We KNOW that humidity causes breakout because we have experienced it ourselves. But in 2017 we got some confirmatory scientific proof, (1) in a Saudi Arabian study of 144 women aged between 22-24 with acne, humidity and heat significantly correlated with the number of pimples. So the higher the humidity and heat, the more breakouts!

Does-humidity-cause-breakouts
By Daniel, Co-Founder of Evidence Skincare (ESK)

The authors of the study proposed heat and humidity provide the perfect environment to promote the growth of Propionibacterium Acnes, the bacteria blamed for zits.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?
I’m writing this on a hot, steamy, Sydney summer day. I’ve escaped to my air conditioning but the minute I step outside, I am going to start sweating like crazy. It’s just what happens living where I do. I can’t change the weather but I can change my skincare.

Cleanse: This will help remove dead skin cells and probably bacteria from the surface of your skin. Soap-free cleansers will be gentler on inflammation and break out prone skin. Both of ESK’s cleansers (Hydroxy Cleanser and Calming Cleanse) are soap free.
Sunscreen: Ideally non comedogenic sunscreens will help prevent ultraviolet damage and inflammation. Given pimples are inflammatory in origin, anything that reduces inflammation reduces your risk of a breakout. Try ESK’s ultra-matt Zinc Shade which is non-comedogenic and is ideal under makeup.
Hydroxy acids: Choose a leave-on hydroxy acid skincare product (2). Hydroxy Acids are keratolytic so they break down old skin cells, and seem to be antibacterial as well. (3)
Use Retinal at night. Retinal is the most effective form of non prescription vitamin A to put on your skin. Vitamin A helps with skin cell turnover and reduction in the number of pimples.
Scale back oil based skin care products. I LOVE my vitamin C serum in the morning but it is an oil based product. That’s because the best evidence for Vitamin C is at a 5-10% concentration in an oil emulsion. During the humid season, you might need to avoid your TZones or any part of your face where you tend to break out.
Stay cool!!

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REFERENCE:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5722010/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26032934
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/50851403_Applications_of_hydroxy_acids_Classification_mechanisms_and_photoactivity