We have all faced situations when our skin just doesn’t let us look and feel our best. Despite all the skin care regimes, healthy lifestyle, and diets we may follow it just doesn’t stop those wretched pimples from coming. It is particularly frustrating when we experience regular breakouts with no hope of achieving clear skin.

Our skin is the largest organ we have, and it impacts our image and confidence when it doesn’t look quite how we would like. Unfortunately, there isn’t as much awareness and understanding about skin as needed and this can lead to problems and unintentional damage.

People mostly associate acne with teenage skin but very few know that it is a condition that affects absolutely everyone at some point. Acne can trouble infants, toddlers, teenagers, and adults. It is not restricted to the face and can affect any part of our body. We are all familiar with the spots and pimples commonly associated with acne, but it also includes black and white heads, cysts, papules, and pustules.

Acne can be heavily affected by hormones, diet, and lifestyle choices but there are many myths associated with this condition too. The right education around this topic will help everyone to look and feel their best. Here are 10 tips to help fight the acne woes.

  1. Cleanse correctly

Make sure you wash your face or affected area twice a day to remove the excess oil and dirt. Don’t over wash as this can dry out your skin. If the skin starts to lack moisture it will produce more sebum and further aggravate the problem. When washing the water should be lukewarm and strong temperatures should be avoided. Be careful when using exfoliators and avoid scrubbing.

MYTH Acne is caused by bad hygiene.

FACT Maintaining good hygiene is only part of the solution and acne is not a sign of being dirty.

  1. Use the right skincare

It is hard to choose the correct products when there are so many options available on the market. Look for specialised skin care products that are formulated for acne and acne prone skin. Follow the daily steps to a healthy skin care routine which include:

(1) Cleansing using gentle non comedogenic soaps and lukewarm water

(2) Use toner but avoid those with alcohol as these will dry your skin

(3) Use a good serum with Vitamin C

(4) Moisturise using non-oil based products and use only water based emollients if the skin gets very dry

(5) Use a broad-spectrum SPF with UVA and UVB protection

(6) Avoid heavy makeup if wearing and try to use mineral-based products

  1. ii) Night time skin care routine is an absolute must, and you can simply replace the third step with a retinol based serum and simply eliminate steps 5 & 6. Remember never sleep with make up on.

MYTH Acne is infectious.

FACT This is not the case it cannot be caught or spread and following a regular skin care routine will reduce the breakouts.

  1. Get professional help

Consult a dermatologist or skin care specialist for your condition and avoid self-diagnosing. Be open and consistent with the regime they recommend to you. Avoid constant changing of the skin care products and regimes you use especially without specialist advice.

MYTH Acne can be self-treated.

FACT It is unfortunately often a long process to treat acne conditions and a professional can guide and treat you based on your problem areas. Maintaining your skin health is something you should continue to do by yourself.

  1. Pamper yourself with regular Facials

Did you know that medical grade facials such as Hydrafacial and peels can work wonders for acne and troubled skin. In my years of running my clinic I have had many satisfied clients that benefited from regular facials combined with peels and skin care products. These facials are much more advanced than regular pampering facials we get when we just want to spoil ourselves. Hydrafacials will work with regulated and controlled acids to clean deep-rooted impurities in the skin and extract clogged pores that both treat and prevent breakouts. Please remember it is advisable to seek out qualified and regulated salons and clinics for your concerns and it is best to avoid purchasing regulated peels online.

ALERT Avoid DIY jobs and experimenting on your skin.

Please remember that everyone’s skin is different and what works for one person may not work for another. Particularly if you have sensitive or troubled skin you must take extra care to not try something which may inadvertently further damage your skin.

