Acne is a skin condition in which pores become clogged with dirt, oil or bacteria, causing inflammation
WHAT CAUSES ACNE?
There are many contributing factors to acne, but the main culprits seem to be excess sebum, hormones, and bacteria
WHAT TYPE OF ACNE DO YOU HAVE?
Let’s start with the basics: what are the main types of acne? Only once we’ve figured out what type of acne we have, can we know how to fix it.
There are 2 categories of acne: non-inflammatory and inflammatory. Below is a simple way to discern between the two:
NON-INFLAMMATORY ACNE (WHITEHEADS AND BLACKHEADS)
These are whiteheads and blackheads (also known as comedones). In fact, you may have heard or seen the term “non-comedogenic” on your skincare products or makeup: this simply means it is less likely to clog pores and contribute to acne. Generally whiteheads and blackheads don’t hurt when pressing into them as they are not inflamed (yet!).
HOW DO THEY FORM?
They are formed by hair follicles being clogged by:
Excess oil
Dead skin cells
WHITEHEADS VS. BLACKHEADS
When hair follicles are clogged by the dead skin cells and oil, they expand in the middle thereby reducing the opening of the hair follicles (the follicle’s orifice). The reduced orifice further traps the materials in the follicles. When the orifice remains open and comes in contact with air, its contents oxidize and turn into a blackhead (think of when you leave a banana skin out and it turns black, it’s the same thing!). Note that the black stuff in your blackhead is not dirt! It’s just oxidized oil and dead skin cells. When the orifice is completely closed, whiteheads form. These are a little harder to get rid of as the opening is completely closed
INFLAMMATORY ACNE (PAPULES AND POSTULES)
Examples of these include papules and pustules. These are essentially comedones (described above) that have become inflamed. By inflamed, we mean bacteria get involved. The most common bacteria is Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes for short (hence where the term “acne” comes from!)
HOW DO THEY FORM?
These form by bacteria being added into the mix of dead skin cells and oil trapped in hair follicles. The bacteria infects the yucky mix trapped in the comedone deep below your skin’s surface. As the area is inflamed, it hurts when pressing into it and is harder to get rid of.
PAPULES VS. PUSTULES
Papules are essentially inflamed comedones, forming red or pink bumps on the skin. When papules become filled with a lot of white pus, they are pustules. They essentially look like whiteheads, just that the surrounding circular area is red and inflamed. More severe forms of inflammatory acne are nodules and cysts. Over-the-counter (OTC) products will likely not help and you will need a dermatologist’s intervention to cure these. P.S. You may be asking yourself, ‘Well, if I have hair follicles on my hands, why don’t I get acne on my hands?‘. The answer is simple: the palm of your hands do not have oil glands and “only follicles that have sebaceous glands attached to them (sebaceous follicles) are involved with acne. These follicles are located on the face, chest, upper back, and upper arms.”1 Phew
HOW ARE DIET AND ACNE RELATED?
What you eat affects how your body functions overall. So it stands to reason that what is good for acne isn’t much different than what’s good for a healthy body overall. Enter the acne diet.
THE ACNE DIET
The biggest takeaway from recent studies on diet and acne is that a low sugar, well-balanced diet is ideal for reducing inflammation and regulating hormone (and thus, sebum) levels. Here are our top tips for a clear skin diet:
DRINK WATER
Staying hydrated is nothing more than Nutrition 101. After all, your body is 60 percent water, so it’s no surprise you need to drink enough water to optimise physical processes. Drinking water is also key to consuming the correct amount of daily calories – often we mistake hunger for thirst, so when in doubt drink water first. Water is the foundation of healthy, clear skin so aim for 8 glasses of water every day.
CUT BACK ON SUGAR
Sugar is decidedly not a part of any acne diet. Unfortunately, it’s in just about everything we eat, all day long, making it difficult to avoid. Keep your daily sugar intake within the recommended two to four servings of the fructose found in fruit, and avoid sugars found elsewhere, like in refined carbohydrates and sweets. Sugar, particularly from certain sources, can exacerbate acne – and cause a whole host of other health problems.
CUT BACK ON ALCOHOL
Most alcoholic drinks are super sugary, and thus bad for you. Then there’s the simple and stark fact that alcohol is literally a poison you are choosing to put in your body (and probably paying good money for) that can cause heart disease, stroke and dementia – just to name a few nasty side-effects. Forget your skin – just about every organ in your body hates alcohol. So if you do drink, do so in moderation – and drink lots of water to mitigate alcohol’s effects.
