Having personally suffered with acne on and off since my early teens I know how upsetting it can be to have skin issues at any age. I must say on the plus side as a girl I was always very thankful for the high coverage foundations that I packed on not knowing they were causing me more problems but the tell-tale signs of problem skin always peaked through the camouflage and like everyone with acne I always wanted to find the cure.
Over the years I have tried everything out there including treatments, products and diets to balance my skin. Some worked, some didn’t! Today I am going to talk about the condition, some possible causes and the products/treatments I have found gave myself and my clients the best results.
If you are suffering with acne, you are not alone. In fact over 85% of the population suffers with acne breakouts at some stage during their lives. Although more commonly associated with teenagers it can continue for many people well into 20’s, 30’s and beyond
Common characteristics of acne include blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and papules and all start with the same little plug of congestion in the hair follicle called a micro-comedone. This little plug is formed by sebum and dead skin cells and can either go to form a non-inflammatory acne lesion such as a blackhead or whitehead or inflammation and bacteria can set in and we end up with the more obvious acne traits pustules and papules.
There is no definite reason why one person develops acne and another may not but there are definite aggravating factors which can cause problems for certain predisposed skins -hormonal fluctuations, stress, diet, medications, genetics, cosmetics or changes in temperature.
Many people argue that diet and acne are unrelated. I can only speak from my own experience on this and say that I really believe it is and is worth looking at and taking professional advice if you are suffering from chronic breakouts.
As far as homecare solutions for acne – To have an impact you must target oil and increase cell turnover. The best ingredients for the job are retinol and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid balances oil, reduces inflammation, deep cleanses and increases cell turnover. Retinol is amazing at ridding your skin of excess dead cells and reducing over production of sebum. The combination can do wonders for problem skins.
Tips for treating acne:
- Clean skin thoroughly twice daily
- Choose clever cosmetics utilizing salicylic acid or retinol
- Choose breathable or mineral foundations that will give coverage but won’t cause congestion.
- Help your skin detoxify by drinking plenty of water – at least 1.5 litres per day
- Avoid sugary/processed foods.
- Avoid over consumption of dairy products.
- Make sure you have enough Omega 3 in your diet. To reap the benefits of this complexion perfecting nutrient increase foods such as walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil, and salmon into your diet.
- Eat extra greens armed with anti-oxidants and inflammation fighting vitamins
- Do not pick – you only increase inflammation and heighten your chance of scarring
- Change your pillow case every few days
- Do not re-use face clothes and avoid over stimulating the skin with heat when cleansing
