While most people think that acne is something that only hormonal teenagers get, there are many adults who suffer from acne flare-ups. In fact, 25% of all adult men and 50% of adult women will deal with acne at some point of their life.
So what are the physical factors responsible for the formation of acne blemishes?
1) Pores becoming clogged is the obvious one.
There are three things that the pores may become clogged with, and often times they become clogged with all three: sebum, dirt, and dead skin. However, each thing that can clog a pore should be dealt with separately.
Sebum is the element that has most to do with hormones. Androgen, a hormone that usually increases in the body during puberty, can cause oil glands to increase their sebum production. In turn, this means that the sebum can more easily clog the pores.
Interestingly, some people’s sebum is more likely to cause acne than others’. This has to do with their sebum’s composition. Those whose sebum lacks in omega-6 (aka linoleic acid) are more likely to experience breakouts – this is also why we find that oils rich in omega-6 are excellent in moisturisers for oily skin.
One way of combating pore-clogging sebum is to keep the skin clean of excess oil.
However, a trap acne-sufferers often fall into is that they use harsh cleansers that completely strip the skin of oil, as well as moisture. The sebum, while being one element in the cause of acne, is also an element in preventing it – it helps to keep the skin at a pH where it is harder for bacteria to live. The second problem with stripping cleansers is that they dehydrate the skin. Dehydrated skin will often misbehave, whether by improperly shedding its dead skin cells, or by allowing bacteria in more easily.
The key here is balance, so you want to use a gentle cleanser that will not over strip the skin, as well as a moisturiser that will help to keep the skin healthy and hydrated, whilst preventing from bacteria entering in. The Nairian Cleanser is gentle and has a non-disruptive pH, which makes it an excellent choice for acne-sufferers.
For extreme overproduction of oil that is not mitigated by proper cleansing, it is best to consult a doctor. Many people find that changing their diet also helps. Personally, I find that limiting my dairy consumption, combined with a complete skin care routine, has made some difference.
Impurities are anything that might exist on the skin that can mix with sebum and dead skin, and clog the pore. This could be dirt and pollution from the day-to-day life, as well as comedogenic makeup and skin care products. To deal with the first two, cleansing the skin at night (and maybe also in the morning) should suffice. If a cleanser is not fully rinsed from the skin it could also clog the pores, so it’s very important to thoroughly remove it either with water, or a facial cloth/sponge.
For the latter two, it’s overall better to avoid any products that have comedogenic ingredients. This requires trial and error, because something that might be comedogenic for one person may be fine for another, and vice versa. The key here is to introduce products into your routine one at a time, conduct patch tests, and pay attention to ingredient labels.
The last thing that can clog the pores is dead skin, often times when it is mixed with the previous two pore-clogging culprits.
There are two elements to preventing dead skin from clogging pores: First, keep the skin healthy and prevent unnecessary cell-death and second, make sure dead skin is shed before it has a chance to clog the pore. The first part can be achieved by not putting the skin through unnecessary stress, for example: avoiding overly hot showers, avoiding harsh cleansers, using sun protection, and keeping the skin hydrated and pH balanced.
The second part can be achieved with semi-regular exfoliation. One thing to keep in mind: anyone with active pustules should avoid using physical exfoliants, like cloths or scrubs, because they can break the pustule and spread bacteria. Rough scrubs are also likelier to irritate thin or inflamed skin.
Personally, I also strongly urge against using scrubs that contain plastic beads, since those cannot be filtered after they fall down the shower drain, and have been proven to cause massive environmental damage.
After getting clogged, the pores become infected with bacteria. This infection is countered with inflammation, which is why pimples become red, pus-filled, and painful to the touch. The key here is to prevent the proliferation of bacteria in the skin, and the solutions to that are varied.
Healthy skin that is at a proper pH level (5.5 is the ideal) is a less friendly environment to bacteria, so once again, a low ph cleanser is the key.
However, specifically targeting the bacteria in this situation will probably be the most effective solution. Commonly cited but fairly harsh solutions include topical antibacterial ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
3) The clogged pore becoming inflamed is another part of the acne puzzle.
Treating those physical signs would actually be the fastest way to improve the appearance of the skin.
Cucumber extract, Vitamin E, and Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) leaf oil are some of the powerfully soothing ingredients found in Nairian’s Oil Free Moisturizer.
Grape seed oil is another effective ingredient for fighting acne and it is a major component in Nairian’s Moisturizer for Oily Skin, in addition to antioxidant vitamin E, soothing Aspen Bark, and acne-fading Lemon Basil.
There is no magic potion that will cure acne. Because acne is caused by a combination of multiple factors, some of which could be genetic and some external so the solution to it must be a combination of practices.
A full, healthy skin care routine is key, as is a healthy lifestyle including diet, so it is important to pay attention to what you use & eat.
Stay healthy and take care of your beauty inside and outside!