Here's why you might be breaking out

Sometimes those breakouts just won’t go away. We’ve been there. No, it’s not because you’re dirty, or because you’re not taking care of yourself. There are so many reasons why your skin might be feeling out of control, and it’s not to do with staying clean.

It’s also usually a combination of things in the mix, not just one specific reason that is your trigger. So for some people, eating healthily and cleansing regularly can really rebalance things, but for others it’s of course good, but it’s not the cure.

Once you’ve worked out the reason(s), it all becomes easier to manage and stay on top of your skin with the skincare routine that works for you. More than anything, you’re well on your way to understanding why, even if you can’t help it, as some things can’t be changed or helped (like hormones and genetics).

First you’ll need to identify your skin type, so you know what kind of products will work best in that (super simple) skincare routine. Are you oily, combination, blemish prone? We can help you with that through our teen skin quiz, here.

Some factors that can cause breakouts include:

Stress – yep, those exams or big projects or general emotional ups and downs aren’t just mentally stressful. Your body has other ways of processing stress, and it can come out in a breakout.

Diet – there’s nothing wrong with the occasional pizza and chips or Nandos, as long as you’re balancing those foods with more nutritious elements too. But a sugar overload or excess of overly processed food isn’t good for your skin. Your body loves moderation. Not to get science-y, but if you’re nourishing your body with a balance of greens, vitamins, fibre, protein etc, then your skin is more likely to stay balanced too.

Hormones – we know you’ve heard this one before, but it’s definitely a trigger for breakouts. Girls, you might find you’re getting spots around your jaw and chin in the week around your period. Boys, the spots are often around your face, neck, back or chest, right? The hormones can increase excess oil, which clogs pores and causes breakouts.
Genetics – we won’t go into all the specifics, but essentially some people are more likely to have blemish or acne-prone skin according to their genes. Genetics can be linked to high oil production, faster skin cell turnover and clogged pores. Sometimes you just can’t help it!

Using the wrong products or harsh chemicals – yep, there’s such thing as too many products, and too much cleansing. In trying to make your skin ‘extra clean’ you might end up stripping your skin of its natural oils and damaging the skin barrier, which in turn leads to breakouts. The same goes for super harsh ingredients like retinol, vitamin c or glycolic acid, which just aren’t suitable for teen skin. The short answer: keep it simple. 3 steps is really all you need.

Dehydration – it might sound strange, but not drinking enough water can cause breakouts. When you’re dehydrated, your skin will produce more oil to overcompensate. More oil = more chance of spots.


If you’re struggling with breakouts and you’re still not sure of the cause, email hello@indu.me and our team can help. Otherwise, contact your GP or make an appointment with a dermatologist.