It’s estimated that nearly 90% of us experience acne at some point in our lives. Whether it is mild or severe and persistent, it can have a substantial impact on our lives.
Although acne is most often associated with teenagers it is on the increase in adults, even if they didn’t suffer symptoms when they were younger.
Contributing Factors
Skin cell production is higher in acne skins, 4/5 times more skin cells are produced compared to normal skin.
Oil production can be excessive, due to hormonal changes. Sebum helps to lubricate the skin’s protective barrier, preventing drying out and keeping skin healthy, soft and supple. So it’s important to keep the skins balance and not ‘strip’ the skin of this protective layer.
P-acne Bacterium thrive on acne skins due to the presence of more sebum, they feed on glucose that is a by-product of sebum production.
Inflammation - with all the above factors the hair follicles become inflamed and irritated, the combination of excess sebum and skin cells block the hair follicle or pore, this plug stops oxygen, which creates the conditions for P-acne bacteria to thrive. Calming & soothing products should be prioritised in the homecare routine.
What You Can Do
- Ditch make-up wipes and avoid trying to ‘dry out’ the skin & avoid products that contain pore-clogging ingredients like lanolin and mineral oil. Products should be oil free and oil absorbing, with ingredients like clay and Mandelic acid.
- Avoid skin stripping ingredients such as Alcohol – found in astringent toners as these can cause skin to produce more oil, fuelling even more breakouts.
- Artificial fragrances and colours can also further irritate breakout-prone skin.
- Look for ingredients like Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide (Vit B3) to keep dead skin cells and bacteria from accumulating.
- Clean phones, pillow cases and make-up brushes regularly
- No picking or squeezing breakouts at home, which can result in more breakouts, scarring and redness.
- Change to a good quality mineral make-up
- Follow a thorough skincare routine, moisturise and wear SPF daily. Dehydration and environmental stress can trigger more sebum production and make existing breakouts look worse. Even if your skin seems oily, use of an oil free SPF moisturiser with help to protect and balance your skin.
What We Can Do
A combination of advanced facials and LED Light Therapy, Mesotherapy, carbon laser peels and microneedling (for scarring and post inflammatory pigmentation.
Using the correct homecare routine is essential to achieving results. Look at Dermalogica Active Clearing Range, Ultracalming, Clear Start (for teen skin) and Hypo21.
