Can I get breakouts from items I have around my house like bed pillows, towels, etc?
Yes!
– Bed pillows
Yes. The fabrics of most pillowcases can retain moisture, oil, and dead skin, all of which creates a wonderful environment for bacteria and fungi to grow. These can then transfer to the face, clog pores and cause acne. I would recommend changing pillowcases at least once a week and opting for pillowcases made with natural fibers like cotton or silk.
– Towels
Sometimes. Reused towels certainly accumulate gunk like bacteria, oil and dead skin, which when transferred back to the skin can easily clog pores and result in acne. Additionally, some towels are made of rough fabrics that can irritate the skin and result in a breakout. Lastly, many of us allow towels to remain damp and this serves to create a swimming pool for bacteria to breed and contribute to skin infections that result in acne. I would recommend regularly washing towels, drying your face by patting it instead of scrubbing it and, if possible, getting microfiber towels or soft cotton towels.
– Throw pillows on couch
Yes. Throw pillows are often subjected to daily hugs, butts or head rests but rarely washed and pampered. This leads to the accumulation of dust, bacteria and oils (from hands and hair) that easily jump to our face when we lean or nap on them and result in acne. I would recommend washing or even vacuuming your throw pillows regularly or using fabric safe disinfectant sprays in between washes.
– Phones
Yes. (I’m filled with just bad news today…sorry). Our fingers are always on our phones and our fingertips carry lots of oil. When we hold our phone up to our cheek, we can trap that sweat and introduce some heat, making our skin develop breakouts with ease. I would recommend cleaning your phone regularly with an alcohol wipe or disinfectant or to consider using headphones or speakerphone to minimize contact with your face.
– Laundry detergents
Yes. There are definitely fragrances, dyes and chemicals to be wary of when considering things that can trigger your acne. In regards to fragrances, look for “fragrance-free” products, not just “unscented” which can still contain chemicals that can irritate your skin. Other things to look for are chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which can leave residues on clothing that can irritate the skin. You can find products that are “SLS-free”. The same is true for optical brighteners that make clothes look brighter but also cause your acne to shine brighter as well. In this case, look for “eco-friendly” brands that do not contain these. I would recommend trying fragrance-free, hypoallergenic detergents, inspecting your clothes to make sure there is no left-over detergent residue and considering not using fabric softeners or dryer sheets that contain fragrances or waxes and instead try a wool dryer ball.
– Air fresheners
This depends on the air freshner. Artificial fragrances can release chemicals, specifically volatile organic compounds, into the air that can settle on the skin, clog pores and result in acne. I would recommend using essential oil diffusers, ventilating rooms to reduce the buildup of airborne irritants and keeping air fresheners away from your face or places where you sleep.
– Candles
This depends on the candle. Paraffin wax candles release soot and other pollutants while fragranced candles contain artificial scents that can settle on the face and result in acne. I would recommend looking for soy, beeswax or coconut wax candles with natural fragrances and keeping candles at a distance from areas where you rest your face.
– Tap water
– Yes, hard water is hard on your face. Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium that clog pores while the chlorine in tap water removes natural oils from the skin leading to more oil production and acne formation. I would recommend rinsing your face with a filtered showerhead, using a water softener or using a nice hydrating moisturizer after washing your skin to balance out any drying effects from hard water.
– Pet hair
– No, not directly. Pet hair by itself will not result in acne but pet hair does harbor dirt, bacteria and dander that could be transferred to your face and result in a breakout. I would recommend brushing your pets regularly to reduce shedding, cleaning surfaces that your pets rest on and washing your sheets frequently if you share your bed with your pet.
– Makeup brushes
Yes. Over time, makeup brushes collect oil, microbes and dead skin cells, which when reapplied to our skin can trigger acne formation. I would recommend washing your brush regularly, at least weekly, with a cleanser or baby shampoo, using disposable applicators for liquid products or storing brushes in a clean and dry place.
Any other unexpected home items that can cause breakouts that I missed?
Since you asked 🙂
– Workout gear! Things like resistance bands and helmets and even yoga mats or sports bras can hold in sweat and, if too tight, can result in a form of acne called acne mechanica, which results from very tight clothing. The tight clothing physically blocks pores resulting in acne. I would recommend washing your workout gear often and consider moisture-wicking fabrics, which are fabrics that literally move sweat away from the body keeping your skin cool and dry.
– Hats. The fabric lining of hats holds on to oil and sweat and this can result in scalp or forehead acne. Remember to wash your hats frequently.
– Sunglasses and eyeglasses. That’s right, those little nose pads, and even the frames, collect oil and bacteria, which then get transferred back to the skin and can result in breakouts around our temples or our nose. Remember to wipe your glasses regularly.
– Lotions. You need to be mindful of what you apply to your face. Some body and hand lotions that can clog pores, especially if they contain ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter or cocoa butter. Look for non-comedogenic lotions on your face.
– Kitchen dish towels. A lot of people forget not to wipe your hands with dish towels because often, after drying your hands with a dish towel, we end up touching our face. Those dish towels harbor bacteria that can easily be transferred to your face and result in acne.
– Office supplies like keyboards, mouses, pens, desk phones, all collect bacteria that can come into contact with your fingers and then easily be transferred to our faces. Remember to disinfect these areas frequently.
If you had to pick just ONE change people could make to their homes in order to lessen their chances of getting breakouts, what would it be and why?
That’s a tough one! I would have to say remember to wash your pillowcases. We come into contact with them every night for hours. I would wash them at least twice a week, use breathable fabrics, consider fragrance-free detergents and change face towels often.
Anything else you want to share on the topic?
Be mindful of your fingers. Our fingers touch so much throughout the day but be extra careful when they touch your face. It is incredibly easy to transfer bacteria and oils to our face that can easily clog pores and result in acne.
A lot of my clients think washing their face will help to remove oils and bacteria. That is not true. Overwashing your face can remove natural oils and alter the pH levels on our face. Use gentle, pH-balanced cleansers and limit washing your face to twice a day.
Consider an air purifier to remove irritants like dust, pet dander and other pollutants that can trigger an acne breakout.
Keep a mental food diary as food can impact acne breakouts Some people breakout after they consume items such as chocolate, caffeinated beverages and even dairy, among other things. The next time you breakout, think about if you consumed something you normally dont and then do a trial of not consuming that item and then consuming the item to see if your breakouts might be triggered by it.