IkiDay

Thousands of microbial species thrive in the human intestine, helping people digest fiberand make vitamins and other molecules. They also help strengthen the immune system and protect against potentially harmful bacteria, Stanford University School of Medicine researchers say.

What's possibly even more annoying than a really bad zit? The red, dry spot that’s leftover after  the blemish has subsided. Brie Larson knows the struggle.In a recent post on Instagram, the actress pointed out such a spot on her face with a big fat arrow: âWhen you’re stressing/obsessing over a zit so you put on too much zit cream before bed and wake up to [a] giant dry spot but you gotta get your photo taken anyway,” she wrote in the caption.

Fitness trainer Kayla Itsines recently shared a makeup-free selfie and details about her skincare routine on Instagram. We were surprised to learn that the 24-year-old social media star credits her gorgeous glow to her pillowcase: "I LOVE looking after my skin and making sure it's always clean and fresh," she wrote. "I do this by changing my pillow case [sic] every 3 days."

Ever wonder why pimples tend to pop up in the same spot over and over again? According to an ancient Ayurvedic technique called face mapping, the location of your acne may have something to do with what's happening inside your body. 

Here's a scenario that may sound familiar: You invest in a pricey vitamin C serum, cleanser, or retinol, expecting it to work some life-changing complexion magic on your face—but instead you're greeted by an angry crop of pimples. It's a double disappointment: not only do you have deal with acne, but you've also just dropped your hard-earned cash on another product destined for the skincare graveyard in your bathroom drawer. 

Cystic acne is unsightly—but worse than that, it can be painful. And what's with blemishes cropping up at the most inopportune times?! They always seem to strike right before a major event or big work presentation.

Sudden breakouts are incredibly frustrating. And even if you eat a healthy diet, wear makeup that won't clog your pores, change your pillowcase regularly, and use acne-fighting skincare products (such as cleansers that contain ingredients like salicylic acid), you can still wake up to the unpleasant discovery that a pimple has pushed its way to the surface of your skin.

If you’re thinking about going on isotretinoin, the high-dose vitamin A pill that treats acne, you’ve probably already done some research. Before I started the medication—more widely known by the brand name Accutane, which is no longer produced—I scrolled through online forums, diligently reading first-hand accounts of the pros and cons of the drug.

I am all but completely convinced that skin is not only sentient, it’s also spiteful. How else to explain the fact that I seem to always get a painful, deep, under-the-surface superlump the day before any event for which I would want to look my best or make a good impression — a date, a job interview, a performance (I’m a singer), etc.