How To Get One Up On Acne
Nobody likes acne. It’s the skin condition that definitely wasn’t invited to the party, but always seems to show up anyway.
But just what are you meant to do when a spot makes its home on your face? We’re awfully glad you asked because we’re here to shed some light on how to make acne a thing of the past.
Why Do I Have Acne?
This age-old question is one that often plagues people but the truth is, the reason you have acne might not be one you can necessarily target at the source. More often than not, acne occurs as a result of the overproduction of sebum from the sebaceous glands.
The sebaceous glands are tiny glands found near our hair follicles that release a substance called sebum. Sebum helps to form the slightly greasy surface film of the skin. Unfortunately, for the acne-prone among us, the sebaceous glands often produce just a bit too much of this substance, resulting in oily skin and the emergence of spots.
In some instances, you might suffer with acne as a result of a hormonal imbalance or it might even run in your family – these are things you sadly can’t control. However, there’s no need to fear because there are certainly things you can change!
What Can I Do To Help Myself?
If your acne is a result of your skincare products, you ought to think about switching them up. Sometimes, the products we use in an attempt to make our skin better might be making it worse. This is particularly true if they’re not labelled as ‘non-comedogenic’. In a nutshell, a non-comedogenic product has been specifically designed not to clog your pores and therefore shouldn’t lead to the formation of spots.
Your spots might be a result of the products you’re using. Should that be the case, you can always find out. Locate your nearest mirror and inspect your spots without touching them. If you can help it, you should generally avoid touching your face. Are small, flesh-coloured spots staring back at you? You’re probably looking at a comedone.
Blackheads and whiteheads are common forms of comedone. These occur when melanin is oxidised, which turns a pore black. After you make the switch to non-comedogenic products, you’ll most likely notice these spots disappear in no time. Using products with active ingredients, such as glycolic acid and retinol, are a great way to slough away dead skin cells that might clog your pores. If you want to find out more about where to put these products in your skincare routine, check out one of our latest blogs.
Another thing you can control is how well you cleanse your skin. Swiping a makeup wipe across your face and calling it a day won’t do you any favours in the long run. In order to thoroughly cleanse your skin and prepare it for your carefully curated range of skincare products, you should consider double cleansing. First, use an oil or balm-based cleanser to break down whatever you’ve been wearing on your skin, before following up with a gentle gel or foam cleanser that caters to your skin. By doing this, you ensure that your skin is free of any substances that have the potential to be pore-clogging and acne-inducing.
Sometimes, there’s only so much you can do on your own. Maybe you’ve managed to get rid of your spots but now you’ve been left with scarring and you don’t know how to treat it? If that’s the case, we’re here to help.
Is It Time For Professional Help?
Acne and the path of destruction it often leaves behind can be tricky to deal with. To combat it, we offer dermaroller treatments for the face and body. This treatment stimulates your skin’s natural functions and essentially forces the body to take it up a notch, thus speeding up the healing process and your cell turnover.
You’re likely to notice a significant improvement after your first session, but to see the best results, we recommended 4-6 sessions in total. Long-term sufferers of acne will definitely benefit from this treatment the most but it is also effective at targeting signs of ageing and various pigmentation concerns.
Once you’ve been successful in keeping your spots at bay, you might notice that your skin looks… a little worse for wear. If this is the case, we’ve got just the peel for you. The Obagi® Radiance Peel is just what you need to help combat scarring and open pores. In this procedure, a carefully curated blend of salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid work together to restore your skin’s radiance. Book today.
Get In Touch
At North West Aesthetics, we’re more than happy to answer your skincare questions and to find out which of our treatment options would be best for you. Please feel free to get in touch with our friendly team, they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.
Visit our website, email enquiries@northwestaesthetics.co.uk or call us on 01942 909 003 today to find out how we can help you beat acne for good.