5 Tips and Tricks for Clearing your Acne

Acne affects everyone at some stage in their life, whether it’s a simple blackhead or whitehead (known as comedonal acne), or a full blown nodulocystic acne…...whichever stage or age you’re at, acne can be disfiguring, frustrating, and can affect your self-confidence. 

You might be treating your acne, but still seeing breakouts? That’s because acne has many different causes, and you may not be treating the correct cause for your particular type of acne. Also, acne treatment looks different for everyone, so while one person might respond   amazingly to a simple treatment, it may not work for the next person…. this makes acne difficult to treat, and manage effectively for the long term.

When you are trying to manage your acne breakouts, you need to be continuously thinking of 2 key things: OIL CONTROL and BACTERIA CONTROL…...this will help determine the active ingredients in the daily skincare you will use.

Here's a few tips and tricks on how to get your breakouts under control for the long term.

Use the correct skincare

I know this sounds boring…...but never underestimate the importance of a good home skincare routine. I always tell my patients, skincare is like going to the gym…...you can go to the gym everyday but if you don’t eat correctly, you won’t get the desired result….its 20% gym and 80% diet….the same applies for acne management. In-clinic treatments only help you to get the process underway, 20% if you may. The bulk of the work (80%) is done by your skin care products and routine at home.

There are 2 keys to success here: medical grade products and consistency.

I’m not talking about just using the correct products but using the correct MEDICAL GRADE products!! I’m sorry, but with only a few exceptions, over the counter products will not work! Medical grade products are products that have been scientifically proven to work! And trust me, they work…

First and foremost, clearing the skin means cleansing the skin…Don’t underestimate the importance of using a facial cleanser as the first step in your routine…. facial cleansers don’t only help to clean your pores by washing away the surface  debris of the skin, but  should also contain active ingredients such as salicylic acid, lactic acid, probiotics or chlorhexidine which control oil production in the glands and have antibacterial effects on the skin. My 2 absolute favourite facial cleansers for oily and acne prone skin are ZO Skin Health’s Exfoliating Cleanser and Purifying Mousse by Mesoestetic. Cleanse your face twice a day – it’s non-negotiable!

And here’s a tip or two – for best results, double cleanse your face. The first cleanse removes the surface debris and make up, and the second cleanse really gets in there to clean those pores…. I really love using a clean, rough facecloth or a muslin cloth when doing the second cleanse, the rough texture of the cloth provides a physical exfoliation effect, and really helps the product get into those pores. Try it and see the difference! Make sure you change your facecloth or muslin cloth daily. 

The secret to glowing skin? Exfoliation! Exfoliation is also key in the success of acne management, as it increases the cellular turnover, keeping the pores clear and doesn’t allow for the bacterial build up. Exfoliation can be physical or chemical, and while you may think that any face scrub might do the trick when it comes to mechanical exfoliation, why not use scrubs that have beneficial ingredients? Our bestseller is Exfoliating Polish and Dual Action Scrub by ZO Skin Health. The Dual Action Scrub has both chemical and mechanical action, and the addition of lactic and salicylic acid makes it a winner for the management of oily, acne prone skin by reducing surface oil and leaving you with visibly smoother more radiant skin. It was also named one of the 25 Best Facial Scrubs and Exfoliators For Glowing Skin. Exfoliation Accelerator by ZO Skin Health contains a lactic acid/glycolic acid complex to help increase cellular turnover and help in the removal of dead skin cells. Skin that has a high cellular turnaround is less likely to clog or breakout and looks brighter and fresher. Trust me on this one!

Once the skin is properly cleansed, it’s important to apply the correct moisturisers to further control oil production…key ingredients to look out for are benzoyl peroxide and retinol or azaleic acid. Rich moisturizing creams are not suitable for oily skins and will aggravate breakouts. My favorites are Hydra Vital Light which is a light, refreshing and revitalizing gel cream, designed to provide comfort and moisture without clogging pores and increasing oil production. Also, another breakout favourite is Acne One, which works on all fronts to increase cellular turnover, reduce sebum production and control bacteria.

