If like many you thought acne only affected people during puberty – sadly you are mistaken!
At Skin by VC Dermal, we have a high percentage of first-time clients coming to us with acne breakouts who are in their 20’s and 30’s.
It is becoming extremely common for men and women to suffer from acne in their later years due a variety of factors: poor quality makeup, inferior skincare, unbalanced diet, poor levels of hygiene, auto-immune disease, hormones and of course the biggest culprit… STRESS!
Sure, it would be SO easy to reduce or remove some of these triggers, but even with the right skincare regime – if you have not removed the trigger of your acne – flare ups, congestion and inflammation will be always be ongoing.
We are not saying, you will NEVER see acne again once you get to the root-cause of your acne (because sadly it is inevitable that it may return) BUT we CAN reduce the severity of the outbreaks.
At Skin by VC Dermal, we have a variety of in-clinic treatment programs to help manage acne, clear symptoms and reduce scarring, such as chemical peels and Omnilux LED therapy. To help you better understand some of the triggers and alleviate the causes of acne / impaired skin – we have pulled together some tips and tricks to help reduce acne, prevent spreads and speed up healing time.
Have a consistent homecare routine
(Cleanse, Hydrate, Protect, Exfoliate)
Remember – there are no overnight success stories for clear, healthy skin. It is crucial to be consistent with your homecare routine to receive the best results. Think of your skin as a weight-loss regimen. If you stick to eating well and exercising for 4 weeks, you’re going to see minimal changes in your body compared to if you eat well and exercise consistently for 6 months. Your skin is much the same, if you’re constantly changing-up your routine, using different products across different brands – your skin will never settle.
The first approach we take at Skin by VC Dermal is to undertake a thorough Skin Consultation, whereby our therapists prescribe a specific daily routine using cosmeceutical-grade skincare (Lira Clinical). By following the simple steps of cleansing, hydrating and protecting daily, in addition to exfoliating 1-2 x weekly – you will significantly reduce flare-ups.
Three triggers that encourage acne
1. Poor Quality Sebaceous Oil
Having the correct consistency of oil in your skin is important! Poor skin is generally caused from an improper diet lacking Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s), consuming excessively processed foods with high fat content and inadequate hydration.
We all have fine, fluffy hairs on our face and attached to those hairs is a sebaceous gland (oil gland) that allows oil to travel up the wick of your hair, like a ladder to the surface. This oil then spreads itself out on the surface of your skin. The reason this oil is so important, is that it creates a natural barrier for your skin which protects against environmental pollutants.
When your diet is lacking in EFA’s, the quality of that all-important, barrier oil becomes thick and gluggy, which causes the tiny hairs and pores on the skins surface to become blocked. Because these blockages are happening in an anerobic environment (lack of oxygen) bacteria begins to breed in that area – and creates breakouts.
Ways to increase EFA’s in your diet:
Food: seaweed, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts and salmon.
Supplements: EPA/DHA fish oil (low mercury than normal fish oil)
2. Impaired Barrier
When your skin’s barrier is not sitting at the correct pH (pH 4.5-5.5) bacteria and pathogens enter the skin, causing irritation, inflammation and redness.
Many of our first-time clients come to us with an impaired barrier, caused by using harsh, over the counter / mainstream skincare products which have stripped the skin of its natural oil by overzealous exfoliation and scrubbing.
To avoid an impaired barrier, Skin by VC Dermal recommends using a pH balanced cleanser without harsh exfoliating agents. Lira Clinical’s BIO Enzyme Cleanser or the MYSTIQ iLuminating Cleanser are our top pick for helping to recalibrate your skins natural pH, calm redness and soothe irritation.
3. Dead Skin Build-Up
When you have oily/ acne-prone skin, your skins natural exfoliation process is sluggish which can cause excessive amounts of dead skin to build-up over time.
When you have a build-up of dead skin, it creates a plug at the top of your hair follicle which stops the oil from releasing – thus creating another blockage and breakouts.
It is extremely important to encourage skin cell turnover to slough off those cells and ensure pores are not clogged. However, it is important not to over-exfoliate the skin! We recommend 1-2 times a week, to ensure smooth, radiant, healthy skin.
When looking for acne-appropriate skincare look for products containing Salicylic Acid and Retinol. Lira Clinical are experts in advanced skincare, we highly recommend their PRO Pads, ICE Refining Masque, MYSTIQ iLuminating Polisher, ICE Range and PRO Retinol Crème which form part of an effective homecare routine to help manage acne and breakouts.
Another simple tip we encourage is to wash your pillows and towels at a minimum of twice a week, to help reduce any surface bacteria festering on your skin whilst you sleep.
We know it’s not as easy as it sounds, but please try to stress less! Take regular exercise to help boost your mood and well-being, get a good amount of quality sleep each night, remove yourself from any negativity in your life, eat good quality, nutrient dense, wholefoods to improve brain function and cognitive health. Embrace being YOU!
And last – but by no means least – DO NOT PICK!!! If your breakouts are sore and inflamed – ice them to instantly reduce any pain and redness. Trust us – it works!!
If you’d like to come in and discuss some clinical treatments for acne, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team.
In closing, please remember that results and products do vary, as no skin is the same. These are some very broad tips and if you’re struggling with acne, please reach out to us so that we can help…
As crippling as acne can be, remember, you are amazing and beautiful regardless of the spots on your face. After suffering from hormonal acne in my 20’s, I know first-hand that taking care of my skin is a life-long commitment, but if it means when I’m 40 – I’ll be looking 30 – so sign me up for all of the treatments and homecare!
Hope to see you all soon.
Narelle