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Acne and blemishes are something that almost everyone has contested with at one point or another.
Whether hormonal, stress-related or simply a reaction to a new product you’ve tried, it can be frustrating, upsetting and a real knock to your confidence.
This guide will not only help you identify the possible causes behind your breakouts, but also find handy solutions and remedies to soothe the blemish and send it on its way as fast as possible.
There are many causes of acne breakouts, and to determine what may be a trigger for your specific skin type, you may need to consult a dermatologist. However, there may be some common causes that are easy to combat in your day-to-day life.
Breakouts are often caused by excess oil that blocks the pores, trapping bacteria and dirt under the skin. If you’re someone with naturally oily skin, utilizing oil based products can cause an excess of oil, and may exacerbate breakouts.
If you’re someone that likes to wear hats, knit headbands, or sleep masks, the friction and the pressure as they press against your face can sometimes trigger breakouts. It’s also important to keep these items clean through regular washes, as they can hold dirt which then transfers to your face, also triggering breakouts.
Your diet can also affect your skin health and acne breakouts. High-glycemic foods, such as candy, soda, and even white bread, can cause your blood sugar to spike. High blood sugars trigger oil production, which as we’ve previously explored, can block pores trapping dirt and bacteria, and triggering breakouts.
If you’re someone that suffers from adult acne at an older age, this can actually be caused by smoking. Smoking narrows our blood vessels, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients reaching the skin, leading to clogged pores and contributing to worsened acne.
As we’ve already mentioned, oil-based products can have adverse effects on your skin, and can trigger acne breakouts. Making the simple switch to oil-free products can have a huge positive impact on your skin. From moisturizer to foundation, there are plenty of water-based alternatives for your favourite products.
Regularly washing pillow cases, eye masks, make-up brushes, and other items that you regularly have on or near your face is a great way of ensuring you are limiting the amount of dirt and bacteria in regular contact with your face.
Regular gentle exfoliation will help remove dead skin cells from the face and remove acne-causing bacteria. This also helps prevent the pores from becoming clogged.
A common question that the ZIIP Beauty team is often asked is ‘Is Microcurrent Good for Acne?’.
The answer is yes - ZIIP Founder and leading electrical esthetician, Melanie Simon, even created a specific ZIIP Beauty App Treatment for acne called the ‘Problem Solver’.
A 4-minute routine, you can sync your ZIIP HALO with the ZIIP Beauty App and follow along with Simon as she uses the top silver globe of the ZIIP to circle the problem area and spark Microcurrent into action to treat the area.
Microcurrent for acne works in a 2-prong method, drawing out the acne-causing bacteria, and suppressing inflammation to effectively target a breakout, sometimes before it even emerges on the skin.
The treatment may tingle when the Microcurrent comes into contact with a blemish area, but the treatment should not be uncomfortable if enough gel is applied. Providing instant relief, you can treat either the whole face, or just prioritise individual blemishes where necessary.
Once the treatment is completed, remove all gel and ensure your face is fully cleansed to prevent further breakouts.
Every person’s skin and breakouts are completely individual to them, and it may take time for you to find the best routine and solution for your acne breakouts, but rest assured that there are a range of help and support options available to you, and a dermatologist will always be able to advise on the best next steps for you.