Weekly masks and spot treatments are also important when it comes to targeting those pesky breakouts and you can’t go wrong with ZO Skin Health’s award-winning Complexion Clearing Masque. This innovative clay mask absorbs excess oil that can lead to future breakouts, while clearing out clogged pores and providing hydration. Pure Renewing Mask is another cult favourite, and Imperfection Control by Mesoestetic provides a camouflage for those stubborn breakouts while working hard in eradicating them.

While it’s advisable to avoid make up, its not very practical, so wherever possible try to give your skin a break from makeup. If you must wear makeup, use non-comedogenic formulations, or mineral based powders, creams, and concealers – my favourite is Colorescience Flex which is mineral based sunblock, which has a dual role as a BB cream/concealer. 

Finally, retinols, tretinoin and prescription azaleic acid are important in controlling breakouts and increasing cellular turnover, to ensure brighter, smoother, breakout free skin. Your skin care provider will prescribe the correct topical medication for your specific concern if necessary.

You are what you eat

This has never been truer than now…. with a huge shift in awareness of the association between gut health and many chronic medical illnesses, it’s not surprising that your gut health (via what you eat) and your skin health are linked…in fact, there’s a medical term for this called the gut-skin axis (a separate blog for that later).

With regards to breakouts in particular, the main food culprits are gluten, dairy, sugar, and alcohol. These all play a role in hormonal imbalances (trigger for breakouts), and they also aggravate inflammation – the 2 major culprits of acne breakouts. They are also the ultimate agers when it comes to skin, so not only should you control the intake of these for your gut health and breakouts, but also for the general ageing of your skin.

Gluten can cause breakouts on the forehead and cheeks, as well as persistent breakouts on the chin. More widespread acne is usually associated with dairy intolerances, whereas sugar being highly inflammatory causes more pustular/cystic types of acne.

By eliminating these 4 culprits from your diet, and by having a healthy varied diet, you give your skin a good chance to heal and stop persistent breakouts.

Supplementation 

Combating breakouts doesn’t only happen from the outside, you also need to take the correct oral supplements that will aid in controlling oil production and help to repair skin and reduce inflammation. Key supplements to consider are Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin D, Zinc and Omega-3. Supplements should always be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and should not be seen as replacing nutrition.

Omega-3 and zinc are my two favourites for hormonal breakouts, as they work directly on regulating the hormone testosterone, which is directly responsible for triggering the over production of sebum or oil. 

Finally, balancing your cortisol levels (stress hormone) is also key to happier and healthier skin – high cortisol levels increase the sebum production in the skin leading to increased clogging of pores and breakouts. Reduce your cortisol levels by reducing your intake of refined sugars, balancing your proteins with slow-release carbs and good fats, and increasing your physical exercise.

A Little Help

There’s no shame in getting a little help along the way, and sometimes despite our best efforts, we still might be fighting a losing battle against that odd pimple. This is where clinic treatments come in, and at Dental & Facial Aesthetics, we offer a variety of treatments that can treat acne (and acne scarring), or support your skin journey, such as Acnelan, chemical peels specifically designed for treating acne and blemishes, and microneedling. 

Sometimes if you need a little extra help, we may prescribe oral medications or topical injections to give you a little head start, although a comprehensive medical consultation is required prior to this. A thorough assessment is required to ascertain the cause of your breakouts, after which we can prescribe the best course of action, products, and treatments for you.

Consistency is Key

As with everything in life, if we are not consistent, we will have relapse. 

The same applies to skin care and avoiding breakouts. Be diligent with your skin care routine and products. Often people get frustrated, and start to chop and change products, thinking that something else will yield faster or better results, and in doing so they upset the skin balance and make the situation worse ……there is no magic pill or magic wand to eradicate blemishes overnight. My advice is to be diligent with your prescribed skin care routine, take advantage of clinic treatments designed to support your skin journey, and you will reap the benefits of clearer, healthier skin.

In conclusion, battling acne is often an inside-out job; there is no one size fits all cure that will do the trick, and a multi-faceted approach is essential in achieving beautiful ,clear and healthy skin. If you feel that your skin can do with a little help, give us a shout, and let us help you in your skin journey to clear, glowing, break-out free skin.