Acne And How To Treat It
Helpful advice on how to eliminate Acne.
Helpful advice on how to eliminate Acne.
How do you get rid of acne? If you’re a
sufferer, I’m almost certain that’s a question you find yourself asking
over and over again. In fact, everyone who’s ever had a breakout (i.e.,
pretty much everyone) knows that acne is, at best, frustrating. At
worst, it’s a damaging blow to your self-confidence. I’ve dealt with
severe bouts in the past and have vivid memories of talking from behind
my hands or avoiding mirrors in a bid to ensure my skin wasn’t seen.
When you’re in the midst of your worst flare-ups, the
need to soothe your skin can feel a little bit desperate. That’s when
you can make bad decisions and pummel your pores with products that are
far too harsh. Enter your guide to treating acne in a way that’s
beneficial to your skin type so you won’t wake up with skin that feels raw and ravaged by the wrong routine again. Keep scrolling to discover how to get rid of acne for good.
Or as I’ve often asked myself, what doesn’t
cause acne? There are so many triggers, from allergies to the wrong
skincare regimen to just plain genetics. Even pollutant particles could
be infiltrating your pores and causing breakouts, or burning the candle
at both ends until your body and—in turn—skin freaks out.
It’s tricky to pinpoint what exactly could be causing your spots, but a number of lifestyle tweaks may shed some light on the main aggressor. For example, regularly washing your pillowcases and towels is a must, and Shabir Daya, pharmacist and co-founder of Victoria Health, recommends you switch them every three to four days.
Your hair products could also be causing upset for your skin, but before you resign yourself to a future of topknots, take a look at how you wash your lengths. Silicones and sulphates in shampoos and conditioners can lead to clogged pores, so “make sure you tilt your head to the side to prevent these hair products from running down your face,” Daya recommends.
Meanwhile, you can deal with stress-induced spots by, well, trying to stress out a little less. That’s not always easy, but exercise, meditation or just taking some “me” time can work wonders. And if it’s your acne that’s causing your worries (the ultimate vicious cycle), remember that scrubbing at spots like there’s no tomorrow will only make them angrier.
And it goes without saying that diet plays a part. There’s bad news for cheese lovers, as the American Academy of Dermatology says there may be a link between dairy and breakouts. Bread, coffee and sugar also get a bad rep amongst dermatologists, as they’re pro-inflammatory, so they make your inflamed complexion worse. Instead, chow down on whole foods like protein and vegetables, and consume plenty of zinc, which is crucial to good cell function. It’s easy to find this in supplement form.
The acne itself occurs when your pores become blocked—whether that be by sebum, dead skin or bacteria. That means it’s not only oily skins that suffer from breakouts. That’s why it’s a must to look at the skin surrounding your spots, identify whether it’s dry, oily or combination, and then adjust your skincare routine to suit the state of your pores.
It’s tricky to pinpoint what exactly could be causing your spots, but a number of lifestyle tweaks may shed some light on the main aggressor. For example, regularly washing your pillowcases and towels is a must, and Shabir Daya, pharmacist and co-founder of Victoria Health, recommends you switch them every three to four days.
Your hair products could also be causing upset for your skin, but before you resign yourself to a future of topknots, take a look at how you wash your lengths. Silicones and sulphates in shampoos and conditioners can lead to clogged pores, so “make sure you tilt your head to the side to prevent these hair products from running down your face,” Daya recommends.
Meanwhile, you can deal with stress-induced spots by, well, trying to stress out a little less. That’s not always easy, but exercise, meditation or just taking some “me” time can work wonders. And if it’s your acne that’s causing your worries (the ultimate vicious cycle), remember that scrubbing at spots like there’s no tomorrow will only make them angrier.
And it goes without saying that diet plays a part. There’s bad news for cheese lovers, as the American Academy of Dermatology says there may be a link between dairy and breakouts. Bread, coffee and sugar also get a bad rep amongst dermatologists, as they’re pro-inflammatory, so they make your inflamed complexion worse. Instead, chow down on whole foods like protein and vegetables, and consume plenty of zinc, which is crucial to good cell function. It’s easy to find this in supplement form.
The acne itself occurs when your pores become blocked—whether that be by sebum, dead skin or bacteria. That means it’s not only oily skins that suffer from breakouts. That’s why it’s a must to look at the skin surrounding your spots, identify whether it’s dry, oily or combination, and then adjust your skincare routine to suit the state of your pores.
“Many of
the skincare products available for acne are in fact harsh or toxic
chemicals,” explains Daya. “These can often cause more problems than
they solve, as they inflame breakouts or slow down their healing.”
But what makes a spot treatment too harsh? Daya says to try and steer clear of mineral oil and fragrances, as well as certain alcohols which may be labelled ethanol, ethyl, methanol, benzyl, isopropyl or SD alcohol. While they might look and sound like they’ll deter excess sebum, he warns that they could also “strip away the skin’s natural acid mantle, leaving you wide open to bacterial infection, including acne and blemishes.”
