Acne

For my first official blog post, I wanted to talk about something that we can ALL relate to. Pimples. Blemishes. Breakouts. Acne. Whatever you want to call it, it’s not pretty, and we just want it to go away. For some, acne is embarrassing. For others, it can be irritating. But for some, acne and its effects can be devastating. Acne causes both psychological damage as well as physical damage. So how do we get rid of it? You can’t “cure” acne, but you can treat it. But before you can begin to treat acne, you must first understand it. Acne can present itself in any skin type - dry, oily, or sensitive.

Acne is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and an accumulation of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, which leads to inflammation in pores. Your skin makes new cells every day. And every day they are shed. This process of cell renewal is on average every 28 days, and slows with age. A blackhead, or comedo, forms when dead skin cells build up inside the pore. They turn black due to lack of oxygen. The sebaceous gland within the skin is still producing sebum (oil) and since the pore is now clogged, it becomes infected and the result is an acne pustule, or blemish.

Although there is no cure for acne, there are treatments and lifestyle changes you can make that can help prevent breakouts and recurrence of the condition. The best thing you can do to try to treat acne is good home care.

Here are a few tips to help prevent and manage breakouts:

1 - Manage Stress
Stress causes hormones in your body to change – and these hormonal changes can lead to an outbreak of acne. Although stress cannot be eliminated entirely, there are things you can do to reduce it, such as regular workouts and breathing exercises.

2 - Good Home Care
Cleansing twice a day (morning and night) and exfoliating 2-3 times per week to remove excess dirt, oil, and dead skin from the surface to prevent a buildup which can clog pores. The use of masks weekly and the right moisturizer is also essential.

3 - Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
This includes eating a balanced diet, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep. Although many people debate that diet has nothing to do with acne breakouts, I have to disagree. You are what you eat. Consuming foods high in vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber help to cleanse the body, ridding it of toxins. Exercise is also shown to reduce stress levels which balance hormones, thus making breakouts less common. Adequate water intake is also extremely important to keep your body and skin hydrated and the digestive system working properly.

4 - Change Bedding and Towels Often
Oil from your hair can build up on pillow cases. Combined with other debris, dead skin cells, and sweat makes them an easy breeding ground for bacteria. Change pillow cases every other day, and when using towels to cleanse the skin, make sure not to use the same one more than once.


5 - Regular Physical Exercise
Get up and get going! When you sweat, it helps to purify your body by flushing out toxins through perspiration. People who are physically fit usually have radiant, glowing complexions.

6 - Stop Picking!
Picking or scratching at blemishes can actually push the bacteria deeper into the skin and make it worse. See a licensed esthetician so she can perform professional extractions.




Here are some product recommendations:


Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser – lightly foaming cleanser with 0.5% Salicylic Acid that is gentle enough for drier, mature skin

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant – gentle microfoliant that can be used everyday for exfoliation

Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel – contains 2.0% Salicylic for spot treatment at night