7 Things You Didn't Know About Your Breakouts (But Should)

The best thing about acne, apart from the fact that it's completely harmless, is that it's consistently...inconsistent. The items that cause you to break out may be great for your closest friend, whilst the procedures that clean your skin may be a nightmare for someone else. So, before you buy another product or take another friend's advise (sorry, Sis!), make sure you're aware of these seven acne truths.

1. Not all acne-fighting substances are created equal.

Throwing acids and toners on your face won't help your zits if you don't use the appropriate ones. Here is a short rundown of the most successful treatments:

Tip:

• Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid exfoliates pores to prevent clogging; excellent for whiteheads, blackheads, and "classic" zits. Acne Cure Treatment is a good option.

• Benzoyl peroxide: Kills acne-causing germs and is best used on irritated, sensitive pimples. 

• Azelaic acid: Reduces inflammation and destroys germs, making it ideal for cystic acne and rosacea.

• Sulfur: Helps to break away dead skin cells; ideal for oily skin.

2. Your wine-and-cheese lifestyle might be doing havoc on your face.

"High-sugar diets can really cause breakouts.  And, yes, this includes dairy, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates, which are all metabolized by your body as sugar. "In reaction, your body produces insulin and insulin-like growth factors, triggering a system-wide inflammatory cascade that can appear on your skin," explains Dr. Frey. Fun! If you're worried, try limiting your intake of dairy and simple sweets for three to four weeks and watch how your skin reacts.

3. Your acne face wash can trigger more acne.

Many acne-fighting cleansers contain sulfates (i.e., harsh detergents like sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate), which can dry up and irritate your skin barrier, resulting in rashes, inflammation, and breakouts—even if the cleanser is medicated.

4. Going 100 mph can throw off your skin.

Bodies (and skin!) desire routine. Even two days of working late, lacking sleep, and worrying out might result in an outbreak of zits. When you're stressed, your cortisol levels rise, increasing oil gland production and inflammation, resulting in blocked pores and breakouts."

5. Light therapy devices really can help.

There are two varieties of LED light therapy: red and blue, which are both accessible at a dermatologist's or facialist's clinic (at high levels) or at home (at weaker levels). "Red light is supposed to be anti-inflammatory, whereas blue light is thought to destroy acne-causing bacteria,"

6. Hormonal acne plays a different game.

Unfortunately, if your breakouts are largely hormonal (i.e., inflamed, cystic, and/or situated around your chin and jawline), standard over-the-counter acne remedies won't help. You'll need to work with your dermatologist to determine that problem and your skin type.

7. Your zits may not be acne at all.

At least, not in the traditional sense. "A lot of patients I encounter believe they have incredibly stubborn breakouts, but they actually have fungal acne caused by an overproduction of yeast on their skin." Fungal acne has a consistent appearance: a smattering of small, red, sometimes painful pimples, but they don't react to standard acne treatments (and might actually worsen them), so you'll need to see with your dermatologist to receive a anti-fungal cream.