"Have you ever suddenly experienced redness, irritation, blackheads, and numerous pimples on your face? If so, you might be experiencing a breakout. What are the contributing factors? Scroll down to find out more!"
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What is a Breakout?
According to www.halodoc.com, a breakout is a sudden condition where facial skin experiences irritation, redness, and a lot of pimples appear. This condition is caused by hormones and excessive oil production.
Basically, androgens, or sex hormones like testosterone, trigger the sebaceous glands to produce excessive sebum (oily substance on the skin). This oil can then clog pores and cause the growth of acne-causing bacteria called C. acnes.
It is the growth of these bacteria that causes inflammation within the skin, eventually forming whiteheads, cystic acne, or blind pimples.
However, everyone's skin condition is different. Genetic factors also play a role in determining how the body reacts to acne-triggering hormones.
According to Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, USA, how often someone experiences facial breakouts fundamentally depends on the sensitivity of their oil glands.
So, if you have oil glands that are more sensitive to acne-causing hormones, you will experience facial breakouts more frequently.
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Causes of Facial Breakouts
Here are some of the factors that trigger facial breakouts:
1. Stress & Lack of Sleep
When stressed, the body produces stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can stimulate the oil glands to produce excessive oil. This condition can then lead to clogged pores.
The same applies to lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep constantly exposes the body to high levels of cortisol, which can trigger acne.
When someone is stressed, a sleep-deprived body can still release cortisol-triggering hormones, which can bind to oil glands and cause acne.
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2. Skincare Products
It turns out that the breakouts you experience on your facial skin can also be caused by the skincare products you use. For example, oil-based makeup, some silicone products, and some liquid foundations can clog pores, leading to acne. That's why it's important to choose non-comedogenic products that won't clog your pores.
3. Diet
While further research is needed on the impact of food on the skin, high-glycemic foods can worsen acne. Examples of high-glycemic foods include white bread, white rice, white pasta, baked goods, pastries, sugary drinks (soda, sports drinks, packaged fruit juices), chips, french fries, and cereal.
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High-glycemic foods are often highly processed and cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. When blood sugar levels spike, the body produces more insulin and more insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Increased insulin boosts sebum production. IGF-1 increases androgen (natural steroid hormone) levels, which also increases sebum production and secretion. All that oil can then overwhelm the pores and produce acne.
4. Dehydration
Our bodies need water to maintain physiological balance. Water is also believed to help reduce acne by keeping the skin hydrated.
When the skin is dehydrated, it can increase oil production, triggering the appearance of acne.
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5. Contaminated Skin
Frequently touching your face or holding your smartphone against your face can contaminate your facial skin with bacteria. This can put you at risk of experiencing breakouts. Therefore, clean and wash your face with facial soap to keep your face clean and healthy always.
It's also worth noting that not washing pillowcases at least every week can also be a cause of facial breakouts. So, it's important to change pillowcases and bed sheets regularly. Let's change our lifestyle by consuming healthy foods, maintaining facial hygiene by diligently washing our faces, and regularly changing pillowcases!
