What's causing the zits

Stress, hormones, dirt and grime can cause you to breakout, but there are also some bad habits that we do that causes pimples. And more often than not, we are unaware that these habits are causing them. Read on so you'll know how to prevent the zits.

Washing your skin too often

Keeping your skin clean is very important, but washing your face a few times a day will only make acne worse. Once in the morning when you wake and once again at night before bed should be enough.

Vigorously scrubbing your skin

Avoid using a washcloth, loofah, or harsh exfoliant when washing your face, this will cause irritation and may just worsen your acne-prone skin. To prevent acne, simply wash face with your hands (make sure they are clean). Using a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water, use the pads of your fingers to wash and massage face in a circular motion.

Not cleaning sweaty skin

Don't ever let the sweat dry up on your face after you've had a workout or you've been outside in the hot sun. Wipe it dry gently with a soft towel or wash your skin promptly after sweating.

Picking at your skin and popping your pimples

Popping or picking your pimple may be tempting, but this will only irritate it more and even cause scarring.

Skipping the shampoo

Make sure you wash your hair daily, especially those who have oily hair. The oil from your hair can seep down onto your face and cause pimples.

Getting hair products on your face

When applying hair product -- spray, gel, mousse -- try to keep it off your face to prevent them from clogging up your pores. Cover your face when applying these products to keep them on your hair and off your skin.

Avoiding these bad skin care habits and replacing them with good ones will help bring acne under control.