Acne: A short introduction
Acne is a very common skin condition which can potentially affect most people in different time of their life, however, its onset mainly takes place in adolescence as a result of hormonal change and is managed from there on forwards. While acne symptoms can vary in their manifestation, place and severity, it usually appears on the face, back and chest, with common symptoms of acne including overly oily skin, frequent breakouts of spots, pimples and if mistreated or untreated can lead to scarring and extremely sensitive skin.
There are 6 main types of spots that are commonly associated with acne – blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Nodules and cysts are what one could call the most severe forms of acne, which can often be painful and present the greatest risks of permanent scarring or associated health issues.
In our day and age, there are various measures that one can take in a fight against acne, from self-help and healthy skin habits to specific acne treatments, the range of which can include both pharmacological prescriptions and cosmetic products, while others require professional help depending on the severity of the condition. Now, even though acne cannot be fully cured, it can definitely be managed and kept under control to your individual satisfaction with the help of these treatments.
The typically suggested treatments for those who struggle with acne can be divided into two groups: topical treatments and oral antibiotics. Topical treatments can be purchased over-the-counter and include gels, lotions and creams which could often contain benzoyl peroxide, which helps to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. It is advised to be applied onto the whole affected area and not just the individual spots for better effect, however, it can cause dryness of the skin and cause additional irritation, and thus, should be used with caution. Oral antibiotics, in turn, are prescribed by medical professionals and are often used in combination with some type of topical treatment, however, can take up to several months to show substantial results.
With new acne treatments and technologies breaking ground almost on monthly basis and a wide range of existing acne treatments to choose from, it is important to remember that even with the same skin condition as acne that so many people struggle with, our skin’s personal state and composition is highly individual and thus, some acne treatments that do wonders for one portion of the population might not work or even cause more harm for others.
Why some acne treatments work and some make your skin break out more?
Some experts say, that it is completely normal for your skin to react to a new acne treatment strategy in even more breakouts and skin problems than before, as the treatment of your choice is killing off the acne bacteria too aggressively resulting in more inflammation and initial worsening of skin. They suggest giving it a bit more time and waiting for the treatment to work, however unpleasant and uncomfortable the transition might be. Now, we can all agree, that acne does not only affect your skin, but it also affects your confidence and the way you feel about yourself, and it can be more than just “unpleasant” to put all your faith in an acne facial and just push through the anxiety and wait around for the acne to subside.
Which is why it is great that there is another stance on the issue, with even more experts saying – you’re just using the wrong treatment for YOU. Acne facial treatments consist of various ingredients to tackle the problem, and sometimes, it is just not the right combination for your particular skin condition. But worry not, everyone makes mistakes and everyone can navigate through the colossal assemblage of contradicting articles, advice and treatment strategies on the Internet and still find “the” solution for your individual skin condition.
Acne treatments that can make acne worse
Experts urge to pay close attention to the ingredients and act in accordance with the severity of acne symptoms. Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfhur and other commonly known treatments for acne do work, however, they work differently for everyone and are better used for those with mild to moderate acne skin condition. Benzoyl peroxide works as an antimicrobial remedy, which means that it works to kill acne-triggering bacteria and is more useful for treating papules and pustules as these are likely to cause more bacterial overgrowth.
On the other hand, if you’re struggling with other forms of acne, such as whiteheads or blackheads benzoyl peroxide might be too harsh and opting for an acne treatment that uses different ingredients, like salicylic acid, would be a better choice.
According to specialists, another reason why your acne facial treatment might be letting you down is applying it too often or too much. It is not uncommon for people to use a lot of the product when struggling with break-outs thinking it might work faster or leaving the treatment for longer than intended or overnight, but alas, it is quite the opposite of useful. Some facial treatments that are targeted at reducing the break-outs work as a drying agent and are meant to be washed off or used in moderation, and when overused can lead to irritation and overly dry the skin leading to even more skin problems.
On the other hand, another reason acne facial treatment is not working the way you expected it to, could be that you’re not using it enough or that the treatment you have opted for is not working well together. Some active ingredients in acne treatment are less aggressive than others and require more frequent or consistent use while combining all of the treatment options at your disposal could lead to further irritation and be counterproductive. Experts advise to distinguish between the treatments and apply them on separate days or at least time of day, to prevent the undesirable blend of acting ingredients.
Another reason your skin might not be reacting to the acne treatment could be the concentration of the active ingredients in the product. If you’re experiencing prolonged issues with acne treatments, the concentration could be not enough or too much for your skin. Many people who struggle with acne might want to opt for higher concentrations of an ingredient in a product thinking lower concentrations are not enough and find themselves with even more irritated or inflamed skin, and vice versa, others might want to opt for lower concentrations thinking high concentrations are too aggressive and find themselves unsatisfied with little to no results.
Common mistakes that provoke acne
Just like there are a number of things to do when facing acne struggles, there are also a number of things not to do.
First of them is trying new acne treatments every week, whether it is a facial treatment or oral treatments, such approach, as we have already outlined before, can cause irritation to your skin and lead to even more breakouts.
The second mistake is applying acne treatment only to your spots, which can only provide short-term results in the appearance of the spot, however, does not prevent wholistic treatment of the acne skin condition, which depending on the severity of it, spreads within the skin layers and around the affected area.
Another mistake when tackling acne is using makeup, skincare and hair care products that can cause acne as they might contain oils or other ingredients that contribute to clogging your pores and lead to inflammation or irritation of the skin.
