Acne Triggers from A to Z

Next time you don’t think you do anything that triggers acne, think again. Of course, it’s impossible to avoid all these things. But when you do your regimen twice a day, you cancel out many of them. However, several triggers feed off each other, so it’s often a combination of factors that can have exponential impacts. 

Here is an ever-growing glossary of things to watch for when it comes to triggering acne.

A. Androgens, Athletic Greens, anxiety, algae, Adderall, anti-anxiety meds

B. Biotin, B12, blushes, bronzer, bra straps, bloating, blood sugar spikes, birth control pills, backpacks, bed sheets, beauty blenders, body lotion

C. Caffeine, creatinine, coconut oil (topically or as an ingredient in skincare), cortisol, cell phone friction, coffee creamer, chlorella, chrondus crispus, concealer, corticosteroid medications, conditioner

D. Dryer sheets, dehydration, dead skin, dairy, drool, dating, dirty makeup brushes

E. Energy drinks, eggs, ethylhexyl palmitate, endometriosis

F. Foundation, fast food, fabric softener, friction, face towel

G. Glasses, gut imbalance, grief, gastric bypass surgery

H. Helmets, hats, hair products, hand lotion, hormone changes

I. Iodized salt, iodine, IUD, inflammation, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ice cream 

J. Jewelry, junk food, junk skincare

K. Kissing, kelp

L. Lip liner, lipstick, leaky gut, loose powder, liver

M. Menopause, marijuana, makeup wipes, masks, milk, makeup, makeup brushes, makeup sponges, moving, medications, Mirena, multivitamins

N. Nutritional yeast, night shift, night sweats, Nuvaring, Nexplanon

O. Oils, over exfoliation, organ meats

P. Peanuts, peanut butter, picking, pore-clogging ingredients, prenatal vitamins, pregnancy, PCOS, processed food, pre-workout drinks, pressed powder, pillowcase, protein shakes, picking, prednisone

Q. Quitting your regimen

R. Refined grains, Retin-A cream (prescription), resting your face on your hand

S. Sushi, soy, stress, sugar, spirulina, smoking, sweating, shaving, steroids, sleeping on your face, sports equipment, sweaty gym clothes, sports bra, supplements, seaweed, shellfish

T. Testosterone, trendy skincare, turtlenecks, touching  

U. Upset stomachs, under exfoliation

V. Vacation, vegan alternative foods, vaping

W. Weight fluctuations, whey protein, working out in makeup, waxing, white rice, white bread, white pasta

X. Xtra pumps of sugary syrup in your coffee 

Y. Yogurt, you’re using pore-clogging products, your work environment (exposure to chemicals, etc.)

Z. Zinc (either supplementing too much or naturally having too little in your system)