Acne
Acne is associated with increased grease production; therefore people with acne often notice and complain of the greasy skin.
How common is acne?
Many young people will have a few acne spots at some time but around 15% will have more troublesome spots called acne.
Acne usually starts in the early teens and, if not treated, peaks between the ages of 17 and 21 years. Most people are acne-free by the time they are 25, although, in a few people, acne may persist to the age of 40 or older. Acne is also common just before a woman’s monthly period.
What causes acne?
Grease glands:
These are controlled by the sex hormones and this is why acne starts at puberty. However acne is seldom due to an excess of these hormones but is usually due to an excessive response of the grease glands to normal hormone levels.
It is not clear why and how blackheads and whiteheads develop, but the grease secreted by the sebaceous glands (any of the simple or branched glands in the skin that secrete an oily substance) probably plays a part in their formation.
Skin bacteria:
After puberty, the skin of the face and upper trunk, with or without acne, contains bacteria. These bacteria get into the ducts of the grease glands where they make chemicals that eventually penetrate the deeper parts of the skin. This does not mean acne is infectious. It is due to the action of normal skin bacteria on the abnormal quantity and quality of grease produced by acne sufferers.
What are the symptoms of acne?
• Blackheads.
• Whiteheads.
• Pimples (some filled with pus).
These skin eruptions can be painful and, in some cases, spots may become large and tender. These are called nodules and may lead to scarring — scars may be raised from the skin surface (keloid scars) or depressed (atrophic scars).
Acne spots can usually be kept under control but continuous treatment may be necessary for many years.
Treatment is aimed at cleaning out the pores, keeping oil and dirt out of the pores, and reducing inflammation.
Your skin therapist will discuss your skin care and assess which products, such as soaps, you should continue using and which you should stop using. They will also discuss the various options for treatment.
Possible treatments for acne are:
Topical treatment: This is treatment that is applied to the skin. Some topical treatments are also available from your chemist — the most effective topical treatments that can be bought over the counter contain benzoyl peroxide. Topical treatment must be applied to the entire affected area and not just to the spots and it should be continued to keep the spots under control.
Oral antibiotics: These are the most frequent oral treatments. They reduce the number of skin bacteria and also reduce inflammation.
Hormonal treatment: Ordinary contraceptive pills have little or no effect on acne, but there are other hormonal treatments that can reduce excessive grease production.
There are other strong treatments related to vitamin A. These are only likely to be prescribed by a Dermatologist after your doctor has referred you for assessment in the more serious cases where other treatments have failed.
What can you do?
Change your face cloth every day, as bacteria can grow on damp cloth.
Wash your hands more frequently and avoid putting your fingers and hands to your face unnecessarily.
Don't squeeze, pick, scratch or rub your skin as scars may form if you squeeze pimples.
Keep a record of the foods you eat and try to figure out if any foods make your acne worse.
Sunshine may help acne but it is obviously important for everyone to avoid sunburn.
Try to avoid extreme stress as this may aggravate acne. Stress reduction strategies such as exercise or meditation may help to alleviate stress.
What is the long-term outlook?
Acne is usually one of the most straightforward of the persistent skin conditions to treat, but it must be treated sooner rather than later. Go to your doctor about this condition. Early treatment minimises the risk of scarring.
Blemish and Age by Skinceuticals.
- Created for the concerns of the blemish-prone -adult
- prevents and corrects imperfections and signs of ageing
- decongests clogged pores to help reduce breakouts
- contains glycolic, salicylic and citric acids.
3 NEW PRODUCTS TO FIGHT ACNE & FIGHT AGEING
Blemish + AGE Cleansing Gel
Blemish + AGE Solution (toner)
Blemish + AGE Defence Serum
A key member of the Blemish + Age Line Up, Blemish + Age Defence is a targeted, oil-free approach to treating adult imperfections and signs of aging. This 1st-to-market acid blend combines 2% dioic acid with an optimal alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid formulation, designed to prevent the formation of blemishes, minimize hyper pigmentation, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Specifically created for the concerns of the blemish-prone adult Blemish + Age Defence goes beyond efficiently treating imperfections to also address signs of aging. Salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid combat blemishes; glycolic and citric acids treat fine lines, wrinkles, and roughness; and the addition of dioic acid fights imperfections, reduces excess sebum production, and prevents hyper pigmentation that can cause skin to appear prematurely aged.
Clinical studies on the Blemish + Age Line Up showed significant improvements in inflammatory and non-inflammatory blemishes, fine lines, and uneven skin tone, while displaying exceptional tolerance and lack of side effects. Blemish + Age Defence is a highly tolerable, efficient treatment for aging, blemish-prone skin.
Size: 30 ml
Benefits:
Powerful, targeted serum to address adult blemishes and signs of aging
• In a clinical study, significantly reduced pustules by week 1, and sebum production and fine lines by week 4
• May be used all over the face to prevent and correct imperfections and aging
• Prepares skin for clinical peel procedures, particularly Micro peel or Micro peel Plus
• Cosmetically elegant formula is ideal for layering with other products and under make-up
2% Dioic Acid
• Inhibits sebum production
• Reduces P acnes bacteria
• Prevents hyper pigmentation caused by inflammation or UV exposure
0.3% Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
• Precise, lipid-soluble exfoliation
• Decongests clogged pores
• Diminishes surface indicators of age
1.5% Salicylic Acid
• Refines pores
• Helps reduce breakouts
3.5% Glycolic Acid and 0.5% Citric Acid
• Accelerate exfoliation
• Reduce the appearance of signs of aging
Directions:
Once or twice daily, apply 4-5 drops of Blemish + Age Defence to a dry face.
1/Cleanse & Tone
2/'Apply antioxidant
3/Apply defence serum
4/Apply sun protection
Ideal for:
• Inflammatory blemishes
• Non-inflammatory blemishes
• Photo damaged or photo aged skin
• Hyper pigmentation or uneven skin tone
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Combination/oily skin
• Prior to clinical peels.
Start low (application amount) and go slow (frequency of use).
On any sign of irritation reduce the frequency of use until skin acclimates
Precaution:
Products that contain Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) may cause initial flaking, tingling and irriation to the skin. For some this may be part of the normal resurfacing process. This improves as the skin ‘gets used’ to the treatment. AHA products may be introduced with less frequent use, and application can be increased as the skin acclimates. At first start by gradually introducing one AHA product at a time into your skincare regime. Also some breakouts may occur initially, due to purging of the follicles.
Discontinue use if you have severe redness, itching, burning, rash, swelling or blistering
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