Most people generally link their pimples to stress, but did you know that stress is only one factor among the many that causes acne and pimples? Advertisements done by the media are also quick to pin the reason down to bacterial infection, but truth is that’s not all of it. A lot of reasons and factors come to play when it comes to frequent occurrence of pimples.

When the body’s metabolism is being altered due to unhealthy lifestyle practices, it changes the composition of our fat layers — which then causes the formation of pimples and acne. This article will present some of the common reasons behind such imbalances.

1. Low water intake
Water intake is vital to the body as it supports all the biological processes that sustain us. It also acts as a vehicle to flush out and eliminate various wastes from the body while maintaining enough moisture and humidity at the same time. If the body’s water consumption is inadequate, the wastes are likely to remain and kept stored. These wastes are carried in blood to the other parts of the body, which might just be the reason behind the recent pimple on your face.

2. Hormonal imbalance
When we fail to get hold of our own emotions, it triggers the release of hormones in quantities more than what is required. Such hormones creep their way into the skin to trigger feelings like anger and stress through tactile means. This prompts the subcutaneous fat to ooze out of the skin’s pores, making it sweaty and oily. It also clogs pores which results to pimples and acne.

3. Junk food
Junk foods in general are harmful to the body despite of their addictive taste, specifically when it comes to causing pimples and acnes. Refined flour in these unhealthy foods harm the digestive processes of the body. If the waste matter is not eliminated properly, they are likely to be coated with alkaline mucus secretions. The excess of these may end up combining with the skin and come out through the pores, causing pimples.

4. Flavored juices
Artificial sugar commonly found in bottled and tetra-packed juices is notably difficult to breakdown. If consumed excessively, the body’s metabolic and digestive secretions increase which may lead to an imbalance. This urges the subcutaneous fat to ooze out of the pores of the skin, turning into acne or pimples that are most visible on the forehead.

5. Staying up late
If you are an avid night owl, unfortunately for you staying up late at night has been found out to be a main reason behind frequent formation of acne and pimples. Sleeping late beyond the ideal time forces the mind and the body’s metabolism to be in an alert and active state. Hormones are then prompted to secrete in the body, and when too much waste is being thrown away it is likely to lead into large pimples with the presence of pus.

Singapore is generally known as a green and clean city-state, but if you think the frequent episodes of haze do not suggest the air’s true condition then you might as well give it a second thought. Even if you can’t smell anything foul in the air, Singapore actually has a higher carbon dioxide emission per capita in comparison to other developed countries.

Air pollution can cause myriad issues for the people residing around, but lately it has also been one of the trending words in the field of skincare after research discovered the harmful effects it brings onto the skin. Dirty air was never great for the skin as it has a lot of harmful particles, with some tiny enough to latch and slip through your pores.

You are not doomed, though. There are things you can do to protect your skin from the pollutants lurking in the air and this article will present some of them.

Cleanse
Pollutant particles might still be lurking on the surface of your skin or lodging in your hair follicles as you read this sentence, which is why the first step in protecting your skin has to be getting rid of these. It might require additional products to use and more time in the bathroom, but giving your skin a deep cleansing effectively removes more dirt compared to merely just washing.

Exfoliate
It is also equally important to get rid of the dead, polluted cells latched on the skin’s surface every time you wash your face. If anything, it’s a must. When it comes to exfoliating, be sure to use a product that is gentle enough on the skin even with regular use since it is ideal to exfoliate at least two-three times a week.

Antioxidants
Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals unleashed onto the skin by pollutants in the air. A lot of dermatologists advise applying a day cream rich in antioxidant vitamins on the skin if you plan on spending a day outdoors, and an addition of a vitamin C serum is also highly ideal. Not only does it give your skin the protection it needs but it also curbs and even reverses the age spots triggered by air pollution.

Treatment
Facial masks have greatly improved over the years. Gone were the days we relied solely on the cliché of black-colored mud packs and cucumber slices placed over one’s eyes. There are now masks sold in the market which will not only maintain the youthful vigor of your skin, but also block receptors that air pollutants usually latch onto. Using them ideally for at least once a week can further protect your skin.