What is acne prone skin?
Everybody has pretty much the same acne causing triggers – hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, oily skin etc. But some people are more prone to acne and breakouts despite best efforts. Although the exact cause of having acne prone skin is not known, genetics can have a part to play.
It is not your fault if you have acne prone skin. Traditional beauty standards have labelled acne-prone skin as ‘imperfections’ or ‘flawed’ but these are regressive opinions about a normal problem that most people experience at least once in their lifetime.
What causes breakouts?
Anybody can get acne, regardless of skin type or age. Although acne is more commonly seen during teenage years due to hormonal changes, adults can also get acne due to many underlying health conditions, such as PCOS and lifestyle factors such as stress and smoking. Many women also get acne around and during their periods due the hormone fluctuations.
Furthermore, skincare or makeup products that clog your pores, smoking and effect of certain medications can also cause acne. It is not possible to predict who might get acne but your chances of having acne increases if your parents had severe acne.
Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options that can address acne concerns. Getting to the root cause of your acne and triggers can help you get long-term solutions.
I have acne-prone skin and tried everything in my power to deal with those pesky breakouts. I gave a shot to several topical lotions and creams. Some were tingly, and some left my skin tight, and a little stingy. Nothing helped until I made a few lifestyle choices to ensure that my skin behaves. Here’s what worked in favour of my skin.
I Gave Up Coffee
I love coffee, but my skin did not agree with it. I always thought that the milk and sugar triggered acne, but I got breakouts even after I made a switch to black coffee. When I did some research, I found that coffee stimulates the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which makes it harder for the skin to fight off bacteria and heal.
I Simplified My Skincare Routine
Earlier, I would use dozens of lotions on my face, but I soon realised that these products had short-term effects only for the acne to return after weeks. What’s worse? Many of these products contain toxic chemicals that can hinder the health of the skin. Once I learnt about the dangers of these chemicals, I switched to organic products and never looked back. Over time, I simplified my skincare routine, using fewer products.
I Drank a Lot of Green Juice
Green vegetable juice is my secret tool for glowing, acne-free skin. Every morning, I blend some spinach, green apple and citrus fruits in a blender and drink up! This recipe has improved not only the health of my skin but also my hair.
I Ditched Dairy
As soon as I stopped consuming dairy, I noticed that I got fewer breakouts. Like you, even I thought it might be a coincidence. However, my skin started breaking out again when I reintroduced dairy back into my diet. Although there’s not much scientific evidence showing a direct correlation between the health of the skin and dairy, the incredible results I got, convinced me to give up dairy.
I Broke Up with Fried Foods
In my experience, if there is one dietary change that helped, it was giving up on fried foods. I tried to make a switch to unsaturated fats and used coconut oil for cooking and saw my skin breathe easy. Apart from fried items, I also stopped eating foods high in fat and sugar as I realised that they were a guaranteed ticket to my breakouts.Sure, there are people with perfectly smooth and glowing skin who consume, chocolate, pizza, and whole milk lattes every single day of their lives. But for the rest of us who are not so lucky, we can make a few of these sacrifices for more control over our skin!
Learn More with Veera Health
Acne can have many causes – including PCOS. If you are suffering from unexplained symptoms like irregular periods, weight gain, scalp hair loss, weight gain and cystic acne, speak to our experts at Veera Health who can help you understand the root cause of your concerns. Book a free appointment with our experts to get started!
