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Before we discuss acne scarring, it’s important to understand the different types. There are two: pigment scarring and texture scarring. Pigment scarring involves changes in skin colour after an acne breakout and has two subtypes: post-inflammatory erythema (red spots) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots). Regardless of subtype, both require the same treatment.

Texture scarring, on the other hand, is considered “true” scarring and occurs with severe, deep inflammatory cystic acne. These scars are difficult to treat and may require medical and cosmetic procedures.

To address pigment scarring, the best approach is to increase skin cell turnover using ingredients like retinol, chemical exfoliants like a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and poly hydroxy acids (PHAs), and ingredients that decrease pigment production like retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid, and kojic acid. It’s important also to use sunscreen to prevent sun damage and sunburn, which can worsen hyperpigmentation.

While pigment scarring can resolve on its own over time, it can take 3-6 months or up to a year, depending on the type of acne and how much it was picked at. It’s best to avoid picking at pimples to prevent worsening acne scarring/hyperpigmentation.

In summary, understanding the type of acne scarring is important in determining the best treatment approach. Pigment scarring can be addressed with active ingredients to increase skin cell turnover and decrease pigment production, while texture scarring requires medical and cosmetic procedures.

Ahh, blackheads. Common and stubborn. So, what are they and how do they form?
Blackheads are formed when dead skin cells mix with excess oil (sebum) and other debris within a pore, causing it to become clogged. When this mixture reaches the surface of the pore, it oxidizes and turns black. Blackheads are commonly found in oily areas like the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).

However, popping or extracting them can cause damage and scarring, leading to a worse and more inflamed breakout. Instead, it’s important to establish a routine that effectively cleanses and clears dead skin cells, excess oil, and built-up debris by exfoliating regularly.

Salicylic acid is the go-to ingredient for getting rid of blackheads. Using a cleanser with salicylic acid once a day or up to three times a week can be effective. Niacinamide and clay masks can also help control and reduce excess oil.

• Avoid using harsh drying alcohols such denatured alcohol, SD alcohol and isopropyl alcohol.
• Essential oils.

Acne management involves more than just using active ingredients. Small details and habits can make a big difference in effectively clearing your acne while avoiding bad habits that worsen your skin. It’s important to incorporate positive habits that benefit your skin as well.

1. Stop touching your face, this will help to not spread bacteria and worsen breakouts.
2. Do not pop your pimples, this can increase bacteria growth and the pimple could get more inflamed which can increase the risk of scarring.
3. Avoid using products that contain ingredients such as denatured alcohol, SD alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol which can all dry out your skin and cause your skin to produce even more oil (sebum).
4. Reduce your intake of excessive amounts of sugar which can increase oil production.
5. Do not spot-treat your acne, instead of waiting for a breakout to appear before using an active ingredient on the breakout, incorporate an anti-acne ingredient consistently into your routine that is applied to the entire skin to help clear your acne.

1. Use a separate washcloth to dry your skin after cleansing and wash this cloth at least once a week and keep it dry after use.
2. Wash your pillowcase and bed sheets at least once a week. Use a gentle detergent when doing so.
3. Remove all makeup before bed.
4. Be patient and consistent with an anti-acne routine, full results can take up to 3 months.
5. Do not incorporate too many active ingredients at once, to avoid irritation and sensitivity

Dealing with acne can be a frustrating experience, especially when you have dry skin. While most people with acne have oily skin, addressing dry-skin acne requires a unique approach.

To effectively manage dry-skin acne, there are a few things you should incorporate into your routine and certain products you should use.

Firstly, it’s important to look for a moisturizer that contains niacinamide. This ingredient helps to control oil production, which in turn helps to manage acne breakouts. At the same time, niacinamide also acts as a moisturizing ingredient for the skin, keeping your skin hydrated. Our Daily Moisturizer is a great option that contains niacinamide.

Secondly, it’s essential to be gentle with the products you use. Avoid overusing certain active ingredients, such as exfoliating acids. Instead, opt for wash-off salicylic acid products that minimize the potential drying effects of the ingredient.

By incorporating these basic factors into your anti-acne routine, you can effectively manage dry-skin acne.

Acne has four primary causes, but each of these causes have sub-causes that can trigger acne breakouts. The first cause is excess oil production, which is mediated by hormones and starts during puberty when oil glands become active. Hormones cause an increase in sebum production, which leads to the second cause of clogged pores. When oil production increases, the pores get blocked by oil, and skin cells become sticky, resulting in clogged pores.

The third cause is bacterial overgrowth. Everyone has bacteria on their skin.

C. Acnes is the type of bacteria that causes acne, and it multiplies rapidly when there is a perfect mixture of increased oil production and clogged pores. This leads to the fourth cause, inflammation, which occurs when immune cells attack the bacteria and cause inflammation to build up around the affected area.

To address acne, it is essential to know the active ingredients that target each of these causes. It is vital to choose the right ingredients to clear up acne effectively. Certain foods can trigger acne by increasing oil production and causing inflammation.

Foods to avoid include those with high sugar content, whey protein, and vitamin B12 supplements. It is best to check your diet and avoid any food that you notice is causing acne breakouts. While there have not been many conclusive studies on diet and acne, avoiding certain foods can help prevent acne breakouts.

Click here to learn How to get rid of acne.

Acne is a complex issue, so it’s no surprise that many people wonder how to get rid of it. The key is to use skincare ingredients that specifically target acne. While having a great cleanser, serum, and moisturizer is important, they won’t make a difference for your acne if they don’t contain the right ingredients. Here are some of the main ingredients you should incorporate into your routine:

• Salicylic acid
• Retinol
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Azelaic acid
• Niacinamide

These ingredients can be found in various skincare products, including cleansers, serums, spot treatments, and moisturizers. However, be careful not to mix these ingredients at the same time, as this could cause irritation. The only ingredient you can use at the same time, i.e., both in the morning or evening is niacinamide. The rest must be used at different times, i.e., one in the morning and then the other in the evening or vice versa.

