It’s easy to chalk up a period of bad skin in the beginning of the year to our indulgent habits over the Christmas break, but as we approach the middle fo February, blaming our breakouts on too much Christmas desserts and bubbles is becoming a little less straightforward. 

So, if one too many cocktails on New Year’s Eve isn’t to blame for our unhappy skin anymore, what is? According to dermatologist Dr Shreya Andric, healing back into an office environment after being on holiday could be causing your skin to break out.

Why the office is making you break out

#1. The air quality

There’s far more than just a slow internet connection in the air at work, Dr Adric says, “Low humidity and air conditioning in office spaces tends to cause dryness rather than oiliness of the skin.” When the skin is too dry, it tends to overcompensate and produce more oil, often causing excess oil to build up in your pores and trigger a nasty breakout. If you work in an office that loves to crank up the air conditioner, make sure you’ve invested in a great moisturiser – and are using it twice a day!

#2. Your choice of snacks

We’re all guilty of giving in to those 3 PM sugar cravings once in a while, and with most offices stocking vending machines over fruit baskets, we’re often left with no other alternative. “Definitely in my workplace people tend to bring in snacks to share which are usually high GI,” Dr Adric says. “There is a correlation between a high GI diet and acne”.

#3. You’re wearing makeup again

While we may spend our annual leave break gallivanting around with sunkissed, bare-faced skin, most of us turn to a range of skincare and makeup products when heading into the office. But wearing heavier makeup, heading to the gym after work with said makeup still on, and not properly removing the products at the end of the night are some of the worst things we can do for our skin. In addition to double cleansing every night, ensure you’re washing your makeup brushes and sponges regularly. It’s a mundane job, and probably the last thing you feel like doing after getting home from the office, but there’s no better defence against breakouts than clean application tools and a clean canvas.

#4. You’re stress levels have increased

Returning to the office after a well-deserved break is likely to reintroduce a tonne of office-related stress into our lives for a number of reasons. Whether it’s the pressure of making a project deadline or navigating inter-office politics, every workplace has its own unique way of putting a strain on our ability to remain cool, calm and collected. 

In response to excess stress, our bodies’ production of androgens increases. These hormones stimulate oil glands in the skin, leading to unwanted breakouts. Stress also increases inflammation in the entire body, and can cause existing symptoms of chronic skin conditions to flare up such as eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

How can you prevent 'bad' skin when returning to work?

Before you call in sick to your manager in an attempt to preserve your skin’s blemish-free glow, Dr Adric recommends taking a more holistic approach to curing your workplace skin woes. 

“Try to ensure you are double cleansing your skin at the end of the day or before and after your workouts if you are hitting the gym again,” She says. The dermatologist also recommends people be mindful of stressors in the workplace and how they may be impacting their health, and to of course monitor their intake of snacks.

As a general measure, try to avoid ‘tech neck’ – the prolonged angling down of your posture thanks to our reliance on devices and screens. Sitting down for hours on end can also impact our circulation, denying the body of essential nutrients and oxygen, which can in tun make ouor skin’s appearance more dull.