Suffering from spots and breakouts? Vogue’s guide on how to get rid of breakouts and acne is for you. Unfortunately acne, pimples and breakouts aren’t just the preserve of teenagers these days. Adult acne is on the rise—the International Dermal Institute has found that 40 to 55 per cent of the adult population aged 20 to 40 are diagnosed with low-grade acne and oily skin, while the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology found that 54 per cent of women aged 25 plus suffered from the condition.
Distressingly acne can’t just be hidden under lots of concealer. To really get under the skin of the problem, you need to take a combined approach, including meticulous skincare, the right treatment formulas and good diet.
Here’s Vogue’s skincare guide to clearing those spots for good.
What causes acne?
“Acne is an inflammatory disorder, it can be hormonal in the case of cystic acne, and it can be clogged pores that have trapped oil, dead skin cells and other gunk,” says Dr Dendy Engelman, board-certified dermatologist and Mohs skin cancer surgeon.
Most cases of acne can be attributed to stress and hormones. As Dr Engelman explains, “Your body responds to stress by producing more cortisol (the stress hormone), leading to an overstimulation of sebaceous oil glands, which then get stuck in your pores, trapping bacteria.” The appearance of a spot is down to ruptured pores under the skin’s surface which inflame the area around the infected pore, leaving you with a cyst, which presents as a spot, over the top.
What is the lifespan of a pimple?
You won’t even notice the first stage of a spot—it all starts with inflammation around the hair follicle setting the environment for a pimple to form. Next, a small red bump will appear. When you notice this, take action by keeping the area clear of any makeup or product that may irritate it further. After this the follicle will fill with oil and/or dirt leading to a clogged pore. Then comes the eruption as swollen red bumps and pus pimples develop. Finally, a cyst forms under the skin, which is filled with oil, plugged with dirt and inflamed. If you cleanse carefully and delicately, it will usually take between three and seven days for the spot to heal. However, if you pick or squeeze, it can take weeks for a spot to go and cystic pimples can last a month or longer.
The best ways to get rid of acne
1. Cleansing
This is the first and most important step to keeping bacterial build-up—and resultant breakouts—at bay. Ensure you have a good cleansing routine that removes every bit of dirt and debris. Chemical irritation can also lead to flare-ups, so make sure you use non-comedogenic, non-irritating formulas. And although it may be tempting, avoid exfoliating too harshly as experts have found that if the skin’s surface has been disrupted too much, it can make it difficult for the dermis to heal, leaving it more susceptible to further breakouts.
2. Skincare ingredients to look out for
Ensuring you put the right ingredients on your skin is vital to keeping it clear and spot-free. The ones to look out for are retinol to boost cell turnover, glycolic acid which will exfoliate in a non-abrasive way and salicylic acid to clarify clogged pores.
3. Moisturisers for acne-prone skin
Don’t be tempted to skip moisturiser, just make sure you use light formulas that won’t further clog the skin’s pores. Non-perfumed, dermatology brands such as Cetaphil, La Roche-Posay, AvĆØne and Vichy are good ones to choose.
4. Breakout-friendly makeup
The best makeup to choose which will let your skin breathe while still providing good coverage is a mineral formula. Also, mineral powders will mattify the complexion and hide any signs of further breakouts.
How to prevent acne
As well as meticulous cleansing, keeping stress levels down and avoiding hormonal imbalance, a healthy digestive tract and immune system will do a lot to keep breakouts at bay, as an unbalanced gut environment causes inflammation throughout the body, including the skin.
A recent Korean study of 56 acne patients found that drinking a lactobacillus-fermented dairy beverage effectively reduced their total acne lesion count and decreased oil production over 12 weeks. And in an Italian study where half of the patients were administered an oral probiotic supplement in addition to their standard acne and rosacea treatment and the other half weren’t, the probiotic group experienced better clearing of acne and rosacea symptoms.
Probiotics are an excellent way of killing off bad bacteria in the gut. Their antimicrobial benefits can be administered both internally as well as topically—it’s been found that when certain types of probiotics come in contact with skin cells, they calm the parts that react to bad bacteria. “These healthy signals produced by the probiotics stop the skin cells from sending ‘attack’ messages to the immune system that result in flares of acne or rosacea,” explains Dr Engelman.
Try Elizabeth Arden Probiotic Clay Cleanser, SuperStart Serum and Probiotic Bio Cellulose Face Mask—the probiotics in these products build strength in the skin’s barriers and defences. This improved skin barrier allows for a healthier skin surface.
How to get rid of spots fast
Unfortunately, just as spots take time to appear, they also take time to disappear. There is no quick fix, but cortisone shots and PDL (Pulsed Dye Laser) administered by a dermatologist will target red areas and zap the oxygen-carrying component of blood, which helps to break up the lining of the vessel and then clear away redness and swelling.
Vogue recommends these three spot zappers:
Biotique Bio Myristica Spot Correcting Anti-Acne Face Pack: This Ayurvedic formula reduces existing and upcoming acne to half their size in a single use.
The Face Shop Dr Belmeur Clarifying Spot Calming Ampoule: A blend of multiple calming and skin-clearing oils, it’s perfect to banish acne even for those with sensitive skin.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel: Need to have your spot treatment on in the day as well? This potent, clear gel is as discreet as it gets.
Also read:
Is beauty defined by gender? These people prove that it isn’t
Meet the new gender-free beauty brand of the future
Brands, icons and influencers who are breaking through gender norms
15 beauty brands that are working hard to meet millennial needs
These beauty foods will give you the best skin and hair of your life
The post Skincare 101: How to get rid of acne appeared first on VOGUE India.
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