What Makes Acne Worse?
Having acne to begin with is no picnic, but even more distressing is a sudden worsening of the condition which can be the result of one or a combination of reasons. Episodes where existing acne suddenly worsens are sometimes known as an acne flare. There are a number of reasons why acne can suddenly worsen. Here are a few of the more common factors into what makes acne worse.
Menstrual Cycle
The changing hormone levels in adolescent girls up to 7 days before their menstrual period starts can often be a trigger to the appearance of acne or, if acne is already present, it worsening.
Skin Products
Products such as moisturizers or cosmetics can block the pores of the skin and prevent oil from naturally reaching the skin’s surface. The products you should be using in the case of these products should be water-based rather than oil-based.
Pollution and Humidity
Environmental irritants such as pollution or high humidity can cause the pores of the skin to become blocked. Similarly, such conditions can increase the rate of sweating which will affect the condition of the skin.
Stress
Stressful situations can have an effect on the hormones produced by the body. This hormone imbalance that is taking place in your body can express itself through an acne flare up.
Squeezing or Picking
Touching the blemishes or squeezing them can spread the bacteria that has formed inside the blocked pore. Squeezing the pimple may mean that you pick up the bacteria on your fingers and potentially move it to other parts of your face or body.
Shaving
For men who are acne sufferers, shaving can be an absolute nightmare because of the constant risk of shaving off the top of the pimple, exposing it and possibly allowing it to develop into a permanent scar. The solution is to shave the area as lightly as possible or perhaps switch to an electric razor.
These are only a very few of the factors that can cause acne to get worse. Sometimes wearing clothes that are too tight or that rub in the wrong place for too long can promote a new outbreak of acne. It can be difficult to pinpoint exact causes at times, it just pays to be vigilant, follow basic acne treatment suggestions and work through it as best you can.
Tags: acne causes