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Acne and breakouts on your face are bad enough. When it appears on your shoulders, back, and chest, it can be embarrassing and incredibly painful. Good skincare products are vital to treating acne and any other skin condition (more on that later!), but there are internal and external factors that affect acne, too. If your acne is showing up all over your body and not just your face, your skin is probably reacting to a combination of internal and external irritants.
As an acne survivor myself, here are some things I needed to address to treat face and body acne:
10. Dirty Makeup Brushes: Makeup brushes (or beauty blenders, sponges, etc) rub against your skin and pick up dirt, bacteria and other gunk. If you leave your brushes sitting too long, they can become a germ-breading ground. This can turn into irritation and breakouts on your skin. Clean and disinfect your brushes as least once a month using a gentle soap- do it more often if you wear makeup daily, and do it every time you let someone else use your brushes.
9. Under-washed Towels and Pillowcases: You probably have a semi-regular routine for washing your towels and pillowcase, but, if your skin is breaking out, you might not be washing them frequently enough. A pillowcase should be washed once a week. Oil and sweat from your face seep into the pillowcase at night and can really gunk up your pores. Towels need to be washed at least every other week with hot water (throw in a little vinegar if they smell sour!). They collect lots of dead skin when you step out of the shower and towel off, and since they are damp for a while afterwards, that leaves plenty of time for bacteria to fester and be transferred back to your skin.
8. Old cosmetics and skincare: Whether it’s a stick that you apply directly to your skin, a pot or a bottle that makes contact with your fingers, or a compact that you dip a sponge or a brush into, lots of dirt and oil can be transferred into makeup or lotion and can slime it up over time. Even the highest quality makeup and skincare will eventually “expire,” too. If you haven’t used skincare or makeup within six months of opening it, it’s best to toss it. (This is also a good reason to ask if you really need that new item from the beauty aisle before you buy it- the stuff you have at home needs to be used!).
7. Laundry Detergent: This one can seem far-fetched, but the residue left on clothes, towels, and bedsheets can really irritate your skin and cause breakouts. My parents have tried to use Tide Sensitive, but even then my skin completely freaks out when I visit them and sleep in sheets that were washed in it. All of the detergents I have tried and found helpful come from direct sales companies (and all these links go to my friends who sell them) but a natural foods store might have a comparable brand in their household aisle.
Norwex– one bottle of this stuff lasted me almost two years (doing 2-3 loads of laundry a week) and it’s made with gentle, sustainable materials. This is what I currently use! (This link goes to my Norwex Consultant, Rachel.)
Amway SA8 Laundry Detergent (also available in powdered form). I first realized the difference that laundry detergent could make in my skin when I tried this one in college. (This link goes to my friends, Scott and Kelsey, who are Amway Business Owners.)
Ecosense by Melaleuca– this one is a bit trickier as you need a referral to buy it, but if you shout out into social media that you’re looking for a Melaleuca rep, you’ll be surprised at how many people respond. I used Ecosense for a few years and it made a huge difference from grocery-store brands.
6. Using a loofah: These things look pretty and sometimes even claim to be made out of natural materials. But, if you are breaking out on your chest and back, the bacteria and dirt that gather in a loofah might be (part of) the cause. Try switching out your loofah for an exfoliating bath sheet* that can hang flat and dry out entirely between showers. (I’m still using the same one I bought years ago; they hold up great!).
5. Hormonal Imbalances: Many women experience a few (less than five) blemishes just before or during their monthly cycle. However, constant acne, especially if it is painful, cystic acne, or if it centers around the chin and jawline, may point to something deeper. Chances are that if you are a woman who is experiencing this, you are also experiencing other symptoms such as painful periods, prolonged PMS, hormonal headaches, etc. Give yourself some well-deserved self-care and talk to your doctor about your hormonal health. Birth control pills are a popular (and effective) method of treatment, but there are other options available, too.
4. Food Allergies: A dairy allergy is one of the most common causes of ongoing adult acne. Sometimes, acne is the only symptom (no stomach pain or nausea), so it can be hard to pinpoint. The good news is, many people find they can still occasionally enjoy ice cream or pizza and not suffer chronic acne. Try going a few weeks with zero dairy and see how much your skin improves.
3. Cheap and/or scented cosmetics: Cheap lotions, body washes, and makeup can be loaded with harsh chemicals that can irritate your skin (they are also often a source of unethical or unsustainable ingredients, such as mica or palm oil). Invest in some higher quality makeup, lotion, and body wash without fragrance. If you are on a really tight budget, ask your dermatologist about drugstore brands that might be easier on sensitive skin.
2. Showering in the wrong order: Shampoo and conditioner are made to clean and care for your hair and scalp, but the residue they leave behind can wreak havoc on the rest of your skin! When showering, always shampoo and condition your hair first (if you shave in the shower, do that while the conditioner sits in your hair) and then wash your skin and your face! If you like to leave conditioner or other products in your hair, tie your hair up or cover it with a shower cap before cleansing your skin.
- Dry Skin: This sounds ironic, since it is supposed to be excessive oil that causes our breakouts! But, skin that is naturally dry and/or dried out from harsh products can break out due to irritation, or because oil glands are going into overdrive trying to moisturize your skin. Make sure to drink enough water to hydrate your skin from the inside, and add a high-quality moisturizer or hydrating serum. A moisturizer locks in your skin’s natural moisture; a hydrating serum creates chemical reservoirs on your skin to absorb water from the surrounding atmosphere and add hydration. My favorite is Rodan&Fields Active Hydration Serum*. It feels like silk on my face and doesn’t interfere with acne treatments! If you shop through this link, I will be your consultant and receive commission. If you have a friend or family member who is a Rodan&Fields consultant, I encourage you to shop with them!