Acne Flare-Up Triggers You're Probably Ignoring

Acne is a common condition many experience quite often. But the skin breakouts always seem to strike at the worst possible times, before a business meeting or a brunch date. These sudden flare ups of acne always end up bringing down our self-esteem and make us too self-conscious to focus on the task at hand. 

Top Acne Flare Triggers You Might Be Ignoring

The hidden acne triggers which you’re probably ignoring are as follows:

Over-Cleansing

Washing your skin more than you really need may remove healthy lipids, making it dry and leathery. That sets the stage for production of increased amounts of oil in your skin’s defense and compromises your skin’s natural pH.

Skin Purging

Introducing a completely new skincare product abruptly may affect the skin to react to it and end up making acne worse by flaring up. 

Heavy Cosmetic Application

The sheer amount of makeup you layer on your face could even result in flared acne as you are technically developing acne cosmetica. Your make up basically clogs up and builds up in your face and ends up in acne formation. 

Smoking and Alcohol

When you smoke and break out, it's a type of instant oxidation. It essentially consumes all the antioxidants from your vitamin E stores. Your vitamin E supply, in effect, gets completely trashed and the squalene in sebum starts to really shift to thicker side to clog the pores. Plus, the nicotine constricts the blood vessels around the skin so you're deprived of the nutrients required for healthy skin.

Using Comedogenic Products

Products with highly comedogenic ingredients will block the skin’s pores and lead to frequent breakouts. Examples include coconut oil, isopropyl myristate, etc.

Hormonal Imbalance

Imbalance in the homeostasis and sensitivity of hormones like androgens, progesterone and insulin can trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more oil and result in acne. 

Androgen: With physiological developmental changes in the body during adulthood

Progesterone: Fluctuations during menstrual cycle and pregnancy

Insulin: Diet induced spikes in the blood sugar

Cortisol: Stress-hormone stimulates the sebaceous glands to release more oils

Sleep Schedule

When you are not getting enough sleep, the excess release of the stress hormone called cortisol from your adrenal glands essentially signals directly to your skin’s sebaceous glands to produce too much oil. Not changing bedding and pillow cases frequently can also induce microbial and oil buildup.

Diet

Food aggravates acne by inducing hormonal fluctuations that directly impacts skin. Severe stressful episodes might initiate bulimia that results from eating unhealthy and oily food and this subsequently induces the hormonal imbalances and causes the skin to break out.

Environmental Factors

• The microscopic particles of dust and debris can directly invade pores and get trapped, hosting an army of bacteria .
• The free radical attacks the sebum, making it thick, clogging pores.
• Hot summer temperatures may boost activity of the sebaceous glands, creating a layer of sebum that makes for the perfect ground for acne causing bacteria.
• The lack of moisture on dry winter air over stimulation of oil glands to produce more oil for lubrication of skin.
• Fluctuating temperatures may bring on increased levels of a hormone called cortisol which could induce excess sebum production.

Exposure to UV Radiation

UVA/UVB exposure deeply penetrates skin to create free radicals that oxide squalane in sebum and makes it thick and uncomfortable for the skin causing it to plug your pores. It gets worse, as sunlight dehydrates your skin barrier and  adds to the burden of accumulated sebum.

Insulin-Spike

Insulin spike (from foods with a high glycemic load) results in a rise in Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which over-stimulates skin’s oil glands and affects plugging of pores. Dairy and certain whey proteins can also trigger into androgen pathways that can add to inflammation, leading to more breakouts.

Ongoing Medications

Certain drugs that you may currently be using could actually be contributing to the onset or even the worsening of acne. This is commonly called drug induced acne, or acneiform eruption. Some of these include: Prednisone, Oral contraceptives, etc.

Menstrual Cycle

Many women would be able to relate to the fact. Once a month your cycle brings the same outbreak of zits. This is when levels of estrogen hormone crash to their lowest, leaving your testosterone hormone fluctuating wildly, signalling oil glands to release heavier sebum.

What Is The Science Behind Sudden Acne Flare-up?

There is no good time for you to experience a quick outbreak of acne. However, getting to know ‘what triggers acne’ is one highly studied physiological chain reaction in the human body. Acne does not occur simply because your face is dirty. Acne actually occurs because there are a series of biological processes happening to your skin.

Over-production of Sebum

The simple mechanism behind the over production of oil (sebum) is the overstimulation of sebaceous glands in the skin which are responsible for the secretion of sebum. It can be due to hormonal imbalance, genetics, stress, hot and humid weather, etc.  This sebum is temporarily stored in the follicular reservoir or the pores and if produced in excess can clog the pores. 

Impaired Skin Cell Turnover

Continuous deposition and accumulation of trapped debris of dead skin cells with hyperkeratinization can add to the clogging of pores. 

