As a skincare brand committed to promoting healthy and radiant skin, we understand the frustration of unexpected breakouts (especially when they sprout out on a D-day). These uninvited eruptions can dull your confidence and be very irritating to deal with.
Whether you're dealing with occasional pimples or chronic acne, identifying the root causes of skin breakouts is crucial to achieving clear, glowing skin.
With this article, we will explore why and when your skin breaks out, its top causes of skin breakouts, and how incorporating the right organic skincare products into your routine can help you achieve clear and radiant skin.
Clogged Pores
If you are wondering - why is my skin breaking out all of a sudden? The primary culprit behind breakouts is blocked/clogged pores. Our pores allow the various layers of our skin to breathe and soak in essential skincare products (food) to stay healthy. But, the skin starts acting up when these pores get blocked due to excess sebum, dead skin cells, dirt, makeup, and other debris. It leads to oily, bumpy skin with the formation of white and blackheads later.
Speaking of sebum, it is a natural oily substance produced by our body to keep our skin moisturized. However, when the sebaceous glands overproduce sebum, it can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Factors like hormonal imbalances, stress, and genetics can trigger excessive sebum production.
Furthermore, if one uses chemically formulates skincare products, this issue aggravates, as they strip the skin of its natural oils, causing it to produce even more oil.
- Solution & Prevention:
- Scout for organic, lightweight, foaming cleansing formulas for your daily use.
- Use a sulfate-free cleanser to remove excess oil and impurities twice a day.
- Use non-comedogenic skincare products that won't clog pores.
- Avoid aggressive scrubbing your face, as it can stimulate more sebum production and skin breaking out with little red bumps.
- Product Suggestion -
iORA’s Prebiotic Foaming Cleanser - It contains gentle exfoliants clubbed with superfood extracts. The product comes with a silicon foaming brush that makes it easy for you to get rid of any unnecessary debris and dead skin cells; keeping your pores clear and minimizing breakouts.
Bacteria and Infections
We all know germs AKA the bad bacteria and infections play a significant role in the development and progression of acne. Generally, acne is often linked to the presence of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). These bacteria naturally reside on our skin and rapidly multiply to cause inflammation, redness, irritation, pimples, etc. Especially when the skin pores get clogged up, the lack of oxygen creates an anaerobic environment encouraging the overgrowth of this bacteria.
- Solution & Prevention:
- If you notice skin breaking out on cheeks, it is mainly because of bacteria, so avoid touching your face too much especially when you are outdoors.
- Sanitize your hands often to avoid the spread of bacteria onto your face.
- Keep wiping off sweat frequently.
- Product Suggestion -
- Use micellar water to take off your makeup. It melts away stubborn makeup and is pretty gentle on your skin. Effective too. Follow up with cleansing and toning your skin.
- If you experience extreme oiliness on your face, use bloating paper to avoid skin breaking out or purging.
Inflammation
Once the progression of acne begins, the body’s immune system gets triggered by a foreign invader. In response to this, our immune system sends an inflammatory reaction as white blood cells rush to the affected area to fight the bacteria. This inflammation leads to redness, swelling, and the formation of a painful pimple or acne lesion.
- Solution & Prevention:
- Avoid playing with your pimples or popping them no matter how satisfying it may seem. This will only lead to more acne and inflamed skin.
- Use products containing tea tree oil as their active ingredient as it has antibacterial properties and also helps stop acne from progressing.
Hormonal Fluctuations
We experience hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, and even menopause. These internal changes can trigger acne. So don’t think - ‘Why is my skin breaking out for no reason?’
Moreover, elevated androgen levels can also stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, leading to acne flare-ups. Therefore, try being more open and aware of these changes. If you stress out, the problem can aggravate.
- Solution & Prevention:
- Keep an eye out for what you are consuming. Eat healthy and timely meals. Sugar and processed foods might worsen the condition.
- Consult a healthcare professional if you suspect extreme hormonal issues affecting your skin.
- Product Suggestion -
- Just like we suggested consuming healthy food, incorporate organic skincare that contains soothing ingredients to treat your skin daily. There are various helpful ingredients you can gravitate towards such as tea tree oil, aloe vera, chamomile, etc. that treat inflamed skin and the severity of hormonal breakouts.
Stress
There is no escaping stress totally, but we can reduce it for sure. High-stress levels can wreak havoc on our skin by disrupting hormone balance, increasing inflammation, and impairing the skin's natural barrier. This can make the skin more susceptible to breakouts and various other skin issues.
