blog-sensasi

What Makes Acne Worse?

Menstrual Cycle
Girls acne often appears or gets worse from seven to fourteen days before their monthly period arrives. This is due to the hormonal changes that occur at this time. Girls often crave chocolate during this time of the month, but if anything it is the hormonal changes, not the chocolate, that are responsible for the spots. Some older' girls may find that contraceptive pills which only contain the hormone progesterone (the 'mini pill') can also aggravate acne.

Stress
Stress and worry can have a powerful effect on the balance between various hormones. For example, stress increases the amount of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline produced in your body. So if you are upset, your hormones can then be upset _ and in some people, acne may flare up. Stress also makes many people crave chocolate, but again, it is probably the stress not the chocolate which causes the spots.



Heat and Humidity
Hot humid climates - even in Britain! - can make acne worse, because sweating increases oil production. Saunas can have the same effect.
Greasy Hair and Skin Products
Oil-based make-ups and hairdressings, moisturizing creams and lubricating lotions can block your pores and prevent oil from reaching the skin's surface naturally. If you insist on wearing make-up, make sure it is water-based and oil-free. Try not to wear your hair down on your face in order to keep natural scalp oils off your skin. Scientists in America believe that some of the acne in black people is caused by pomade hair creams which can spread from the scalp to the face. Such hair creams and other products contain cocoa butter or coconut butter which are considered very comedogenic - in other words they are likely to cause blackheads to form. Certain suntan lotions can also cause problems.

Cosmetics
Certain cosmetics can irritate or block the lining of the pore and can cause or aggravate acne. However, because the ingredients in cosmetics change so frequently - and in many cases the ingredients are not even listed on the product label - it really isn't possible to provide you with a complete list of chemicals to avoid. But there are some major culprits, such as isopropyl myristate, acetylated lanolin alcohol, lauric acid and laureth-4 which are highly comedogenic. Watch out for high-tech terms which are irrelevant. 'Hypoallergenic' means that the make-up is less likely to cause an allergic reaction, not that it will not cause blackheads. Many make-ups now use the term 'medicated'. This is also no guarantee thato they will not cause blackheads, and besides, as spots are not caused by germs lurking on the surface of the skin, such 'medication' is useless. There are some good, inexpensive make-ups available which are better, not because they are 'medicated' but because they are simply water-based and oil-free. You will probably find more non-comedogenic cosmetics coming on the market as time goes by, so look out for them and ask your ' chemist.