Zits, Pimples, and Acne Really Sucks

 Acne is the most frustrating and embarrassing conditions I see when visiting with teens and young adults about the types of skin issues they want to get rid of. How proned an individual will be towards Acnetic breakouts is based on two reasons. The first is if the individual is genetically predisposed to have acne and  the second is environmental stimuli. Yes, we can blame our parents for the type of skin which gets acne. 

We could get into the physiology of acne but I am not going to, instead I am going to give you a simple description. Zits and pimples, those that are filled with puss, are caused by a bacteria in the skin. Kill the bacteria and they will go away. Blackheads are open follicles or pores which have filled with dirt and debris. The only way to get rid of them is to clean them out and prevent them from filling again.

There are lots of products on the market which claim to instantly clear up pimples, which may or may not work depending on your skin type. Not all acne and skin will react in the same manner. Something that works for someone else may not work for you. These are the steps which I recommend to treat Grade 1 & 2 Acne. It is always important to consult an Esthetician to determine your skin type and the appropriate product to use so your home program will work.

1. Your at home program has to be a three product step AM-cleanse-serum-moisturize and PM-cleanse, serum, moisturize/SPF. The biggest mistake made is stripping all the oil from the skin barrier and not replacing it. Our skin is composed like a sponge and will dry out if there isn't something blocking evaporation. It has an outer barrier composed of oil, water, and dead skin cells to protect the skin from dehydration and UV damage. If we do not replace the barrier with a moisturizer it will FREAK OUT and over produce oil causing a bigger issue than just oily skin.

2. Well here is the gross part, bacteria lives in our skin. Some of that bacteria is good and some is bad. The bad bacteria feed on the dead skin cells, dirt, and debris found in the skin pores. These little boogers cause inflammation and puss to form in the pore causing a nasty pimple or zit. In order to get rid of the bacteria we need to get rid of it's food source, dead skin along with the dirt/debris. This process is called exfoliation in the form of a professional treatment, peel, scrub, or mask. It removes imbedded debris which a cleanser cannot reach.

3. Makeup, Sunscreen, Lotion, and Oils can also cause you to have an Acne Breakout. Look for make up and skincare products which are non-comodogenic. These do not contain ingredients which  will clog pores and trigger a breakout. Just because a product says it is All-Natural or Organic does not mean it won't clog pores. An Organic ingredient may be good in some products used for skin care, but in it's natural state the molecular structure may not be compatible for oily or sensitive skin. It can clog pores and cause breakouts.

4. Stick with the Program. If you wash your face every morning but don't take makeup off or wash your face at night and give your skin time to repair itself, YOU ARE DEFEATING THE PURPOSE. It takes only a few minutes to cleanse and apply products which will kill the bacteria that will give you that big, fat, pimple in the morning.

It is important to have someone help direct you in your fight against acne. An Esthetician has the knowledge to help you and set you on the right path. Don't be afraid to ask for help, we are the "Acne Police".