Be wary of so-called fragrance-free products, too. Some are scented with phthalates, which can disrupt hormones and make your skin break out all of a sudden. Mineral oils to watch out for include liquid paraffin, petrolatum and paraffin wax, which are sometimes comedogenic, meaning they’re likely to clog your pores.
This isn’t just a long list of no-no’s, however. There are good ingredients to get on your radar, too, and these are “glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids, clay, sulphur, tea tree oil, and vitamin A,” says Lisa Goldfaden, co-founder of Goldfaden MD.
But what makes a spot treatment too harsh? Daya says to try and steer clear of mineral oil and fragrances, as well as certain alcohols which may be labelled ethanol, ethyl, methanol, benzyl, isopropyl or SD alcohol. While they might look and sound like they’ll deter excess sebum, he warns that they could also “strip away the skin’s natural acid mantle, leaving you wide open to bacterial infection, including acne and blemishes.”
Be wary of so-called fragrance-free products, too. Some are scented with phthalates, which can disrupt hormones and make your skin break out all of a sudden. Mineral oils to watch out for include liquid paraffin, petrolatum and paraffin wax, which are sometimes comedogenic, meaning they’re likely to clog your pores.
This isn’t just a long list of no-no’s, however. There are good ingredients to get on your radar, too, and these are “glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids, clay, sulphur, tea tree oil, and vitamin A,” says Lisa Goldfaden, co-founder of Goldfaden MD.
You
know how I said that oily skins aren’t the only skin types that deal
with spots? I’ve seen this for myself when finding that my skin is more
inflamed when it’s totally parched. So, before you go full-throttle with
astringent washes on a cluster of pimples, remember that dry skin is
more open to bacteria, and flakiness can clog your complexion.
Daya recommends swapping foamy lathers for two
alternating cleansers. Use a one rich in salicylic acid every other
night to control lesions, and a gentle cleansing cream every day. A
great wash designed just for spot-prone, dry skin is BareMinerals Blemish Remedy Anti-Imperfection Treatment Gelée Cleanser (£17),
which contains high levels of salicylic acid. Between mornings and
nights of removing makeup and grime, try a plain cleanser, like
Philosophy Purity Made Simple (£9), which is perfect for fragile faces.
Then focus on putting hydration back in. Dermalogica Active Moist
(£50) is a lightweight moisturiser that you can use day and night, then
add to with blemish-busting oils. In the morning, Daya suggests dosing
your cream with a couple of drops of tea tree oil, and before bed,
mixing some argan oil or coconut oil in there.
If
you suspect your spots are down to a buildup of oil, use a wash
containing salicylic acid, charcoal or tea tree oil, like Byrdie
favourite Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser (£5). Up the de-greasing benefits with the use of a purifying mask. Daya recommends Niod Flavanone Mud (£29), which tingles slightly, but it decongests your complexion without being too harsh.
He adds: “Even oily skin, still requires moisture, so
aim to use a non-comedogenic moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated and
balanced.” At night, pair this with a medicated cream, such as La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (£12), which has earned cult status for its ability to temper grease and shrink pimples.
Sometimes,
the last thing you want to do is put makeup on skin that already feels
clogged. Other times, you get the urge to dowse your face in the
thickest foundation you can find. Having spoken to many a makeup artist
about how to camouflage blemishes well, I’ve always been told that sheer
coverage is best for acne to give a fresher look. Opt for a light veil
first to keep your skin looking dewy—not caked in pigments—then apply a
concealer (see our roundup of the best concealers here) just over spots with a flat, dense and clean brush that packs the colour on.
As for ingredients in your makeup, Goldfaden recommends
skipping anything with “talc, silicones, fragrances, mineral oil,
sulphates or phthalates,” as these can encourage acne. A good option for
a cover-up is Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (£24), while Vichy Normaderm BB Clear (£17) will give you light-feeling coverage that’s dosed with salicylic acid.
Explain
to someone who doesn’t have acne that you’re dealing with a breakout,
and chances are they’ll repeat an old wive’s tale about how to soothe
your skin.
You’ve probably heard them all, so here’s what can work:
honey as an antibacterial mask, lemon juice as a natural exfoliant,
distilled white vinegar rinsed off after 10 minutes, and cold compresses
to reduce swelling. As for what isn’t quite so helpful, toothpaste can
actually dry and irritate your skin, and sunbathing doesn’t work. So
please never bake your skin.
There’s
no “wrong” time to visit the doctor if your acne is really bothering
you, and they should be able to help you discover if the spots are down
to allergies. However, you should only seek strong prescription
medication if your skin condition becomes severe. Daya says this is
usually when your breakouts become cystic (very hard), or when your
skincare regimen doesn’t seem to be working. You’ll then be advised on
the best treatment for you.
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