Mistakes which can cause acne

If you're dealing with acne, you know at least a dozen things that are bad for your skin. Sometimes, however, you can still have habits which facilitate excessive sebum production, the development of acne and which make your skin more vulnerable.

A little care and attention can help avoid these issues. If you checked your cosmetics, your diet, sleeping and hair care habits, but you still don't know what's causing acne on your face, upper back or any other part of your body, pay close attention. I compiled five more tips which you should try out.

• You're washing yourself with too cold or too warm water

If your skin has a tendency for greasiness, you should pay attention to the temperature of the water you wash your face or shower with. Just like chemical or alcohol-based skin care products, if the water is too warm it can dry your skin and stimulate the production of sebum. However, if the water you use is too cold, it contracts your skin pores, preventing you from cleansing them properly. The best solution is to use lukewarm water to wash your face with or shower and use pleasantly warm and not hot water when washing your hair.

• You're treating the problematic areas too often or too roughly

Washing your face or showering too often also prevents the balanced function of your skin. Overly frequent facial cleansing and peeling, the use of inappropriate cosmetics, roughly drying the skin instead of sponging the water can also lead to excessive sebum production and vulnerable skin.

• It's your shampoo or conditioner's fault

This are perhaps the most frequently mentioned cause for acne even though it's a fact that most hair products contain chemicals which can irritate less greasier areas than your scalp (SLS, SLES) and can block pores (for example, due to the compound Polyquaternium- 7 used to facilitate combing). This can lead to the development of acne of your face or any other body part. Your can avoid this problem by using natural cosmetics or at least washing and conditioning your hair separately and not while showering. If you still insist on doing so, make sure you wash your skin with soap after rinsing off the shampoo and conditioner in order to remove the chemicals from your skin.

• Change the way you dress

If acne appears under your neckline, it's a good idea to examine the kinds of materials that regularly come into contact with the skin surface in question. Acne can be caused by bra straps, overly tight or synthetic garments or materials washed at the wrong temperature or with irritating detergent or fabric softeners. This can also hinder your skin's respiration or a sweaty skin patch can be chafed by even a bag or a backpack strap. Take special care not to wear clothes which are too tight in the area in question after hair removal until the fine abrasions of the skin are healed.

• You should you change your bedding more often

If your hair and facial skin are prone to greasiness, it's a good idea to change your pillow covers every few days and if possible, use pure cotton bedding.