If you’re tired of asking yourself, “Why am I breaking out all the time?” you’re certainly not alone. 

Roughly 80% of people will deal with moderate to severe acne between the ages of 11 and 30 years old – and adult acne can, unfortunately, continue well into your thirties, too. 

You’ve tried creams, balms, oils, supplements, and even weird folk remedies that you really wish you hadn’t. Still, it seems like you’re still breaking out. 

In addition to being painful, acne can also completely destroy your self-esteem. Even if everyone tells you that your acne isn’t noticeable, you may feel like they’re lying to make you feel better. And even if it’s “not that bad,” the point is that it makes you insecure. 

So, why are you still dealing with breakouts? 

Sometimes, the causes of acne aren’t as obvious as you’d think. 

In this post, we’ll share the surprising cases of continual breakouts. 

1. Not Washing Your Face Before Bed

Especially if you wear makeup or if it’s during the summer months when the heat makes you sweat a lot, you’re likely breaking out because you’re not washing your face before bed. 

First, do what’s called “pre-cleansing” if you use makeup. Use a makeup remover cloth to take off your foundation, so that the cleansing agents in your face wash can actually get into your pores. 

Aim to exfoliate no more than twice a week. Any more than that, and you actually risk increasing your chances for an acne breakout. 

2. Your Phone and Accessories

Your iPhone is ten times dirtier than the average toilet seat. 

This means that every time you touch your screen and then touch your face, you’re spreading all of that bacteria onto your skin – and causing some serious breakouts as a result. 

The same goes when you hold your phone up to your cheek. 

Another common everyday item that’s a serious haven for bacteria? 

Your headphones. Especially if you wear them when you work out or when you’re sweating, they’re absolutely going to cause breakouts on the sides of your face and your jawline. 

Clean them with antibacterial wipes at the end of the day.

3. Your Diet

If your face is breaking out pretty consistently, even if you wash your face, then your diet could be what’s causing the problem. 

First of all, cut back on alcohol – it doesn’t just cause breakouts, but also redness and puffiness in the skin.

You should also try to cut out other foods that have been known to cause breakouts, like dairy products, fast/processed foods, sugar, and even foods that contain seriously high amounts of omega-6 fats. 

We suggest removing these items from your diet one at a time so that you can better pinpoint the culprit. 

4. A Dirty Pillowcase

Just like your iPhone and headphones, your bed sheets and pillowcases may be what’s causing you to break out. 

This is because you’re actually sleeping with dead skin, old sweat, excessive oil, dirt, makeup stains, and much more.

For best results, you should change your pillowcases and bedsheets, at minimum, once per week. Consider switching to a silk pillowcase to keep your skin smooth and to guard yourself against bacteria. 

5. Your Hormones

Hormonal acne is notoriously difficult to cure, and it’s also the kind of acne that continues to plague people well after their teen years are over. 

Hormonal acne is usually red, larger cystic acne as opposed to whiteheads, and it can often lurk under the skin for weeks at a time before coming to a head. If you try to “pop” cystic acne, you’ll just make the situation much worse. 

There are a few things that you can do to try to keep it under control. 

If you’re a woman, taking birth control may balance out your hormone levels and keep these breakouts at pay. People of all genders may also want to talk to their doctor or dermatologist about trying prescription pills or creams specifically created to defeat hormonal acne. 

6. You Lack a Solid Skincare Routine

Earlier in this post, we spoke about the importance of washing your face before you go to bed every night. 

However, that’s far from the only thing that you need to do as a part of your skin routine if you want to clear it up. 

Once you’ve cleansed, we suggest that you use a toner to get rid of any dirt, makeup, or oil that may still be left on your skin. Then, you should invest in a moisturizer that’s made specifically for your skin type (dry, oily, or combination). 

Make sure you only apply this moisturizer with clean hands, and that your face is completely dry when you put it on. 

It’s OK to use spot treatments on acne, but remember that using too much salicylic acid will actually dry your skin out even more. Use only a small amount, no more than once every 24 hours. 

End the Cycle of Breaking Out Today

We hope that this post has taught you about the less-talked-about reasons for why your skin may be breaking out. 

By switching up your diet, developing a strong skincare routine, and by speaking to a dermatologist about possible hormonal acne, you can get your skin back under control in no time. 

Looking for more advice on how to take care of aging or sensitive skin? Need to score some beauty tips on how to create a killer look for the perfect night out? 

We’ve got you covered. 

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