5 Reasons You Still Have Pesky Persistent Acne

Acne feels like a debilitating experience, especially when you suffer from deep, painful, or persistent acne. Acne vulgaris is a skin condition that affects millions of people all around the world. But how is something that’s widely common still feel heart-crushing and crippling?

There are many reasons why acne manifests, but why do some suffer more than others? What factors are at play that contribute to acne-prone skin? Here are five reasons you might still be dealing with pesky, persistent acne.

Before you go skimming over this section, start with simmering on this. The easiest step that costs nothing begins with checking the ingredients in your beauty and hygiene products.

Certain natural and organic ingredients can be huge pore cloggers like coconut oil. Just because a product says non-comedogenic doesn’t mean it doesn’t contain pore-clogging ingredients. Check your hair products, makeup, and sunscreens by copying/pasting their ingredients into a pore-clogging checker on Google.

Inflammation in the body has a direct correlation with acne vulgaris. With the skin being our largest organ, we can look for signs in the placement and severity of our acne. Face mapping is a common practice that helps to pinpoint how we can orient healing practices internally in tandem with our diet and skincare.

Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help reduce inflammation and keep your skin healthy. But don’t despair; you don’t have to give up your favorite flavors while pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Eating clean is about balance and enjoyment.

More commonly with women, the fluctuations of our hormones throughout the month mixed with stress, menstruation, and specific meditations can be acne triggers. If you’re still dealing with persistent acne after abolishing pore-clogging products while eating clean, it’s time to check your hormones through blood work.

Find a local naturopathic doctor who looks at your body as a whole when deciphering what you specifically need. Checking hormone levels in pursuit of acne root causes can be finicky; go to somebody you trust!

There are heavy stigmas around acne, anxiety, and critical self-thinking. Acne doesn’t mean you don’t wash your face or have good hygiene. Firstly, decipher if you’ve got hormonal or fungal acne. Secondly, ask yourself if you want to heal your acne’s root cause or take the Band-Aid approach of harsh medications or topicals like Spironolactone, Doxycycline, or Tretinoin. As soon as you stop, the acne typically comes back. It takes time, patience, and self-love, but you’re worth it!

We can’t control everything, but finding ways to focus on what we can helps reduce stress-related acne breakouts. Stress causes hormonal changes in the body, including increased cortisol levels, contributing to anxiety and inflammation.

Persistent acne is disheartening, but it shouldn’t be a life sentence. Discovering the causes of your stubborn acne isn’t a one-size-fits-all. By following these five steps, you can help to prevent further breakouts while promoting clearer, healthier skin.