Environmental Stress & Sedentary Lifestyle

Harsh pollutants like dirt, dust, grime, etc. can make the skin feel unclean and dull. Hot, humid climate can make skin more sensitive to moistness and render it prone to microbial invasion of skin barrier. Whereas, dry cold winters can make skin dry and to manage it, the application of heavy comedogenic moisturizing agents can just worsen acne. Stress, anxiety, improper sleep schedule, smoking, alcohol, junk foods, too fried and oily foods and even dairy products can lead to fluctuations in cortisol release. This hormone stimulates the receptors at sebaceous glands and results in over-production of sebum for microbes to feed on.

Hormonal Fluctuation

Hormonal fluctuations in the body stimulates the receptors at sebaceous glands to produce more oils. Some of them include: Androgens, Progesterones, Cortisol, Estrogen, etc. 

Microbial Over Growth

Some bacteria on our skin are normally harmless such as Cutibacterium acnes and Malassezia, but on an inflamed, clogged and flushed-out sebum-filled pore, these organisms grow within a warm, fatty and anoxic environment, producing free fatty acids by metabolizing excess sebum which cause inflammation.

Clogging of pores

Entrapment of impurities, dead skin cells and excess sebum lead to clogging of pores which are indicative of poor skin health. These clogged pores proliferate the microbes and trigger the activation of a chain of inflammatory cytokines. Adding to swelling, pain and redness around the skin with bumps. 

Simply, it goes like:

1. Pathogenic invasion and proliferation by microbes like Cutibacterium acnes, Malassezia, etc. 
2. Poor skin cell turnover due to keratinization
3. Abnormal production of sebum by oil glands of the skin
4. Clogged pores due to entrapment of impurities, dead skin cells, excess sebum, etc. 
   

What Does The Skin Need To Prevent Sudden Flare-Up Of Acne ?

To deal with acne breakouts and its subsequent scars, your skin needs:

• Removal of impurities 
• Regulating sebum 
• Pores clearing action 
• Antimicrobial effect 
• Soothing
  

Why Use Face Wash for Acne Regularly?

It is developed to care for acne-prone skin, which does so by: 

• Keeping the skin fresh
• Providing a deep cleanse
• Keeping pores free from dirt
• Controlling excess oil
• Preventing new pimples to spread across the skin
• Excluding harsh chemicals 
• Giving soothing relief
  

Here’s a Guide on How to Get Your Hands on a Perfect Cleanser for Acne Flared Triggers:

Go through the labels of the various face washes and see how effective, quality assured and safer it is compared to other options out there. By now you have a brief idea of the formula as to why it is ideal to choose as cleansing face wash that can fight the flare ups of acne. In severe skin conditions, visit your dermatologist for an assessment and expert suggestion.

What Makes Alite's Anti Acne Face Wash A Must Buy? 

Alite's Anti Acne Face Wash can surely be your best friend when it comes to managing and preventing acne. The various benefits offered by the face wash are:

• Deep Cleansing
• Oil Control 
• Removes Dark Spots
• Soothes the Skin
• Mild and Gentle
• Regulates the Sebum
  

How it Works – Every ingredient of Alite Anti-Acne Face Wash formulation works in its own manner. They are gentle on skin and prevent aggravation of persisting acne with its appropriate use. Some prominent components are enlisted below in order to understand how their mechanism of action manages the acne:

Ceraskin P (Ceramide III)

Maintains the normal barrier function of the skin. 

Activated Charcoal Sebum Control Enzyme

Obtained from the Gallotannins and Ellagitannins of meadowsweet (Spiraea ulmaria extract). It reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands by inhibiting the activity of 5α-reductase.

Charcoal Milliglobules

It draws out impurities, dirt and excess oils from your skin controlling oily shine and creates a mattified effect as well as it prevents acne breakouts by unclogging pores. 

Aloe Vera

Has allantoin which is a phytochemical that promotes the healing of skin. A good soothing and hydrating agent for the skin. Reduces inflammation of the active breakouts. 

Steps To Follow For A Consistent Skin Care Routine

A consistent skincare routine can help maintain the skin health and effectively manage acne. 

The steps to use the Alite Anti Acne Face Wash effectively are mentioned below:

1. Wash your hands
2. Take a small amount of face wash on your palm
3. Massage onto the face
4. Gently lather
5. Rinse well with water
6. Pat dry with a clean towel
   

Summary

Ever wondered why breakouts always come at the worst possible time? The culprit might not be as elusive as you think. From overwashing and too much makeup to increased stress levels, food changes, hormonal shifts and sleep troubles. Learn the science behind why breakouts happen in an instant. It all comes down to overactive oil glands, hormonal imbalances, a build-up of dead cells, growth of microbes, and clogged pores that cause inflammation in your skin. Most importantly, you’ll see how to control the triggers of acne using a face wash specifically designed for this.