How to keep your skin even and balanced.

I’ve had my fair share of moody skin, whether I’m on my days or not. People have often asked why I had volcanoes erupting on my face. It turns out that I have adult acne and it’s a nightmare. Adult acne can be become worse depending on the food you eat and how much water you drink, but there are other things to consider.

One thing you must factor in is your environment because there could be something in your surroundings that is encouraging breakouts. Acne can easily be managed if you are keen. I used to believe that nothing could go wrong with my skin but boy, was I wrong. Even if you never experience breakouts, you still need to take preventive care.

First of all, how often do you change your pillowcases? Pillowcases provide a good home for bacteria because they store all the oil and dirt from your hair. It is advisable to change your cases every week.

You also need to wash your pillows every six months. Pillowcases are pretty thin and sweat and oil will easily pass through to settle on the pillow itself.

Second, please try not to touch your face because it is a sure way to plaster all that bacteria on your hands right onto your skin. Once you’ve applied your hand and body lotion and then you touch your face, you are also transferring products not meant for your face.

Thirdly, they are some ingredients in moisturizing products that exacerbate acne.

Here are some of the key words you should look out for:

Lanolin

While it’s a known emollient with moisturizing properties, it can have skin-clogging capabilities, triggering the cycle of breakouts.

Fragrance

Artificial fragrances can increase acne infection, skin sensitization and photo-sensitivity.

Mineral oils

Mineral oils are occlusive, meaning that they block the easy passage of water into and out of the skin. While they are used in many products, they have been shown to cause and exacerbate acne.

D&C red pigments

Some of these dyes, which are coal tar derivatives, block the pores of the skin causing acne, breakouts and blackheads

There are also certain substances like iodine and anabolic steroids that can cause your skin to break out and which you should avoid.