6 causes of pimples

Written with skincare therapist Rebecca

Few things can make your confidence falter like when pimples and breakouts start showing up on your face, even though most of us deal with them from time to time. The hard part is knowing what causes them – and what you can do about it. We’ve listed 6 common causes of pimples.

#1
You don’t sleep enough

One of the best things you can do for your skin (health) is to get a good, full night’s sleep. Sleep triggers the rebuilding and renewal of our cells. In other words, it’s while we sleep that our body has time to do its work. If we sleep too little, everything doesn’t have time to get done, which can cause hormonal imbalance in the body.

Too little sleep also means too little time for the skin to recover, which in turn speeds up skin aging. Collagen production decreases, which can lead to fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and less elastic skin. In short: a good night’s sleep comes with many benefits!

#2

your skin is too dry

The most important part of skincare is to moisturize your skin, and the best way to do that is with a good face cream. Moisturized skin doesn’t just give you a healthy glow – it also helps build an outer barrier against weather and wind, and counteracts premature aging and wrinkles.

If your skin is too dry, it will start overproducing sebum, which causes pimples. In other words, there’s no reason to try to “dry out” the skin in hopes of getting fewer pimples.

#3

you change your pillowcase too rarely

We spend about a third of the day with our head on a pillow. Yet most of us change our pillowcases far too rarely. Excess face cream, hair wax, dirt and bacteria collect on the pillow. So make sure to change your pillowcase at least once a week.

#4

your beard is the culprit

We love beards, but if you don’t take care of it, it can be the reason why impurities keep showing up on your face. Oil and dirt collect in the beard and clog the hair follicles. Clean your beard a couple of times a week, just like you do with your hair.

#5

you’re too stressed

Most people know that too much stress has a negative effect on the body. When we’re stressed, the body produces, among other things, the hormone cortisol, which affects the behavior of the sebaceous glands and can trigger acne.

#6

your diet is messing things up

What you put in your mouth can affect how your skin feels. Foods with a high glycemic index (GI) and too many dairy products have been shown to have a negative impact on acne-prone skin.