How to take care of acne prone skin
If you are prone to acne, simply adding serums or creams to reduce the appearance of blemishes or potential ones may not give the results that you desire. Often, caring for acne prone skin can involve lifestyle changes and the implementation of a great skin care routine to aid in stopping blemishes in their tracks.
What is acne?
Acne can be split into two types: inflammatory and non-inflammatory.
Non-inflammatory acne is a result of clogged pores and results in blackheads and/or whiteheads. This is also the mildest type of acne and is easy to spot: blackheads are spots with a darker appearance that are often flat against the skin, while whiteheads are skin coloured bumps.
Inflammatory acne is deeper and more painful and usually presents with redness and a range of symptoms including papules (small red bumps), pustules (small pus filled bumps), cysts and nodes. The bumps are also typically larger and feel like they’re under the skin rather than on the surface.
A common form of acne is acne vulgaris which is characterised by both inflammatory and non-inflammatory bumps, usually involving a mix of pimples, blackheads, cysts and other acne types.
Is acne the same as rosacea?
The short answer is no, however the two are often confused.
Rosacea is a skin condition that results in blushing easily and often leads to continued redness in the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin areas.
The main reason the two are confused with each other is due to a rosacea subtype: papulopustular or acne rosacea. This is due to the appearance of acne like breakouts. It is possible, to have both acne rosacea and acne vulgaris simultaneously.
Causes of rosacea include genetic factors, immune system over-reaction, H. pylori infections, interaction with demodex mites, reaction to certain internal protein processes and more, including environmental factors.
Causes of acne
Acne is usually caused by a combination of hormones, oil and bacteria. When sebum can’t escape due to blocked follicles as a result of oil, dead skin and bacteria , this can lead to acne.
Pores are the opening to hair follicles, which is a hair and oil gland. This gland releases sebum which keeps your skin lubricated.
Causes of acne often include overproduction of oil, dead skin cells accumulating in the pores or a build-up of bacteria.
Overproduction of oil is usually a result of hormonal changes such as puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause and is why hormonal birth control can aid acne control in some cases.
Knowing your skin type is also very important. Oily skin types are commonly linked to acne, however other skin types are also prone to developing acne, whether it is a result of environmental issues, poor skin care, or more that irritates and clogs the pores.
While acne is most often associated with teenagers, it can happen at any age. Regardless of the initial reason, acne is a result of pores becoming clogged and inflamed.
How to prevent breakouts
Effective adjustments to prevent breakouts include:
Wash your face twice a day and after sweating
Avoid harsh scrubs on your skin
DON’T PICK OR POP
Stay hydrated
Be mindful of ingredients in your skin care and hair care
Wash everything that comes into contact with your skin
Beware of supplements that claim to banish acne
Be wary of limited dietary advice
Acne skin care
Choosing the right skin care and associated routine is important because getting it wrong could cause additional issues.
Look for lightweight products that will do your pores some favours and seek products with ingredients such as:
Salicylic acid: Aids to unclog pores and reduce inflammation.
Benzoyl Peroxide: Kills acne causing bacteria.
Retinoids: Exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin that clogs pores.
We recommend Ultraceuticals ski care products to incorporate as part of your skin care routine.
Learn more: https://www.ultraceuticals.com/au/blemishes
Routine
Morning
Cleanser
Toner
Moisturise
Sunscreen
Evening
Cleanser
Spot Treatment
As needed
Exfoliant
Face Mask
Clinical treatments for acne
Medication such as topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, birth control or topical retinoids
Laser treatment
Chemical peels
At the end of the day, patience is absolutely necessary to treat acne. It can be a case of trial and error and each option that you try should be trialled for at least 1 month before considering a new treatment. Optimally, a 3 month trial will allow for best results, if any, to be expected.
If standard remedies and lifestyle adjustments are not improving your acne, seek advice from your GP for next steps, including referral to a specialist.