Most people thought they left acne behind with their teenage years. But for an increasing number, congestion issues continue well into adulthood and can cause a lot of distress.
There a wide range of factors that can contribute to adult acne such as:
Hormones
Stress
Pollution
Incorrect Product Use
Excessive Cleansing
Diet
Medication
So pinpointing the cause can be tricky, and what works for one person might not work for another. It is important to understand how your skin works so that you can keep it healthy.
Put simply, acne is a disorder of the turnover of skin cells, called keratinization. Improper skin turnover leads to a build up of dead skin cells, which block the oil glands and pores and trap protein and sebum (your skin’s natural oil) under the skin. Those proteins and oils become food for P. acnes, the bacteria that cause acne. So it is important to regularly cleanse dead skin cells away, and encourage the production of healthy, new skin cells.
There are certain ingredients to look out for when choosing products that are known acne-busters:
Salicylic Acid is a multi-tasking ingredient which is common in almost all cleansers for acne-prone skin. As an anti-irritant, it has the ability to soothe stressed skin, reduce redness and work as an anti-inflammatory to calm breakouts and angry skin. It’s also a keratolytic medication, which means that it’s an excellent exfoliator. Salicylic acid breaks down the bond that keeps dead cells together. The acid part of the molecule can dissolve some of the intercellular ‘glue’ that holds skin cells together. It’s also been proven to have renewing properties, helping to firm and plump the skin by promoting new cell turnover. The reason Salicylic Acid is able to give such a deep clean is because it can penetrate deep into the pore lining. This means it’s able to exfoliate inside the pore as well as the surface of the skin. On top of that, it can reduce sebum secretion – another way to reduce acne. Read more about Salicylic Acid ->
Benzoyl Peroxide is a heavy-duty medication added to topical creams to dry out the skin. Many products containing it are only available on prescription and must be used with caution, and only for a specified period of time. Benzoyl Peroxide has three actions – it kills germs (bacteria), it reduces inflammation and it helps to unplug blocked pores. Prolonged use is not recommended as it can cause irritation and skin sensitivity.
Kaolin is a natural clay that has been used in skincare products for hundreds of years. It is the gentlest of all the cosmetic clays and it does not strip the skin of natural oils like the other clays. When used topically it acts as an emollient and drying agent on the skin. It is often added to masks, soaps and cosmetics as it is a very absorbent substance. Using Kaolin helps to clear pores of problematic dirt, oil, pollutants, and other impurities, soaking up excess moisture without causing flakiness or overly dry patches on other areas.
Some of our best selling products & treatments use these ingredients and more to deliver powerful acne-busting power.
Cleansers:
Dermaclear BHA Cleanser from Dermaquest (contains 2% Salicylic Acid)
Clenziderm Foaming Cleanser from Obagi (contains 2% Salicylic Acid)
At Home Treatments:
Clenziderm Theraputic Lotion from Obagi (contains Benzoyl Peroxide)
Dermaclear Mask from Dermaquest (contains Kaolin)
Pumpkin Mask from Dermaquest (contains Mandelic Acid)
In Clinic Treatments:
Obagi Blue Radiance Peel (contains 20% Salicylic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid)
Dermaquest Modified Jessner’s Peel (contains 14% Salicylic Acid, 14% Lactic Acid, 14% Resorcinol)
Dermaquest Pumpkin Peel (contains 2% Salicylic Acid, 10% Glycolic Acid, 10% Lactic Acid)
Our skincare experts are available to help advise on which products and treatments are best for a particular type of acne, whether its clearing up a rouge flare-up or establishing a good routine to reduce the appearance of pores. Book your no obligation consultation today by calling 02890 333858 or emailing contact@beyondskinclinic.com