How to Get Clear Skin: Avoid These Hidden Causes of Acne

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Like most teens, I had quite a bit of acne in high school and figured it would get better as I got older. When I entered my twenties and my acne still hadn’t subsided, I decided it was time to take a more proactive approach to treating it.

Key Takeaways

• Everyday habits like heavy sunscreens, oily hair products, dirty phones, and sweaty yoga mats can contribute to breakouts.
• A simple, consistent skincare routine usually works better than constantly switching products; give treatments 6 to 8 weeks.
• High-glycemic foods may worsen acne for some people, but diet research is still limited.
• Don’t cut out fluoride for your skin without talking to your dentist; see a dermatologist for a rash around your mouth.
• For persistent or scarring acne, a board-certified dermatologist can recommend proven treatments.

I looked up how to get clear skin and started doing all the things beauty magazines recommended – drinking lots of water, reducing my stress levels, and using acne-fighting skincare products. But it wasn’t until I started addressing less obvious triggers, like the type of sunscreen and hair products I used, that I noticed real improvements in my skin. 

To save you from all the trial and error I had to go through, here are my top tips for how to get clear skin and treat some of the hidden causes that may be behind your breakouts. 

Refined carbs and sugary foods

Like Oprah, I love bread, so I was super sad to learn that some carbs may play a role in acne. Small studies suggest that eating lots of high-glycemic foods like white bread, crackers, cookies, cake, and sugary drinks could be triggering your breakouts or making them worse for some people, although the research is still mixed. Cutting back on sweets and refined carbs is worth a try, and it’s good for your overall health too. I’m hopelessly in love with carbs, so if I can do it, you can too!

Hair products that clog pores 

If you don’t apply them carefully, your favorite hair products could be triggering your breakouts. Oily styling products like pomades, gels, and hairspray can transfer to your skin and clog your pores, causing pimples along your hairline and forehead. Look for hair products labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic.

It helps to apply products carefully, away from your face, and to wash pillowcases and hats often. It’s also a good idea to wipe your skin with a toner once you’re done styling your hair to remove any stray product that may have migrated to your forehead or cheeks. 

Using too many skincare products 

My best tip for how to get clear skin is to simplify your skincare regimen. When my acne was at its worst, I was trying out lots of cleansers, masks, and moisturizers instead of sticking to a consistent routine. I thought that using different products and exposing my skin to more active ingredients would help clear my acne, but it actually did the opposite. My face became oilier, redder, and even more prone to breakouts. 

Dermatologists agree that there’s no real benefit to following a complicated skincare routine. You only need a few good products that work for your skin type to see results. Constantly switching out your skincare and introducing different ingredients can also irritate your skin and disrupt its balance. Consistency is a key part of how to get clear skin. 

If you’re a serial skincare tester like I used to be, pick a few gentle products and stick with them. Acne treatments usually take 6 to 8 weeks to show results, so give them time before switching. 

Heavy sunscreens 

Thick, heavy sunscreens can clog up your pores and trigger breakouts, especially if you have oily or combination skin like me. But you shouldn’t skip SPF, which protects your skin from harmful UV rays and helps prevent sunspots and skin cancer. Here’s how to get clear skin without leaving your face vulnerable to sun damage: look for sunscreens that are noncomedogenic and oil-free. They tend to have lighter formulas made with ingredients less likely to clog pores. Since I made the switch, my face has looked and felt a lot less oily. 

Dirty smartphones 

Pressing your phone screen against your face could be contributing to acne on your cheeks and chin. Dirt and oil from your fingertips build up on the screen and can transfer to your face when you make a phone call. To prevent your smartphone from contributing to your skin problems, wipe it down every day with alcohol wipes to keep it clean and fresh.

Sweaty yoga mats 

When I found out that yoga mats could be contributing to my acne, I was shocked. I thought that practicing yoga would help reduce my stress levels and clear up my breakouts, not cause them! But the accumulated sweat, oil, and dirt that’s on your yoga mat can get on your face during exercises like headstands and child’s pose and lead to clogged pores and pimples. 

To prevent your yoga routine from giving you breakouts, make sure you clean your mat with gentle soap and water regularly. It also doesn’t hurt to put down a clean towel where your head will be so your face isn’t making contact with the sweaty mat.

The same goes for pillowcases and anything else you put on your face – make sure it’s clean so you don’t get pimples!

Toothpaste and fluoride 

Fluoride is sometimes blamed for breakouts around the mouth and chin, but the evidence linking it to acne is very limited. 

One report suggested fluoride toothpaste may cause acne-like eruptions in some people, but this hasn’t been confirmed by large, high-quality studies. 

Actress Olivia Munn has said that limiting fluoride helped clear the acne on her chin, but that’s one person’s experience. 

Fluoride in toothpaste and tap water is important for preventing cavities, so don’t cut it out without talking to your dentist. What is more established is that toothpaste residue can irritate the skin around your mouth, and fluoride is one proposed trigger of perioral dermatitis, an acne-like rash around the mouth. Rinse your face after brushing, and if you have a persistent rash around your mouth, see a board-certified dermatologist. 

Inflammation and diet 

Inflammation plays a central role in acne. Everyone has some level of inflammation in their body, and factors like stress and possibly diet may add to it. Researchers think inflammation may help produce excess sebum and fuel breakouts. 

Omega-3 supplements are one option some people try. Some research suggests they may help; in one small randomized trial, people with mild to moderate acne who took omega-3 supplements (EPA and DHA) for 10 weeks had fewer breakouts. Ask your doctor before starting a supplement. Regular exercise and a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, and whole foods are good for your overall health too. 

One of the reasons acne is so hard to treat is that it can be caused by many different things. It took me about a year of trial and error to find the right combination of diet and lifestyle changes to clear up my breakouts, and I still get pimples from time to time. But these tips can help you spot what might be behind your breakouts. If your acne is persistent, painful, or leaving scars, see a board-certified dermatologist, who can recommend proven treatments. 

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology – Can the right diet get rid of acne?
• American Academy of Dermatology – Are your hair care products causing breakouts?
• Merck Manual (MSD Manual Consumer Version) – Perioral Dermatitis
• Acta Dermato-Venereologica – Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Gamma-linolenic Acid on Acne Vulgaris: A Randomised, Double-blind, Controlled Trial
• American Academy of Dermatology – How to treat different types of acne