Genetics play a role 

There is a genetic predisposition you are more likely to have acne if your parents had acne and it may be that we are inheriting more strains of acne-causing bacteria that induce more inflammation and scarring.  

stress can be a cause of breakouts 

While stress has no direct impact on our spots, it triggers excess oiliness – sebum, which is the key contributor to spots and acne. How does this happen? At times of heightened stress, different hormones, including cortisol, are released as part of the skin’s immune system which leads to the increase in the oily, protective substance naturally produced by sebaceous glands. Unfortunately for our visual appearance, this also triggers and inflames the glands, which in turn often causes acne flare-ups..  

Home workouts can contribute to a rise in body acne 

Body acne can affect parts of our body such as back, shoulders or even buttocks! It happens when various debris, such as dirt and oil (sebum), clog a pore. Why do home workouts may contribute to more spots on our bodies? This is because after these home workouts, we are less likely to immediately shower and change. And sitting around in sweaty clothes can exacerbate acne as it can cause more friction between our skin, our clothes and our sofa, thus making spots more likely. 

healthy gut = healthy skin

The gut is home to a huge number of bacteria (collectively known as the microbiome) and these bacteria play a crucial role in keeping the gut healthy as well as ensuring optimum absorption of essential nutrients. A healthy gut will have a diverse variety of many different bacteria and these can roughly be divided into two camps – good bacteria and bad bacteria.

Numerous studies show that having more “good” bacteria than “bad” can positively impact our health and our skin.
If you would like to find out more about the role of microbiomes and what you can do to maintain a healthy gut, you can visit our blog: Does your gut hold the secret for healthy skin?

Acne Cosmetica

The term refers to breakouts that are caused by products we apply to our skin and hair: makeup, conditioners, shampoos and styling products. These can clog the pores and trigger spots.

These breakouts are characterised with tiny bumps and whiteheads on the face, especially the cheeks, chin, forehead and the hairline. As it takes anywhere from a few days to months to these blemishes to appear and the product labels clearly indicating 'oil-free' and 'non-comedogenic' products are not regulated, identifying the culprit on your shelf is not always easy.

Seasonal challenges

The colder months of the year impose us to numerous factors that can lead to new breakouts: from stress triggered by the final preparations for the festive season through the impacts of shorter days with less daylight to seasonal variations in our diet. 

In her blog, Dr Sam Robson, medical director at Temple Clinic, discusses causative factors in relation to Covid-19 and shares some simple tips to control breakouts and calm the skin during the cold season. 

The new nemesis: Maskne

With much of the world’s population wearing masks and facial coverings on a regular daily basis, our skin is reacting in a less than desirable way. 2020 has given us a lot of unexpected curveballs, including #maskne, a new hashtag that went viral in no time and wouldn’t have made any sense to our 2019 minds.

If you usually don't have breakouts but suddenly found yourself with new spots especially on your chin and cheeks, you are suffering from mask induced acne. 
If you would like to learn more about this new phenomena and what you can do to manage it, you might be interested in the following articles:
- Battling #Maskne Woes with Blue Light Therapy from LUSTRE® ClearSkin
- Maskne. What just happened to our faces?

Type of acne

Usually causing no problems, for those with Acne the build-up of oil is an ideal environment for the bacteria to multiply. This is accompanied by inflammation which leads to the formation of red, swollen or pus-filled spots.

Blackheads - open Comedones (no inflammation)

Whiteheads - overstimulation of the sebaceous glands (no inflammation)

Pustules and Nodules - proliferation of Cutibacterium Acnes (formerly Propionibacterium Acnes)

Nodules and Severe, Deep Inflammation - risk of permanent scars