ticket to finally achieving flawless skin!