HEALTH & FITNESS
From Issue #7
Acne Not Going Away?
Maybe It's Your Clothes!
By
David Sinton
Are
Your Clothes Causing Your Acne?
Do
you have acne on your neck, shoulders, back or chest? If so,
you may want to take a look at the way you dress. Tight clothes
that rub against acne aggravated skin tend to disrupt the area
even more and give rise to new pimples by spreading the oil
and bacteria.
Acne
is most commonly thought to be caused by a hormonal imbalance.
Overactive sex hormones called androgens cause glands in your
skin to produce too much oil. This oil, along with dead skin
cells, provide a home for bacteria that irritate the skin and
cause swelling. Tight clothes prevent the dead skin cells from
escaping, which along with the oil, plug the skins pores and
give ideal conditions for bacteria.
Dermatologists
are still debating whether tight clothes might be a cause of
acne, suggesting that if you changed the way you dress to a
looser style your acne might go away. This doesn't mean you
have to go and buy a whole new closet full of clothes, just
be more selective. Here are some tips:
Plastic
is Tragic
Try to avoid polyester and other man-made fabrics, as they do
not allow your skin to breathe. This makes you sweat even more.
More sweat, more oil. Mix in the dead skin and you're in for
a serious bacteria infestation. However, some athletic apparel
companies have designed fabrics that pull the moisture away
from your skin into the fabric for rapid evaporation.
Stop
the Rubbing
Check your book bags, sweaters, tank-tops, etc. to see if they
are rubbing against your neck, chest, shoulders or back. If
something is rubbing against your acne then it is most likely
spreading the bacteria.
If
it Itches - Ditch it
Wearing a wool sweater that is driving you nuts? Don't! The
fabric is probably too rough on your skin. You're going to be
scratching it. Again, you'll be spreading the bacteria. You
are also likely to be aggravating the acne, which will then
take longer to heal and will be more likely to scar.
Watch
the Workout Wear
So, you want to wear that tight shirt to show off your great
figure or bulging muscles? Well, this is the time to be especially
careful. When you are working out, you're already hot and sweaty.
The added heat from the friction of a tight shirt rubbing against
your neck will further aggravate your acne.
There
are many causes of acne. Most likely it is a combination of
things. Some of the other topics to look into are cosmetics,
diet, stress, medication and environment. You will find information
about these topics online at www.curing-acne.com.
Martina
is sporting Adidas' ClimaLite technology that allows your skin
to breathe - helping in the fight against acne.
Photo by C. Brunskill/Allsport
