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Skincare
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Do you have persistent acne? 5 sneaky reasons your skin may be struggling with breakouts, and some simple fixes

  • Apart from ‘maskne’, there may be other reasons your skin is breaking out, from make-up hygiene to not moisturising
  • These five reasons have common-sense solutions that don’t call for drastic action or strong chemicals

Reading Time:3 minutes
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Five sneaky reasons your skin may be struggling with breakouts, and simple fixes for them. Photo: Shutterstock
Heidi Yeung

While “maskne”, acne caused by wearing face masks, has been something many of us have had to deal with throughout the coronavirus pandemic, there may be other reasons you’re struggling with breakouts that are more sneaky.

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Before you throw your hands up and attack your skin with benzoyl peroxide, which can leave it extremely dry, have a look at whether any of these may be the cause of your problem.

1. Don’t work against your skin

Many people make a mistake, thinking they’re breaking out because their skin is too oily, and decide against moisturising.

There may be reasons you’re struggling with breakouts that are less obvious than your hormones or mask wearing. Photo: Shutterstock
There may be reasons you’re struggling with breakouts that are less obvious than your hormones or mask wearing. Photo: Shutterstock
Unfortunately, this leaves your skin unprotected, and can result in irritation or breakouts because the skin barrier is compromised.
Cleanse morning and night and immediately apply a hydrating serum – those containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin or squalane are great options – followed by a moisturiser that’s rich in ceramides, which help restore the skin barrier and lock in hydration.

2. Keep it clean

Sure, changing your bedding can be a chore. But even if you don’t change the whole set every week, consider replacing your pillowcases weekly.

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