5 Habits That Could Be Making Your Acne Worse, According To Our Dermatologist

Acne is, without a doubt, one of the most frustrating skin conditions to manage. Treating and preventing acne certainly feels like a never-ending battle, and in some ways it is, with the need for ritualistic skincare routines and alternative DIY remedies to ward off pesky breakouts. The unfortunate truth is that preventing acne involves more than curating the right lineup of skincare products and avoiding comedogenic ingredients; it requires side-stepping land mines — that is, habits that aggravate acne-prone skin and contribute to further breakouts.

As such, Glam reached out to Dr. Ellen Marmur, board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare, for an exclusive interview to learn about the most damaging activities that could be contributing to your pimple problem. According to Dr. Marmur, you do not want to indulge in any of the following lifestyle habits if you are concerned about frequent or painful breakouts, including sleeping with dirty pillowcases, falling asleep with makeup on, and eating a poor diet. 

Now, this one seems like a no-brainer, and yet skin experts acknowledge that it happens often enough to sit at the top of the list. Indeed, forgetting or, more accurately, neglecting to remove your makeup before going to bed is one of the worst mistakes you can make as someone with acne-prone skin, and dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur explains precisely why that is. "Although it's tempting to forgo taking off your makeup when a good night's rest is calling your name, skipping this important step of your night routine plays a pivotal role in worsening your acne," she shares exclusively with Glam. "Leftover makeup on your face will undoubtedly clog pores, which will in turn result in a higher chance of acne forming, especially for those who have acne-prone skin."

In this case, an effective way to reduce the chance of clogged pores from makeup, sunscreen, or oil buildup is to implement a double-cleansing routine. Breaking down makeup with a non-comedogenic oil (jojoba oil) or oil-based cleanser that contains no harsh ingredients before going in with a water-based cleanser ensures a thorough cleanse without damaging your skin's natural barrier.

Poking and prodding at your breakouts is another common acne trigger that always seems like a good idea in the moment but inevitably makes them look much worse than before. "Sometimes all you want to do is pop that stubborn and inconvenient pimple, for satisfaction reasons or even to try and get it off your face," Dr. Ellen Marmur explains exclusively to Glam. "As enticing as it is to pick at your skin, this will worsen acne in the long run."

If that isn't enough to convince you to stop your picking habit, Dr. Marmur says that scratching and poking at an inflamed pimple can lead to further skin issues. "Not only will picking at your skin result in scarring, it can also contribute to you having more acne if the pimple is not extracted properly by a dermatologist." Acne scars are notoriously difficult to treat and skin picking only interferes with the natural healing process. Save yourself the hassle of costly scar-reducing products and cosmetic procedures by leaving your spots alone, no matter how itchy they feel. Instead, apply ice compresses and anti-inflammatory serums to reduce irritation.

Picking at your skin is a bad move for those who are prone to breakouts, but that doesn't mean you can't touch it at all. You should absolutely still carry on with your regular skincare routine and apply moisturizer and acne spot treatments, as long as you use clean fingertips. "Think about all the places your hands touch on a day-to-day basis, ranging from the handrails of a staircase, the seats on public transportation, and even the refrigerator handle you grab during your lunch break at the office," Dr. Ellen Marmur reveals in our exclusive conversation. "Your hands (and nails) accumulate so much bacteria and dirt just from existing, and touching your face before using hand sanitizer or washing your hands could contribute to your acne problems."

Dr. Marmur makes a great point here, and you can even take it a step further by ensuring you wipe down your most frequently handled electronics, such as your mobile, tablet, and laptop. It's particularly important to sanitize your phone, as people often set phones down on all sorts of public surfaces, which risks the spread of bacteria to your fingertips and face while texting or making calls.

"When you sleep at night, your pillowcases are prone to buildup of oils, dirt and skin, just because your face is pressed up against your pillows all night long," says Dr. Ellen Marmur during an exclusive chat with Glam. Sleeping on pillowcases with oil and bacteria buildup is a surefire way to increase your chances of breaking out, and it negates all the time and effort you spend in applying your nightly skincare routine. "It is important to change your pillowcases at least once a week, just like how you wash your clothes after wearing them throughout the day," says Dr. Marmur. Even if you can't be bothered to wash all your bedsheets every week, at least wash your pillowcases. "This will ensure that you are not putting your face on 'dirty' pillows, even though they could look perfectly clean," she adds.

Additionally, for those wondering about the efficacy of so-called anti-acne pillowcases, Dr. Marmur reveals that while there are benefits to trying a silk pillowcase, they aren't necessarily as life-changing as the marketing ads would have you believe. "They sure feel good," says Dr. Marmur, "but many lose their silky feeling and natural antibiotic properties." In fact, they might be better for preventing creases and wrinkles than preventing acne.

This last reminder from dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur is arguably the toughest pill to swallow. However, no one can deny that poor diet is a factor involved in imbalanced or fluctuating hormones, which can increase inflammation, oil production, and clogged pores. "If you have acne-prone skin, eating excessive amounts of high-fat and high-sugar food will worsen your acne," Dr. Marmur notes exclusively to Glam. "Because diet can affect hormones, it is important to maintain a balanced diet in order to limit the amount of acne you get."

Before you grumble about having to give up your sugary lattes and late-night pizzas, remember that maintaining healthy hormones and diet is all about balance. Scarfing down a greasy burger and fries several days per week will increase the risk of breakouts and is generally not a healthy lifestyle choice. Instead, enjoy your favorite junk food, but balance it out by eating a well-rounded diet wherever possible. Oh, and exercise helps, too. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy, whether it's walking, hitting the gym, or signing up for a dance class, and you'll be more likely to stick with it and reap the benefits.