Additionally, depending on your skin’s sensitivity, you may need to avoid certain ingredients altogether, even if used at different times of the day. As long as you’re cautious and pay attention to your skin’s needs, these ingredients are generally safe to use together in your skincare routine at different times.

There is a lot of misinformation about acne and its causes and treatments that have spread on social media. Therefore, we must dispel some myths about acne.

There is a common misconception that people with oily skin should dry out their skin to prevent acne breakouts. However, this is not true and can lead to more breakouts. Our skin naturally produces oil, called sebum, which helps moisturize and condition the skin.

If you use harsh products or over-cleanse your skin, you can damage the skin barrier, making it difficult for the skin to fight off environmental damage and lead to more acne breakouts. Additionally, drying out your skin too much can cause it to produce even more oil to compensate, leading to excessive oil production and more breakouts. Instead, it is important to be gentle with your skincare routine and avoid over-exfoliating. Use proven ingredients and be careful not to irritate your skin.

There is a popular misconception that drinking water can help clear up acne. However, this is not true. Acne is caused by four main factors: excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation. Drinking water does not directly address any of these causes. While staying hydrated is important for overall health, it is not a cure for acne.

Acne is not just a problem for teenagers; it can occur at any age. Adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s can also experience acne. To effectively treat acne, regardless of age, it is important to understand its main causes.

The primary causes of acne are the overproduction of oil, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation. While overproduction of oil is most common in teenagers, adults in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s can also experience oily skin.

Bacteria, specifically P. Acnes on our skin, can contribute to the formation of acne breakouts.

Clogged pores are a result of not exfoliating and of our skin cells sticking together which is a common after-effect of oily skin, and as we age, our natural skin cell turnover rate slows down, potentially leading to clogged pores.

Inflammation can be caused by many factors such as diet and skin injuries.

To clear your acne at any age, it is recommended to follow a consistent routine with specific ingredients that target acne. Such as:

• Salicylic acid
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Azelaic acid
• Retinol

Although sunlight can help to dry out acne and certain wavelengths can activate responses that kill acne-causing bacteria, relying on the sun to improve your acne is not advisable.

Sunlight and sun exposure without the use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen can cause inflammation and redness, which are major causes of acne and can lead to more breakouts.

To manage the positive effects of blue-light wavelengths without encountering the negative effects of sunlight-induced inflammation, it is recommended to use LED light therapy. However, it is not worth risking the potential damage that the sun can cause to your skin.

It’s a common myth that people with oily skin don’t need a moisturizer. The reasoning behind this is twofold.

Firstly, those with oily skin often believe that moisturizers will make their skin even oilier.

Secondly, older moisturizers were often heavy and didn’t work well on oily or acne-prone skin. However, modern moisturizers are non-comedogenic and full of ingredients that help control oil production and protect the skin barrier, which is especially important for those with oily or acne-prone skin.

It’s important to note that acne can be caused by the overproduction of oil. Many acne treatments can cause dryness, and people often try to dry out their skin as much as possible, which can lead to more oil production and hence more acne. To combat this, it’s important to moisturize regularly. Additionally, some acne treatments can cause excessive dryness, which can lead to inflammation. Moisturizing with a barrier-repairing ingredient like niacinamide can help combat this and control oil production.

Cleansing is an important step in any skincare routine, but this can also be the harshest on the skin compared to other steps. It’s crucial to use a non-irritating cleanser that contains hydrating ingredients to protect your skin barrier. Many people with acne believe that washing their face more often will lead to cleaner skin, but this can cause more harm than good. Over-cleansing can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to excessive dryness and increased oil production, which can result in more breakouts.

Dermatologists recommend cleansing at most twice a day, but for some, once a day at night may be sufficient. If you have acne, it’s important to use a cleanser with active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to treat it effectively.

Skin purging has become a popular term to describe the process of experiencing new acne breakouts after using certain active ingredients that exfoliate and increase skin cell turnover. The claim is that these ingredients “purge” the skin of existing clogged pores and bring them to the surface quickly. After the purging wears off, people start seeing amazing benefits from the product and active ingredient. Essentially, it is when your skin gets worse before it gets better.

Skin purging is often caused by an exfoliant such as salicylic acid (BHA), gluconolactone (PHA), glycolic acid (AHA) or using an ingredient that increases skin cell turnover such as retinol. When you use an exfoliant, it sheds and dissolves dead skin cells and brings new skin cells to the surface. This can bring already existing clogged pores to the surface as well. The same applies to retinol, which increases skin cell turnover and reveals new skin cells, bringing any already existing clogged pores to the surface.

Purging can be frustrating because all of a sudden, many new breakouts are forming. However, it is a good sign because it shows that the exfoliant or retinol is working as it’s supposed to. Purging can last up to 4-6 weeks, but after your skin has purged, you will see amazing results as these ingredients work to maintain clear skin and stop new acne breakouts from forming. Do not be tempted to stop using a specific product or ingredient because of a sudden breakout/s occurring. Skin purging is temporary, so stick it out.

Purging won’t happen to everyone, but if it does happen to you, stick it out. To tell if your skin is purging or just breaking out after using a new product or active ingredient, consider the duration and location. Purging typically lasts between 4-6 weeks and only occurs in the locations where you typically get acne. If you experience breakouts anywhere else or after the 4–6-week period, it may be an indication that the product is worsening your acne or not working, and you may need to try another product and active ingredient. Keep in mind that purging only occurs with an ingredient that increases skin cell turnover such as an exfoliant or retinol. A common myth is that niacinamide causes purging, but thankfully, it does not.