Acne flare-ups often triggered by mood swings, dark weather

NEW YORK (AP) -- Here's a deep dark secret about skin: Summer isn't the season when most people need to worry about acne even though they're more likely to sweat. Acne flare-ups are more common in fall and winter, with their darker days and blue moods.
Mood swings, low spirits and stress influence hormones and trigger an increase in cortisol secretion, which can increase acne, says Ruth E. Tedaldi, a Wellesley, Mass.-based dermatologist and a member of the SkinCeuticals Advisory Board.
Acne can be aggravated when people sleep less as a result of anxiety and when they drink more caffeine to stay awake, Tedaldi explains. Also, the dead skin cells from summertime's sun exposure begins to shed and can clog pores. And, she adds, acne isn't just a problem for teenagers. Plenty of adults are affected by acne, too.
Cosmetic acne, acne caused by external forces such as makeup and creams, also can increase in the cooler weather when people tend to load up on rich and intense moisturizers, Tedaldi says.
Instead, she suggests, make sure you exfoliate dead layers of skin and then use a lighter touch with moisturizer, preferably an oil-free moisture. SkinCeuticals' blemish control gel uses salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells.