Breakouts can be frustrating at the best of times, but they can be even more so when you can't discern what is causing them. With working from home leading to many of us forgoing our (often polluted) commute and usual make-up application (which can clog pores), you might have expected your skin blemishes to become clearer, but unfortunately that isn't always the case.
Wider environmental factors as well as stress, hormones and even our skincare, all play a part. We spoke to the experts to discover exactly how to tell what is causing your breakouts and how to tackle them when they appear.
Remind me. What exactly is acne?
"Acne develops from blocked pores and too much oil from our sebaceous glands, clogging up our skin," says dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting. "When this happens, it leads to the formation of comedones. Those annoying skin-coloured bumps, often seen best under unkind lighting, are called closed comedones. If these are open to the air, they are called blackheads. A bacteria called P. acnes thrives in the clogged, oily pore, and as a consequence we get inflammatory lesions."
Can make-up cause breakouts?
"A lot of women blame their cosmetics for triggering breakouts, hence the expectation that by wearing it less often, their skin might improve," says Dr Bunting. "I hear this a lot in clinic too - many women are in the habit of removing make-up as soon as they get in from work for the same reason."
"I think the truth of the matter is that breakouts can be triggered by certain types of cosmetics that aggravate pores that are already prone to clogging – long-wear foundation is probably the worst offender," continues Dr Bunting. “But it’s often just one piece of the puzzle and even if it is contributing to your breakouts, we’ve probably not been locked down for long enough to know for sure. Any change to reduce breakouts usually takes from six-to-12 weeks (one-to-two skin cycles) to really make a difference to skin."
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