4 Unexpected Causes of Breakouts

We’ve all been there, and it’s the absolute worst: you wake up one morning, make your way to the bathroom to begin your morning skin care routine and out of nowhere, you’re breaking out. You follow all of the basic skin care rules: cleansing your face twice a day, using makeup remover before going to bed, and always showering after you workout. So, what gives? Here, learn about four unexpected causes of acne, plus what you can do to help prevent future breakouts.

Breakout cause #1: Your pillowcase

As a quick refresher, your average pimple basically boils down to this: Acne appears as a result of clogged pores. Going a little deeper, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), your pores become clogged when dead skin cells and oil become trapped in them. The issue here is that dead skin cells, bacteria, and dirt can also build up on other surfaces, like your pillowcase and your bedsheets. When your pillowcase is covered with such debris and you rub your face up against it night after night, breakouts are almost sure to happen. It might sound excessive, but you should be changing your pillowcase two times per week, as recommended by the AAD. The AAD also recommends changing sheets weekly, so you may want to overhaul your whole laundry routine!

Breakout cause #2: Your workout gear

You already know that you should remove your makeup before a workout and you probably stock your gym bag with a convenient cleansing option like the L'Oréal Paris Ideal Clean All Skin Types Makeup Removing Towelettes or the L'Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof – All Skin Types. However, this isn’t enough to keep your skin from acting up post-workout. What you may not realize is that simply wiping your face with a towel that’s touched dirty workout equipment, or wearing your trusty exercise headband (that hasn’t been washed since your last sweat-session), can cause your skin to breakout. To help prevent this, the AAD recommends tapping off sweat with a clean towel—don’t rub your face, which can cause skin to become irritated. It’s also a good idea to make a habit of showering right after a workout and never re-wearing any workout gear that’s not fresh out of the wash.

Breakout cause #3: Air pollution

We’ve found yet another reason you need to cleanse your face every morning and evening. According to the Food & Drug Administration, air pollution could be a contributing factor to your breakouts. Since there’s not much you can do to avoid exposure, especially if you live in a city, your best approach is to wash your face twice a day. Reach for a gentle yet effective facial cleanser, like the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Cleanser. This particular cleanser is formulated with three pure clays and charcoal and will help to purify skin of everyday impurities (including pollution) without over-drying. A few times a week, you can also use a gentle exfoliant, like the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Smooth & Glow Grapeseed Scrub, to help slough off dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.

Breakout cause #4: Switching up your routine

We’re always in favor of trying out new skin care products, but the AAD does confirm that it’s important to stick to a regular skin care routine. We recommend a basic daily skin care routine that consists of the following: Washing your face with a facial cleanser, applying a hydrating serum onto clean, damp skin, and finishing up with a facial moisturizer suited to your particular skin type and concerns, such as anti-aging. Then a few times a week, break out your face scrub or a face mask when you really want to pamper yourself.

Now that you know about a few sneaky sources of breakouts, here are 5 Pimple Myths You Need to Stop Believing Now.