- Solution & Prevention:
- Try focusing on mindful activities and techniques during these phases of your life such as meditation, art therapy, yoga, etc.
Poor Skincare Habits
Problems arise when you mistreat your skin in the first place. How? - By using the wrong skincare products or not being consistent with your routine. Introducing new products every now and then is also a big NO-NO. You’ll notice skin breaking out with new skincare routine. So, if you are changing your products with better ones, consider the possibility of acne as the skin might react or take time to get used to certain ingredients.
- Solution & Prevention:
- Be consistent and regular with your skin routine.
- Follow the basic CTM (cleansing, toning, moisturizing) and sunscreen every day.
- Always patch-test new products on your elbow or legs in a small area before using them on your entire face. Because remember the facial skin is sensitive.
Dietary Factors
Obviously, the food we consume impacts our skin health. Diets high in processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats contribute to skin inflammation and acne. Therefore, eating healthy fruits and vegetables with a good amount of proteins, carbs, fibers, and vitamins is essential for overall health.
While there’s also a chance that people notice skin breaking out during keto diet as it is high in dairy. So, just notice these changes and make amends to your diet accordingly. Consult a dietician to form a proper diet plan for you in this case as most people notice skin breaking out while losing weight.
- Solution & Prevention:
- Have a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, healthy carbs and proteins.
- Organic skincare products infused with nourishing ingredients like green tea extract, vitamin C, and rosehip oil can complement your dietary efforts in promoting clear skin.
- Skin breaking out during exercise is also common. If you want to avoid that, make sure to wipe off your sweat frequently as you exercise and also rinse your face thoroughly post your workout session to avoid clogged pores.
Exposure to environmental pollutants
The environment isn’t ideal for our skin. There are a lot of pollutants and toxins that attack our skin on a daily basis that exacerbate breakouts. They disrupt the skin’s microbiome threatening its well-balanced ecosystem by encouraging the growth of bad bacteria, leading to problems much more severe than acne.
- Solution & Prevention:
- Shield your skin from pollutants by using organic skin care products containing potent antioxidants like vitamin E, resveratrol, and niacinamide. These antioxidants can neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from environmental damage.
- Focus on products that repair and maintain your barrier rather than skin-brightening. Once your barrier is restored in a healthy way, your skin interacts even better with the skincare you feed it with.
- Product Suggestion:
- Explore the wide range of prebiotic skincare products by iORA perfect for all skin types to form your entire routine around it. All our products are formulated to repair and restore the skin barrier while also allowing good bacteria to flourish healthily.
Here are some FAQs regarding acne and why they occur -
Q.1) Does using retinol cause acne?
Ans. Skin breaking out after retinol use is a common after-effect that many experience especially if one uses it for the first time.
You see, retinol speeds up cell turnover which can lead to the worsening of an existing acne condition. So, don’t be alarmed if this happens. All it does is pushes the debris to the surface to get rid of it in the form of acne.
Q.2) Is it normal to break out after waxing?
Ans. Skin breaking out after waxing is actually caused by the pores opening up post-wax. Then, bacteria have the chance to enter in and cause acne. But, it's nothing major to worry about.
Q.3) Does skin needling lead to acne?
Ans. Breaking out after skin needling is yet another common concern faced by many people. It simply happens because, during the treatment, toxins from beneath the layers of skin are released. These breakouts get reduced after one to two weeks.
Q.4) Why do I experience acne both in summer as well as winter?
Ans. Our skin’s moisture levels need to be balanced properly during harsh climatic changes. Failure in doing so can cause pimples or body acne due to extreme temperatures. Therefore, skin breaking out in winter or skin breaking out in hot weather is again a common problem.
Q.5) Does skin break out after laser hair removal treatment?
Ans. The heat and inflammation caused by laser treatment can promote acne. When the dead skin cells and bacteria can’t escape, they transform into pus-filled pimples to try and get out of the body.
Therefore, to avoid skin breaking out after laser hair removal, take proper after-care measures to minimize this unwanted risk.
Final Word:
Remember, achieving healthy, acne-free skin doesn’t have to include harsh chemicals or synthetic ingredients. Understand the root cause of breakouts, seek expert help, and most importantly embrace an organic skincare routine to not just improve your acne condition, but your overall skin health.
We, at iORA, are committed to providing you with the highest quality organic skin care products, carefully crafted to nourish and rejuvenate your skin without compromising its health or the environment. Remember, consistency and patience are key when it comes to skincare, and with the right organic products, your journey to healthier skin will be smoother and more enjoyable. Stay committed to your skincare journey and celebrate the real you!
