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Acne is one of the most common skin conditions and its effects, both physical and emotional, can be significant and long-lasting.
Acne is caused by four factors, excess oil production, clogged hair follicles, bacteria and inflammation. This leads to blackheads, whiteheads and other pimples on the face, chest, shoulders and back.
Read on to find out how to take the guesswork out of getting acneic skin under control, bringing you closer to calm, clear skin.
There is no one size fits all answer when it comes to fighting acne, since acne is not a skin type but a skin condition. But, it does need an approach that tackles all four contributing factors: oil production, blocked hair follicles, bacterial growth and inflammation. Finding a bespoke skincare routine, that is customised to your skin type and its concern, is the goal.
Your skincare routine should include a:
Persistence and commitment are key! Keep in mind, it takes about 4-6 weeks for our skin to go through a shed cycle. So, don’t ditch any routine after a day or two, a professionally devised skincare routine needs to be adhered to for 4-6 weeks...minimum. Just like you don’t go to the gym a few times to get results, your skin is the same.
Be warned, your skin may get worse before it gets better! This is because it will normally “purge” with an effective skincare routine for the first couple of weeks. This is where, in order to get the lovely fresh new skin to the top, the older, upper layers need to be pushed to the top. This makes you think you're breaking out from the products themselves! After the initial weeks, it will take another few to start seeing clear results. So, hold tight and look forward to the end goal of glowing, clear skin!
If figuring out which products to choose sounds overwhelming and a quick Google has left you baffled, we get it. We would recommend getting advice from a skin expert, either virtually or in-clinic.
Acne flares up. Usually before you have an event! Typical! Having tried and tested spot treatments is an essential part of tackling acne at home. They help by killing the bacteria and minimising scarring - both which are high concerns for someone with acne.
Look for gels and creams which include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or retinoids. The aim is to exfoliate, unblock pores and kill bacteria.
pHformula’s SPOT ON blemish active contains a trio of acids to bring breakouts under control. While NEOSTRATA’s Refine Gel Plus is a potent, non-greasy gel which is great for acneic skin.
The common misconception with acne is that a great skincare routine will solve all cases. This isn’t always so, as acne can be triggered by stress, hormonal changes, diet, and so many more possibilities that don’t stem from whether your makeup is removed or not (although, if you aren’t doing this, then have a word with yourself!).
Gut health is becoming an increasing focus when taking an holistic approach to tackling acne. When our gut is not happy it commonly shows on our face.
So what can you do? I'm not going to tell you much you don’t already know here…
Another misconception is that someone with acne does not need to moisturise. That they need to ‘dry the skin out’...THIS IS NOT TRUE! Acneic skin produces excess oil, but this has nothing to do with how hydrated the skin is. Hydration is all about water, not oil. Most skin is normally begging for hydration and many acne treatment products are dehydrating, so a great hydrating serum is a must. Not only that, but hydrating can also help with irritation, redness and inflammation of the skin.
So what makes a great hydrating product? Well, you’re looking for products with hyaluronic acid in them. This is a superstar hydrating molecule which delivers a BIG shot of hydration to your skin like Hada Labo Tokyo Super Hydrator. Whether it’s a serum, moisturiser or mask, make sure hyaluronic acid is in there.
A weekly hydrating mask on top of a daily moisturiser can help replenish your skin’s moisture levels. Chill the mask for extra soothing benefits!
One of the key acne causing factors is bacteria. Covid has brought us a real awareness of how microbes are spread. Your everyday actions could be transferring bacteria to your skin and you don’t even realise. Here are some things to consider;
So, there you have it, some solid advice to try to tackle acne at home. If you’re still confused about choosing the right products for your skin, skincare pros can devise a bespoke skincare regime for you.
You can find a whole host of local skincare experts on Glowday.
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