Acne Problems: Breaking Out During Lockdown
During that beginning of quarantine, skin-loving fanatics rejoiced for the fact that their skin will be getting a much-needed break from daily stressors that cause acne problems. These include sweat, pollution, and heavy makeup. Unfortunately for many, this isn’t the case.
Now, it’s no secret that the lockdown continues to wreak havoc on our skin. According to a study in the U.S., 80% of over 1,000 women reported an increase in skin problems since COVID-19 happened. But how can this be when we’re safe inside the comfort of our homes? Continue reading below to find out why our skin continues to break out.
Quaran-skin is a thing!
These are the top acne aggressors during quarantine.
- Changes in routine
The global pandemic brought on a lot of changes to everyone’s daily routine and our skin definitely felt the effects of these changes. Something as banal as rescheduling our breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or altering our daily physical movement influences the way our skin reacts. It doesn’t matter if the changes you are making are positive, our body needs adequate time to adjust and for the hormones to settle.
- Unparalleled amounts of stress
The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic puts a lot of anxiety and mental stress in our lives. And when we’re stressed, our body produces the cortisol hormone which causes inflammation and an increase in oil production that could likely trigger acne problems. When we’re stressed, we also tend to give in to our cravings; greasy food and alcohol can result in a bad case of acne flare-ups.
- Lack of sun exposure
While protection against the sun remains a priority, our skin may be missing a bit of sunshine. Remember, the sun is the greatest source of Vitamin D and this nutrient is important in a variety of aspects for skin health—from minimizing inflammation to speeding up cell development.
- Mask-ne
While we’re grateful that masks can bring us protection and defense against airborne infections, they come with their own set of problems. The most popular being maskne. Its repeated and prolonged use can cause irritation caused by friction, bacteria transfer, and acne problems in the cheek and chin area.
So, how do I stop acne problems during lockdown?
Skincare
This goes without saying, but proper and consistent skincare can help us alleviate our quaran-skin woes. Just remember the basics: wash, tone, and moisturize!
Get your day-to-day rhythm back on track!
Instead of shying away from the new normal, why not embrace it? Structuring your day, from blocking off your work hours, eating meals at a certain time, or getting exercise, can make a huge difference. Making these things seem “normal” can help you feel like the days aren’t merging together.
Chill out!
Here are a couple of relaxation techniques to get you started:
- Breathing exercises
Breathing it out is one of the simplest relaxation techniques that can effectively calm the body and mind anytime and anywhere. Try this: sit down in a quiet and comfortable spot, put a hand on your belly, breathe in to a slow count of three. Then breathe out in the same way. Repeat the process as many times as you need to feel relaxed.
- Let go of physical tension
When you’re stressed, you unknowingly have hunched shoulders and a clenched jaw that can result in physical pains at the end of the day. To relieve that, lay on a soft, flat surface, tense up one part of your body at a time, then slowly release the muscles. Soon after, you’ll start to notice a change in your body’s sensations.
- Get started on journaling
Processing your thoughts by writing is a fantastic way to relax. You don’t even have to be poetic about it! Whenever you find yourself stressed, just take a couple of minutes and let the words take over. You may even do this on your phone if you don’t have a notepad available.
- List it down!
According to mental health professionals, we have a tendency to focus on the negative parts of our life when we’re feeling stressed. Making a positive list of things that you’re grateful for can help put things in perspective and make you feel more relaxed.
Spend a bit of time outside
It’s totally understandable that we can’t take a normal walk or jog out in public. But spending time outside and being one with nature can give our skin its daily dose of Vitamin D. Just don’t forget to follow proper quarantine protocols.
Incorporate daily oral medication like Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc (Lactezin) into your beauty routine!
Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc (Lactezin) is an over-the-counter oral medication that can help fight pimple-causing bacteria, lessen pimples and improve skin appearance with regular intake. It contains Lactoferrin, a milk-based protein that can help soothe inflammation by keeping larger zits and cysts from ever forming.
Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc is the generic name of Lactezin. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
Want to know more skincare do’s and don’ts while on quarantine? Click here.
SOURCES:
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/why-you-have-acne-in-lockdown