On this note, another common mistake that can be provoking your acne is sharing makeup or makeup applicators with other people. While acne condition is not contagious, sharing your makeup or makeup applicators allows for acne-triggering bacteria, oils and dead skin cells to wind up in your make up kit and contaminate your skin, especially if it is already sensitive to breakouts. Likewise, sleeping in your makeup can clog up your pores and allow for the dirt or dust particles settling on your make up throughout the day to settle on your skin, which is why you should always wash off the makeup before going to sleep, especially if you’re prone to acne.
Another mistake that can provoke acne and acne scarring is drying out your skin, which can be tempting as the skin affected by acne is usually very oily, however, it will only cause more irritation which is always a risk for acne-prone skin and scarring. Likewise, over-the-top vigorous scrubbing of the skin can damage it and cause scarring, just like another commonly exercised mistake of popping or squeezing the breakouts, which leads to inflammation and damage to the affected area.
All these mistakes, individually or all together, while seemingly harmless, can worsen your skin condition, even if you’re not affected by acne, so it is not hard to imagine that if you are, you should be avoiding these mistakes at all costs.
These acne treatments actually get rid of acne!
While it is always better to consult with a specialist and find out as much as possible about your skin type and what ingredient and solution suits specifically you and your type of acne, there are various treatment options and types of facials used for the treatment of acne which have been proved useful and that you can try.
Exfoliation is key when it comes to acne, as it helps to get rid of the oiliness, dirt particles and dead skin cells which can trigger acne and cause the skin to flare up.
Glycolic and lactic acid, which can be found in such products like chemical peels, face washes, moisturizers and serums allows to gently exfoliate and comfort the skin.
Retinol, which is one of the active ingredients commonly used for anti-ageing effect in retinoid creams, is rich in various forms of Vitamin A which provides nourishing and clearing effects on the acne-prone skin as the retinoids cause skin cells to regenerate and turn over at a faster rate, help to decrease excess oil production and help the skin to exfoliate.
Vitamin A infused facial treatments for acne lead to better hydration of the skin, help brighten the skin and give it a natural glow, help decrease pore size and allows to soften and smoothen your skin.
This treatment solution is great not only for acne-prone skin and acne prevention but also for the treatment of acne scars. Key ingredients in Vitamin A infused facial treatments normalise cellular function, increase blood circulation, boost skin immunity and collagen production and rarely cause irritation.
Chemical peels versus Vitamin A infusions. Which one is right for me?
Chemical peeling agents, which act by providing gentle exfoliation can help brighten pigment, even the skin tone and reduce acne by unclogging your pores and removing the damaged skin cells, have been shown to be best when it comes to comedonal acne – the type of acne where the pores are blocked and the skin is overly oily. It also provides an improvement in skin texture and can produce a healing effect on the acne scars over time.
Moreover, chemical peels are very helpful when it comes to treating the in-depth scaring of the skin tissue, however, overly aggressive chemical peels can still sometimes cause irritation and should be used with caution if you have extremely sensitive skin.
Vitamin A is an antioxidant and is widely used to improve skin condition and overall health. For acne, Vitamin A infused facials show a lot of promise and keep the inflammation at bay, which is a key factor in triggering acne. Vitamin A infused topical treatments can also increase skin cell growth, heal lesions and scars as well as protects the skin against environmental damage. They can be used together with antibiotics and are suitable for even extremely sensitive skin. Research on the influence of Vitamin A infused topical solutions tends to back it up and provides evidence for acne improvement.
To conclude, both treatments have shown substantial results in the treatment of acne and acne scarring, however, in order to achieve the best results specifically for your skin it is better to consult a specialist and take up a holistic approach of leading a healthy lifestyle and creating healthy skin habits that will help you avoid commonly made mistakes, which we have outlined before.
Tailored-to-you acne treatments are the best place to start
At dermoi! we are able to offer a scientific approach with proven results. Our skincare contains active ingredients like glycolic acid, retinol, azelaic acid, niacinamide, salicylic acid, vitamin C and more.
Our best-selling supplement is Skin Accumax which targets acne from the inside-out and is ideal for treating hormonal acne. These acne treatments will restore your healthy complexion. Dermoi! offers an amazing option of “Tailored-to-you” at home acne treatment that will take in consideration your type of skin, condition and composition in order to deliver the best results in fighting against acne.
Osmosis Acne Healing facial treatment is perfect for those already suffering from acne, trying to reduce post-acne scarring or prevent future breakouts. During this treatment Dermoi! uses a combination of active powders and 2% Vitamin A infusion with other scientifically-backed products to recondition the Epidermis and restore hydro-lipid balance, helping to clear underlying congestion. It visibly reduces acne and post-acne scarring heals acne and blemishes by reducing inflammation.
IS Clinical Acne Healing peel provides treatment for problematic skin and is clinically formulated with some of the world’s best ingredients. The treatment is designed to safely help the skin’s natural cellular turnover processes in a three-step exfoliation process to help regulate sebum production. It combines papaya and pineapple enzymes with a potent clinical-level grade of glycolic acid to help exfoliate the pores
Dermoi! estheticians will provide a high-quality at-home facial treatment, which ensures professionalism and effectiveness of the treatment and alleviates the element of making a mistake when trying to treat your skin on your own.
Author: Maria Ageeva