Do Cosmetics Cause Acne?
For years there has been a common myth spoken among acne sufferers. That myth is that cosmetics cause acne. We are here to tell you that the myth just simply isn’t completely true, almost, well, sort of. It’s complicated.
See, makeup is something that people use to cover up acne, but it is also something that people might not realize can make your acne condition even worse. As always, fate can be a cruel mistress. To understand how to approach the make-up issue, we should start with a discussion of “cosmetic acne.”
Acne cosmetica, or acne that is caused by cosmetics, is a mild and fairly common form of acne. It is triggered by relatively mild agents found in makeup. It can strike anyone, even people who aren’t prone to this condition. It usually comes in the form of small, rashlike bumps on the cheeks, chin, or forehead. It develops over the course of weeks and could continue for as long as you use that particular cosmetic product. If you are using a product that seems to cause this condition, we suggest you change to a different product.
The real culprit in acne breakouts is the fact that your makeup can and often will seep into your pores and clog them. If you don’t use a quality cleanser, the pores will stay clogged, eventually becoming inflamed or infected with bacteria.
To solve this condition, the easiest thing to do is to have a routine of cleaning your face before you put makeup on in the morning and after you take it off at night. It is not a whole lot of fun to clean your face twice a day, but it can really help keep the makeup and the oil from building up on your face.
In general, you don’t need to be super concerned with makeup “causing” acne breakouts as long as you are able to keep your face cleaned regularly. If you let oil and makeup build up on your pores, you are practically asking for them to get clogged. It’s an unpleasant truth, but the facts of life aren’t often fun. Keep your face clean and you won’t have to worry about makeup causing acne.