  1. Eat healthy and exercise regularly

What we put into our bodies is often a reflection of how we look on the outside. Balance your diet and avoid excessive amounts of refined sugars and processed foods. Try to cut back on the caffeine and alcohol and get regular sleep and reduce stress. Exercising has many benefits for us, and it is always recommended in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Aim to build in regular workouts into your daily life and remember this can be as simple as taking a brisk walk at least 3 times a week. Acne is affected by hormones and a healthy diet and lifestyle will help to balance your hormones. Look to join a gym and stay active and remember that many gyms offer diet and lifestyle advice as part of their membership benefits. Try meditation and yoga to control stress and for better sleep. Find out about IV nutrition and explore the benefits of this type of therapy. Much of what we eat is not actually absorbed by our bodies, but IV Vitamin therapy is specifically concocted to administer high doses of various vitamins in a controlled setting and whilst the primary objective is to feel better afterwards, there is often a visible glow in people’s skin too after having this.

MYTH Acne is caused by poor diet.

FACT Diet and lifestyle contribute to overall health, and this is reflected in out skin but primarily acne is caused by hormones and finding ways to control and balance the hormones is key.

  1. Invest in yourself

Many people are put off from getting the right treatments and products they need because of the cost. However, few are aware of the large number of options that exist and what they can choose from which won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Instead of thinking about the cost think of it as an investment that you are making in the health of your skin. Many clinics and specialists will offer finance plans that are designed to help you look and feel your best and maintain your skin whilst remaining affordable. Also remember acne is not a problem that goes away in one go, it is often a long process that requires commitment to treat.

MYTH

It is too expensive to treat.

FACT Whilst the process of treating and controlling acne can be long and time consuming, help is always available.

  1. Do not pop those pimples

It might be tempting to pop pimples once they appear, but this will lead to many more problems instead. The skin around the area can become infected, scarred, and pigmented. Instead keep your skin clean and apply topical treatments as directed by the professionals. Do not be tempted to squeeze black or whitehead either, instead seek out the correct remedy for them.

MYTH Popping pimples will make them go away.

FACT You will only end up with more problems if you pick at or pop the pimples this is also true of black and whiteheads.

  1. Maintain good hygiene

Always use clean and fresh towels, sponges, cotton swabs, to clean and dry your skin. Avoid touching your face; this became the mantra during COVID. However, we should extend it for acne too. Our fingers and nails carry bacteria all the time and constant touching of the face and affected skin especially with unwashed hands can lead to the spread of bacteria and cause more breakouts. Try also to avoid letting the hair down and covering the face with it. Washing your hair regularly will also help towards controlling the spread of acne around your face.

MYTH Whilst we already spoke about the myth surrounding acne as a sign of having dirty skin, we must be sensible in having good hygiene and preventing infections and spread of harmful bacteria that may also lead to more breakouts on our skin.

  1. Hydrate

Remember to always stay well hydrated inside out! Drink at least 2 litres of water daily and avoid too many sugary drinks. Neglecting to properly hydrate ourselves will lead to our skin becoming parched and producing more sebum to compensate for this and to replenish the lost moisture. This in turn will further clog the pores and lead to more pimples and other skin problems.

MYTH You can substitute water with other liquids.

FACT There is nothing better to put into your body than good old H2O!

  1. Apply SPF always but go easy on the makeup

Nothing makes me happier than seeing the current awareness around the importance of wearing SPF. This is a topic I have been passionately advocating for years. Sun protection is an absolute must for everyone regardless of race, gender, age or where we live. Protecting against UV damage is of paramount importance in preventing diseases like skin cancer and problems like uneven skin tone. We must all use broad spectrum SPFs which cover against UVA and UVB damage throughout the seasons even if the sun is not out and irrespective of whether we are indoors or outdoors. SPF can sometimes feel heavy on our skin and if using oil based products, it can aggravate skin for those prone to breakouts. Therefore it is so important to use especially formulated products that are designed for acne prone skin.

For those that do wear makeup it is advisable to wear it lightly and to try mineral makeup as it is lighter and kinder on the skin. Many may not be aware but there are specific make up options that are designed for acne prone skin and make up options that can be used straight after having skin treatments and procedures done.

MYTH SPF and make up will cause more breakouts.

FACT You must choose your products wisely and never neglect to wear SPF.

At The GAP we are passionate about not only skin care but also skin health, some of the product lines we use and have great faith in include:

  • Noon Aesthetics for topical treatments for acne and acne prone skin, they also have a makeup range specific for troubled skin
  • SkinMed Tebiskin range
  • Heliocare