AVOID PROCESSED FOODS
Processed foods tend to contain more sugars, salts and fats than we need, while meals you prepare with fresh ingredients at home tend to be healthier because you can control what you put in. It may seem difficult and more costly at first, but once you have stocked your kitchen with the basic cooking ingredients you routinely need, you’ll find that cooking at home isn’t just healthier, it’s also cheaper. You’ll never return to eating from packages again.
DITCH DAIRY (BUT KEEP GREEK YOGURT)
Dairy is high in sugar content (yes, lactose is also a sugar, just like glucose and fructose). Specifically, though, dairy consumption has been linked to increased acne. Although dairy is high in nutrients our bodies love – like calcium and protein – food from animals may not be the ideal source of protein, as study after study has linked animal-based proteins to higher incidents of cancer.
The science isn’t totally conclusive, so you don’t have to swear off meat and cheese forever, but certainly, doctors now agree that decreasing your intake of animal proteins in favor of more vegetables is a good idea, for your skin and otherwise. You don’t have to strike dairy from your list altogether: try a sugar-free (or as close to sugar-free as possible) Greek yogurt as a source of calcium, protein and probiotics.
INGREDIENTS YOU NEED TO INCLUDE ON YOUR MENU ASAP
Green leafy vegetables (Proponents recommend beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, kale, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers and spinach), Antioxidant-rich berries, Dark chocolate (Contains zinc, another acne-fighting nutrient), Oysters (Zinc), Pumpkin seeds, Green tea (Rich in polyphenols - increases blood flow and oxygen to the skin)
SUPPLEMENTS:
It should be obvious by now that everything that you put into your body is inextricably linked with the quality of your skin. Your skin is, after all your largest organ and is simply a reflection of what you put inside your body. Healthy skin starts from within: The main beneficial micronutrients that help control and reduce acne are:
The blue light on the CELLUMA™https://celluma.co.uk/ face works to kill the bacteria which cause acne within the skin. The LED therapy also works to decrease inflammation, encourage healing and boost circulation in the Skin.
Are There Any Downsides to Microdermabrasion? A correctly performed procedure by a fully qualified microdermabrasion therapist will result in nothing more than the skin feeling tight, occasionally with a mild redness. These effects will normally subside within 24 hours of the treatment. Sometimes microdermabrasion can trigger a healing crisis in problematic skin, such as an acne breakout in acne sufferers or pimples for those with congested skin. This is a sign that the treatment is taking effect. This temporary reaction will subside and great improvements will be seen over subsequent treatments.
For troubled and/or sensitive skins and acne-like conditions
Main active ingredients:
Salicylic Acid 20% – Derived from willow tree bark, this has keratolytic, comedolytic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
Lactic Acid 12% – Has water binding properties and stimulates collagen synthesis.
Glycolic Acid 12% – Exfoliates the epidermis, promotes epidermolysis, disperses basal layer melanin & stimulates the growth of new skin. Glycolic acid also reduces the amount of surface skin oil
RECOMMENDED TREATMENT PLAN:
Medium to severe acne problems: 6 treatments (every 1-4 weeks)
Mild acne or oily/sensitive skin 4 treatments (every 1-4 weeks
EXTRA TIPS:
Always avoid heavy and congesting make-up and opt for mineral technology that allows the skin to breathe.
TOP TIP : Make sure you regularly clean your makeup brushes and sponges and here’s why...
Tested makeup / facial sponges had an average of 1 million bacteria colonies on each sponge – that’s 1000 times higher than the EU safety limit for beauty cosmetics!
The types of bacteria found on makeup / facial sponges can be really harmful. They can lead to acne, skin infections, viral illnesses, and even harmful immune system issues like sepsis.
The types of infections that you can get from these bacteria are also really hard to treat. You really, really need to clean your sponge.
Make your sponges sparkle! ISOCLEAN’s cosmetic sponge cleaner expertly eliminates harmful bacteria, dirt and stubborn makeup stains, making your cosmetic sponges look as good as new in just 60 seconds!
Choose moisturisers and sun protectors that are water-based and oil-free such as hyaluronic acid serums. Products will often guide you on this point by using the term ‘non-comedogenic which means that it won't clog your pores.
CLEARER, BRIGHTER, BETTER YOU...
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