Nobody wants acne. But
so many of us have it. And, honestly, acne is probably one of the most common
skin problems we all face.
Acne is caused by
infected hair follicles. The sebaceous gland creates sebum, which is an oily, waxy
substance. When the hair follicle pore becomes clogged with dirt or dead skin
cells (keratin), the sebum cannot be excreted and becomes susceptible to
bacteria. This can develop into an infection, which creates acne in several
different forms. There are MANY things that can cause the infected hair
follicle: dead skin cell build up, hormones, a greasy environment, even stress.
If acne is severe, a
dermatologist should be consulted because it might be a factor related to
something else, or the dermatologist can provide a prescription topical or oral
medication for the acne. Over the counter (OTC) products can help mild acne or
occasional breakouts. Active OTC ingredients that have been proven effective
for acne include Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. It is the ingredients
that help solve acne problems, not scrubbing. If you have acne, avoid scrubbing
or even exfoliating too frequently because that can damage the skin and
actually make the acne worse.
Daily, consistent
skincare is a lifestyle treatment for acne. In addition to diet and stress
reduction to help control acne, cleansing and treating your facial skin will
consistently keep the sebum production under control and help solve acne flare
ups.
Enlarged pores are
follicles that have been clogged with sebum, which makes the pore dilated, so
it looks larger and more visible. (Pores are always open and present, but they
usually don’t look visibly open.) Oily or oil producing skin makes pores look
larger, so reducing the oil will contribute to a smoother looking skin. Cleanse
with a gentle cleanser, preferably one with salicylic acid to exfoliate the
pore and the skin’s surface.
TRY Clearskin® Professional Deep Pore Cleansing Scrub with Salicylic Acid Moisturize with a lightweight lotion, not a
cream.
TRY Anew Vitale Day Lotion SPF 25
Blackheads are open
comedones which are filled with sebum and keratin at the opening. The “black”
is not dirt, it is actually the melanin that is present in the sebum and when
it is exposed to air, it oxidizes and turns darker.
Pores can be extracted,
but this should really be done by a licensed esthetician or dermatologist, as
extractions can damage the skin or push bacteria further into your pores.
Instead,
TRY Clearskin® Professional Liquid Extraction Strip OR
Clearskin® Pore Penetrating Black Mineral Mask
Kerotolytic ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid and
salicylic acid, work to soften and loosen the keratin sitting in your pores.
TRY Clearskin® Blackhead Eliminating Daily Cleanser
Whiteheads and pimples
are closed comedones that have trapped bacteria and are inflamed and swollen
from infection. Once a whitehead has developed, it becomes more difficult to
treat. The best thing is to work to prevent closed comedones by cleansing
daily. Whiteheads should never be “popped” at home; pins or extractors can
never be sterilized enough and will cause bacteria to spread and contribute to skin
scarring. Severe acne can be treated by a licensed esthetician or
dermatologist.
Papules and pustules are more infected versions of pimples. As
the bacteria increases, white blood cells attempt to destroy it, which can lead
to further swelling and inflammation. Pustules may even have a yellow center.
The white gunk that oozes from a large broken pimple is pus, which is a delightful
combination of dead skin cells, bacteria and infection.
TRY Clearskin® Blemish Clearing Overnight Treatment I also use a spot
treatment of tea tree oil on painful whiteheads. Dip a cotton swab into the tea
tree oil and apply directly onto the pimple area on freshly cleansed skin.
Milia are hardened
chunks of keratin that are trapped just below the skin’s surface. They look
like tiny pimples, but they do not look red or inflamed, don’t increase in size
and do not go away like a pimple might over time. While the best way to remove
these is with lancing at an esthetician’s office, milia can be reduced with
microdermabrasion and prevented with daily cleansing and a sunscreen (because
sun damage is a contributor). If the milia are really bothersome but you don’t
want to head to the esthetician,
TRY Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid
Nodules and cysts are
buried beneath the skin’s surface. Nodules are hard spots of keratin, and cysts
are filled with pus under the skin. Both can hurt! If you have nodules or cysts
you really should be seeing a dermatologist for treatment. For severe acne
treatment at home, but you cannot afford a recommended product such as
Proactiv,
TRY Clearskin® Professional Acne Treatment System
Damage done? If you have been cursed
with severe acne, or you used extraction methods that left scarring, you may
have acne marks, redness, acne scars, or pick marks. Your skin has essentially
been damaged, and it can take some serious effort to make your skin smooth and
elastic again.
- Discoloration or
hyperpigmentation? Redness or other discoloration of the skin can occur after
acne breakouts. TRY Anew Clinical Absolute Even Multi-Tone Skin Corrector . The advanced formula reduces the look of 7 types of discoloration: dark spots, uneven skin tone, post acne marks, brown patches, blotchy red patches, freckles, and sallowness.
- Acne scars? Do you have
visible acne scars that appear like enlarged pores, craters or keloids? Microdermabrasion
can work to correct the visibility of scarring, but if you aren’t ready to head
to your esthetician for that, TRY Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid . It is 79% as effective as a professional microdermabrasion.
After treatment, help
your skin rebuild collagen and elasticity with
Anew Clinical Overnight Hydration Mask which includes encapsulated hyaluronic acid.
