Acne can be an embarrassing skin condition whether you’re a teen or an adult. It strikes for many reasons including hormones, reactions to medications, exercising, even the use of oily or greasy hair products. While acne is not caused by dirty skin, but a combination of factors (like skin’s oil production and dead skin cells), it can still cause a drop in self-confidence. Though there is not much you can do to fight these acne culprits, you can, however, alter your daily routine to improve your skin’s appearance. Below we’ve shared a few everyday habits that may be triggering your acne-prone skin, resulting in pimples and blemishes:

• Hair Products

Keep hair spray, gel, mousse, or other hair products away from your face, back, and shoulders, to prevent them from clogging up your pores. Most hair products are chock-full of ingredients, especially hair conditioners which may contain panthenol, could be the cause of pimples in areas where conditioner residue builds up. It’s important to thoroughly rinse conditioner off your body in the shower, protect your face before you apply styling sprays, and don’t apply oils and serums to parts of your hairline that graze your face.

• Traveling by Plane

There’s no escaping the dry air on a plane. Airplanes have very low humidity, which often causes skin to become dehydrated. The dehydrated cells cause a buildup, which can trap oil underneath the skin, resulting in post-flight breakouts.  If you’re lacking moisture in your skin, we offer a moisturizing facial which focuses on restoring moisture to dry, dull skin through the use of specific compounds and creams.

• The Gym

Working up a sweat is great when you’re at the gym, but not so great when you’re worrying about breaking out. Many of the machine surfaces and ground are covered with bacteria, so try not to touch your face or body during your workout and wash your hands immediately afterward. Typically after exercising, you may feel sweaty and sticky and you might be tempted to scrub yourself from head to toe to feel squeaky clean. It is important to avoid harsh scrubbing and opt for face and body washes that suit your skin type.

• Your Cell Phone

Your face produces oil and sweat, and bacteria and dirt from your fingers can build up on your phone, which all can cause breakouts around your cheeks, mouth, and chin. To prevent clogging up your pores, use an antibacterial wipe daily and clean your screen and all crevices of your phone. To target breakouts, we recommended our ReVitalize Peel to patients with acne and acne scarring or overall poor skin.

• Washing Your Face Too Often

Though it’s important to keep your skin clean, washing it too often will only strip the skin of essential oils and make acne worse. Washing your face in the morning and evening is all you need.

For more skincare tips or to learn more about which of our treatments are best for you, contact AYA^™ Medical Spa. Also, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest for the latest cosmetic and skincare news and updates.