In our daily lifestyles, we sweat due to hot temperatures and having an active lifestyle. When producing lots of sweat, oil, and bacteria mix together and can cause breakouts. Especially when playing sports, we wear helmets, headbands, and lots of gear covering our faces that can irritate the skin, clog the pores, and cause pimples. 

To help prevent this, practice washing your face and drinking lots of water. You can also use a towel and start dabbing your face to get the oil off.

Another lifestyle factor affecting skin health is eating snacks and unhealthy food. But all those unhealthy foods can affect our gut, which is often how acne starts. It can trigger inflammation, oiliness, and breakouts.  I recommend eating an apple or an orange, and staying hydrated throughout the day. Sugar and processed food can break down the skin’s structure and worsen acne. For breakfast, it is good to eat a balanced, nutritious meal that is actually satiating, and for dinner, drinking water and eating veggies will definitely help with reducing acne. 

What foods to avoid: Sugar, candy, fried food, fast food, excessive amounts of dairy.

What foods to eat: Fruits, veggies, grains and protein. 

My personal anecdote: I eat lots of sugary foods because I like sweets and get pimples from them. However, if I eat more veggies, I get less breakouts because that fiber will help support my healthy gut by reducing inflammation. 

Additionally, stress and academic pressure can also cause a lot of acne. When in school, we get lots of homework, tests, and quizzes that we need to do  well on. Lots of times, we try to cram in all the studying, which can cause lots of acne by triggering stress hormones and producing excess oil. 

There are a few things that can help us when we are stressed: exercise, sleep, medication, and a skincare routine.

Personally, I do yoga, watch YouTube, and play video games to relieve my stress. Stress can also lead to a bad sleep schedule, and when you have a bad sleep schedule, it can be hard to fix and cause lots of acne. Staying up late to do homework or watching Youtube at night and then going to bed will cause lots of oil buildup, weaken the skin’s protective layer, and increase inflammation.

I recommend finishing school work early in the day instead of cramming it all into the night so that your skin isn’t affected by lack of sleep.