CULPRIT/AGGRAVATOR

DESCRIPTION

POSSIBLE TREATMENT(S)

GENETICS

Thanks mom and dad! Some people are just blessed with beautiful skin genes and can sleep in a tub of lard everyday without getting a single pimple! Others, like me, are not as blessed.

While you can't change your genetic makeup, look at your parents' skin and see how it is.

If they have decent skin now, then chances are, you will most likely not be cursed with acne for life!

However, having a good skin care routine and looking into different acne treatments can definitely help.

HORMONES

Puberty; menstrual cycles (that time of the month or menstrual irregularities)

Hormonal acne tends to occur around the chin and jaw line. What I like to do is keep a diary of my pimples and see if they pop up around the same time every month. You can also get your hormone levels checked to see if they are all normal.

Topical treatments can only do so much for hormonal acne, but they can definitely help.

Supplements and oral contraceptives may also alleviate the situation even more.

BACTERIA

Die p.acnes! Die!

Keeping your skin clean, using topicals to help kill or slump the growth of bacteria  (ex. Benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, etc)

COSMETICALLY-RELATED ACNE

Improper removal of makeup and/or sunscreen; using products that clog your pores and "break you out"; irritating fabric softener; not cleaning cell phones; not changing pillow cases often; toothpaste irritation; using dirty makeup brushes/sponges

Thoroughly (but gently) clean your skin; use allergen-free detergents/softeners; clean cell phone and change pillow cases often.

Introduce new products to your routine one at a time so you can tell which products are breaking you out.

Look at product ingredient lists to see which ingredients can be irritating and steer clear of pore clogging ones.

FOOD ALLERGIES

Sensitivity to milk, dairy, iodine, gluten, etc.

Keep a daily food journal and keep track of when you get breakouts. Sometimes you can correlate your breakouts to certain foods you've eaten.

You can isolate milk, iodine-rich foods (seafood, iodized salt), or whatever food sensitivity of your choice from your diet one at a time to see if your skin gets better. Some people also see their skin get better after switching to organic milk (fewer hormones in the milk).

Otherwise, you can get an allergy test to see if you are allergic to anything.

POOR CELL TURNOVER RATE

Dead skin cells are not shed at the proper rate and contribute to pore blockage.

Using manual and/or chemical exfoliants (AHAs, BHAS, retinoids) to help your skin shed properly

DISTURBED SKIN BARRIER FUNCTION

Skin that is irritated (red, flaky, itchy, stingy) or overly dry can make your skin more vulnerable to p.acnes. Poor skin barrier function doesn't do a good job protecting skin.

Using gentle products instead of harsh ones so you don't wash away your skin's natural moisture. Don't use harsh scrubs either, because you could be giving your skin microscopic tears!

I think this is part of the reason why some people see their skin clear up after using "nothing" or "water only".

UNDERLYING HEALTH PROBLEMS

Thyroid problems; PCOS; diabetes; digestive imbalances; metabolism issues

While the presence of acne isn't enough to make a diagnosis for any illness, acne can be a symptom of underlying health problems.

Consult your doctor if you are experiencing other health related symptoms.

STRESS, LACK OF SLEEP

Stress can wreak havoc on skin and worsen acne symptoms. This is evident especially around exam time for students.

While it's close to impossible to be stress-free, try not to stress out too much!

Breathe deeply, meditate, exercise, think happy thoughts, take regular breaks, or count to ten!

OVERLY ACTIVE SEBACEOUS GLANDS

This is usually what happens during puberty (when hormonal changes cause oil glands to change, producing more oil, and creating a fertile environment for p.acnes).

Topical acne treatments can help. Maybe using oil blotters  throughout the day so excess oil won’t be sitting on the surface of your skin. However, your skin does need some oils to function properly!

As a last resort, Accutane can help eliminate oil production.

DIET

Too much sugar, alcohol, caffeine, meat, soy, etc.

See also, food allergies.

While Western dermatologists don't think there is a connection between diet and acne, most Asian dermatologists are more willing to make this link.

My dermatologist in Taiwan always tells his patients to eat less sugar, drink less coffee, and avoid alcohol and peanuts.

Meat, dairy, and soy also contain hormones that you may be sensitive to. You could try switching to an organic diet as well to see if your skin improves.

It can't hurt to try eliminating these food items from your diet, but it doesn't mean that eliminating them will clear your skin.

TOXIN BUILD-UP

Constipation, poor liver/kidney/intestinal function

I'm not sure how much I believe this is true, but some people believe that when your body isn't getting rid of toxins properly, the toxins will show up as acne on your skin.

Possible treatment options for this include internal cleanses (Not to be taken lightly though! These can be very dangerous without professional medical guidance) or dietary changes.

MIXED SIGNALS

Acne lesions can be mistaken for Rosacea flares, different types of dermatitis, and/or keratosis pilaris

A qualified dermatologist will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis.