Acne breakouts are really frustrating. Sometimes they like to pop up even when you are seemingly doing everything right. To make matters worse, there seems to be a sort of an endless zit generator that makes them appear at the same exact spots over and over again. God! Its infuriating. If you are wondering whether its because of the way you are cleansing or the products that you are using, I am here to tell you that might be the case… but it might not.
Ancient Indians seem to have known a thing or two about acne. According to Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical practice, there are certain spots on your face (cheeks, forehead, chin etc.) that are connected to a specific organ of your body. The technique of identifying and associating these spots to various body parts is called face mapping.
This technique can be used to figure out physiological imbalances that may cause some parts of the face to flare up with zits. Certainly, a lack of facial cleanliness does result in zits, but there is often a deeper problem if they are more persistent and aggressive. More often than not these zits are, sort of, are a side effect to some problem elsewhere in the body.
Let’s put this information in real world terms. If you are experiencing breakouts in a specific area of your face, say cheeks, there might be an imbalance in the liver or lungs. There are certain things you might be doing, which result in these imbalances and avoiding them may restore the balance and prevent outbreaks. (Rosacea is a common cause of acne on the cheeks in adults, too. If you’re an adult over 25 years old you might want to also see this article on cheek acne caused by rosacea) So, what are these things that I talk about? Let’s see…
Alcohol
I know, skipping your margarita doesn’t sound fun, right? But it is indeed a fact that alcohol, especially binge drinking, causes an imbalance in liver. I am not saying that you have to throw all your Chardonnays away, but implement moderation. Avoid binging and remember, too much of anything is not good.
Your smart Phone
You’d probably be amazed (and grossed out) by how many bacteria are on your phone, like right now. Your phone is like a bug magnet, picking up germs from everywhere. So, if you are to put your germ ridden phone against your cheek all day long, it’s kind of obvious what can happen. Although you can avoid this problem by switching over to a bluetooth headset. If bluetooth’s not your thing, maybe wipe the screen of your phone with anti-bacterial wipes at least once per day.
Your Pillow
How many times do we forget to put out pillowcases in the laundry? Well, if you do, the pillows can quickly become breeding grounds for germs. Wash those pillowcases on a regular basis, not semi-regular, but regular basis. Alternatively, you can also try pillowcases that are designed to be skin friendly such as Nüfabrx pillow cases for a particularly delicate skin type.
The case is made from a fabric created from bamboo. Its antimicrobial and is infused with several essential oils such as tea tree, lavender and wintergreen, that help you fight those acne causing germs. Imagine waking up every morning with the aroma of fresh mint and herbs! Although a word of caution to those with dry skin, many reviews suggest that these cases suck the moisture right out of your face leaving it high and dry. So if your skin is not oily or particularly dry, maybe try another option.
Dental hygiene
Although it seems odd, zits on lower cheeks may have something to do with poor dental hygiene. Cavities, infections or other oral problems may result in pimples on cheeks. So, listen to your dentist…, brush regularly and yes, floss!
If you’ve got all the above in check and still suffer from acne on the cheeks, then you may need treatments that can clear up and prevent acne. Kits like Exposed Skin Care are an easy way to get everything you need (and steer clear of products and ingredients that you don’t). Bonus? It’s much cheaper than if you were to go out and try to gather an effective cleanser, toner and moisturizer separately.