5 Things to Avoid if You are Prone to Acne

1. Sugar: According to research, high glycemic index (GI) foods (sugary foods) cause the body to produce a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). This hormone tells the body to produce more sebum, which makes the acne worse. It makes pores appear larger as well. So simply switching from high GI foods to low GI foods may help you reduce acne to some extent.

2. Sleeping with makeup on: If you will leave your make up on overnight, your skin won’t be able to renew itself properly, and you will end up with clogged pores. It also leads to bacteria build up and inflammation, which is the biggest cause of pimples. So, it’s recommended to use makeup remover wipes before going to bed.

3. Coconut oil: Many people use coconut oil topically on their skin. Although coconut oil contains lauric acid, which kills acne-causing bacteria, it is effective only if consumed orally. Putting the oil directly on your skin often triggers acne.

4. Hair conditioner: When you rinse hair conditioner, it gets along your face, neck, chest, and back. Most conditioners contain pore-clogging ingredients that worsen acne. Make sure that you always wash your face and other acne-prone areas after rinsing out hair conditioner.

5. Smoking: Smoking is injurious to health, and it can make acne worse too. According to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, acne was more severe and recurrent in those who smoke and the more a patient smokes, the worse the acne breakouts.

6. Over-Exfoliating: Exfoliating more than a few times a week can also make the acne worse. Physical exfoliators can rupture whiteheads, causing the bacteria to spread around your face. And if you use any exfoliator too aggressively, it can cause acne to take longer than normal to heal.

7. Using Too Many Products: Stop experimenting with your already troubled skin. If you are using too many products to treat your acne, you are probably making it worse. Try not to use more than two products to fight pimples, as their ingredients can dry out your skin excessively, magnifying its effects.

8. Not changing your towel and pillow-case often: Cleanliness is very important when you want to get rid of acne. So having clean towel and pillowcases are very important. If you are sleeping on a dirty pillow, you are sleeping on dirt and dead skin cells. Towels can also be breeding grounds for bacteria, so change it often to keep your acne under control.

9. Putting your fingers on your face: Stop picking at your face and touching it again and again, as it can make the acne worse. Putting your fingers in your face can spread infection, create a scar, and make a pimple last longer.

10. Washing Too Much: Washing your face frequently can extremely dry out your skin and when it happens, you're really causing more oil to be made. This clogs pores, causing even more acne to develop. Also use lukewarm water to wash your face instead of using extremely hot water if you don’t want to worsen the condition.