The unexpected causes behind your recent breakouts

Sharing your sheets with your partner (or your pet) may seem nice, but it can also lead to a build up of oils and bacteria that can clog your pores and cause acne. Avoid this by cleaning sheets and towels regularly.

Speaking of laundry, it’s important to choose the right detergent. Pick one that isn’t packed with artificial smells and harsh cleaning agents, which can irritate the skin and cause you to breakout. If you think this may be the culprit behind your recent outbreak, look for a fragrance-free option or one that’s dermatologist-tested or has natural cleansing ingredients.

Does your partner have a beard or wear lots of facial products? Even if they don’t, facial oils can be transferred when kissing, leading to clogged pores and unwanted acne.

Yep, that water streaming out of your shower and faucet may be causing more upset then you realize. Depending on where you live, levels of chlorine and minerals may vary, causing the water to be “hard,” irritating skin and potentially causing acne. Consider putting a filter in your shower to pull out these excess chemicals and minerals and allow your skin to breath.

With super cold winters and hot, hot summers, Canadians have been known to blast their heaters and coolers – all year round. The problem is that these artificial air sources are extremely drying and will cause your skin to produce an excess of oil to stay hydrated. If you can’t do without, try using a face mist while indoors to give your skin a hit of moisture throughout the day.

We can thank touch screens for making our phones even bigger bacteria agents then they were before. For the rare occasion when you do actually put one near your face, it’s likely loaded up with oils from your fingers, which then get transferred to your cheek. If you’re not a talker, you still risk the bacteria and oil on your finger tips, which eventually can end up of your face when you touch it.

Guilty of hiding behind your hair? That’s probably not the only thing you’re hiding. Like skin, hair carries oils on it, which means that if you tend to favour bangs or styles that have hair swept across your face, you may find the excess oil is causing you to breakout. Give your skin a chance to breath by pulling your hair back at least a few times a week.