As a skin therapist one of the most popular concerns people come to the clinic with is acne. What causes it, how best to treat it and when it will go away. A survey conducted by dermatologists showed that if offered £2000 or a cure for acne 95% of those asked said they’d rather have a cure for their skin problem which may not be life threatening is certainly life wrecking.
To best understand how to treat your acne firstly you need to work out how severe it is. Acne is defined by Doctors as any kind of breakout appearing on the skin ranging from a small blackhead, to papules (red, inflamed spots) pustules and cysts. Reading this it’s fair to then say 100% of us would most likely be acne sufferers. To help make sense of it more we can look at the grading system dermatologists use to know how best to treat.
Grade 1 is mild acne, charicterised by a few blackheads, maybe milia and some breakouts.
Grade 2 is called acne cosmetica, usually seen as lumps and bumps under the skin. This is caused mainly by the use of cosmetic products and insufficient cleansing of the skin.
Grade 3 is acne vulgaris. Believe it or not this is a genetic condition and appears in the form of breakouts, pustules and inflammation on the skin.
Grade 4 cystic acne is also genetic and along with seeing what’s typical of acne vulgaris mentioned above, it’s likely that due to uncontrolled inflammation in the skin deep cysts and even nodules (hardened sore lumps under the skin) will also appear.
If you think your skin falls into grades 1 or 2 the first thing you want to do is get into a proper cleansing routine and do this twice a day, every day. Exfoliation is also going to be essential to unclog pores. Image Skincare have a Total Resurfacing Masque. This contains salt crystals that mimic microdermabrasion when gently massaged into the skin. Applied twice a week this is the perfect way to deep clean and exfoliate the skin.
Look also at your make up as nasty ingredients such as artificial colours and mineral oils can be lingering, waiting to cause congestion. Try Image Skincare’s I-Conceal Flawless Foundation. As it is mineral based, it not only covers spots but oxygenates the skin with Rejeuvenox. Hence the tag line “I-Heal – I-Conceal”.
If grades 3 and 4 sound more typical of your skin you may want to chat to your GP for help with treating underlying causes but there are also ingredients to look for in your routine to aid the healing and repairing of the skin. Salicylic acid will kill spot causing bacteria, along with Benzoyl Peroxide which adds oxygen to the pores – an ingredient this breed of bacteria thrive without.
Image Skincare’s Clear Cell foaming cleanser with Salicylic acid is an ideal wash and can be used on face and body to blitz breakouts. Clear Cell Medicated Acne Lotion with Benzoyl Peroxide will dry out spots overnight.
The main thing to do is keep calm and try not to stress over spots. A good skincare routine at home following a professional consultation will help. It takes time, but breakouts can and do clear and your own skin always look’s worse to you than it does to other people. For more information contact your local Image Skincare Centre or check out the Renaissance Skincare website for further details.
