Acne is like the worst kind of house guest. It shows up uninvited at the least convenient time, overstays its welcome, and leaves a mess after it’s gone. Find out everything you need to know about diagnosing, preventing, and treating every kind of blemish.
Consider your type: Are your breakouts mostly whiteheads?
This type of zit is most likely the result of underexfoliating: When you’re not sloughing off dead skin cells effectively, they can pile up on the skin’s surface and block your pores, which leads to a buildup of oil and — ta-da! — those whiteheads.
Or do you have hard, red cysts?
These breakouts are often caused by hormones — for instance, cortisol, a hormone that flares up when you’re stressed and causes inflammation and excess oiliness. But it’s also no myth that breakouts can be linked to your menstrual cycle. In the days right before your period, your estrogen levels nosedive while your testosterone (an androgen that cranks up oil production) holds steady. All that excess oil can block hair follicles and lead to deep, red pimples.
