Four Triggers of Winter Acne

Winter breakouts are no fun, especially since many acne treatment products will actively dry out skin that may already be dry from harsher winter weather. What can you do to reduce and minimize winter breakouts? In addition to using a healthy acne treatment regimen and incorporating Inclusive Health™ practices into your life, understanding the causes of winter acne can help you prevent breakouts before they start. Here are four causes of winter acne that you should be on the lookout for.

Dry Winter Skin Can Increase Breakouts
In many areas of the country, winter means drier air and harsher weather that can lead to dry skin. While it may seem as though drying out pore-clogging oil can reduce your breakouts, dry skin actually brings with it its own breakout risks. Dead and dry skin cells can clog pores just like oil can, and dry, irritated skin is often just as red and rough and unsightly as acne breakouts. Be sure to eat your water daily to keep skin hydrated from the inside and use an oil-free moisturizer to keep skin hydrated topically.

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Customer Review
"Really a nice product. Lotion provides plenty of moisture to my dry skin without feeling greasy. Keeps skin soft all day and all night. My skin looks smooth and healthy, too!" agefighter, California

Winter Fashion Can Cause Acne Breakouts
If you live in a climate where winter means colder weather, then you also live in a climate where you're suddenly wearing more layers of clothing and often thicker (and sometimes synthetic) fabrics. When your skin can't breathe and dirt and oil get trapped near the skin, back and body acne breakouts happen more frequently. You may have acne-free skin for three seasons of the year, but when you consistently trap dirt and oil against your skin, you start noticing body breakouts. While you can't wear fewer clothes during the winter, try to opt for natural and breathable fabrics and looser fitting clothing when possible. Combined with an effective back and body acne treatment regimen, a simple focus on natural, breathable clothing can help with winter back acne.

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Customer Review
"This product, along with the Murad Gentle Acne Treatment Gel, worked wonders for me! I have extremely sensitive skin; however, I could use this body wash twice per day, followed by the treatment gel. The key is to be consistent." Janell, Texas

Winter Diets Can Increase Acne Breakouts
What you eat doesmatter! While it's not true that simply eating an order of fries or drinking coffee will instantly activate a breakout, a healthy diet leads to healthy skin. Between the decrease in fresh produce and the many holiday parties and activities of the season, we can all get a little off of our healthy eating habits. Be sure to maintain a diet that's full of antioxidant-rich, fresh fruits and vegetables. If you're craving a hot-water beverage in the cold weather, stick to antioxidant-rich green tea. It's common to eat less fresh produce and more refined baked goods and processed foods during the winter months, but if you want clear, healthy skin be sure to work hard to keep healthy, fresh foods on the menu all winter long.

Seasonal Stress Causes Acne Breakouts
It's not as though stress only happens in the winter months, but the reduction in vitamin D from sunshine, holiday stress, school stress and the inevitable "end-of-the-year-life-reflection" can all increase stress levels over the more leisurely summer and spring months. Stress can cause over-activity in the adrenal gland, which results in more acne breakouts as more skin cells and oil are produced. Take steps to minimize the inevitable Cultural Stress™ in your life as the winter months approach and you'll experience clearer skin as a result.

Acne is an all-year skin condition, but the triggers of acne may be more specific to certain lifestyle and climate changes in the winter. Understand the causes of acne and then take healthy steps to minimize breakouts before they even happen.

Learn more about acne facts and myths in the Murad Acne Treatment and Resource Center.

Via: Four Triggers of Winter Acne