Lately my skin has been going crazy! I have been dealing with a serious case of adult acne for the last few months which has had me trying numerous different types of products to find a solution. First, to really deal with the problem, you have to understand what the cause of acne is. Acne is a combination of oil and dead skin cells trapped within the pore or the hair follicle. Your hair follicles are connected to oil glands which secrete an oil substance (sebum) in order to lubricate your hair and skin. The sebum is what lubricates your hair and skin which! When your body produces an excess amount of oil and dead skin cells, the two can build up in the hair follicle and form a soft plug. This creates an area where bacteria can live and thrive. If the clogged pore becomes infected, inflammation will result and a pimple WILL happen!
Factors That Can Worsen Acne:
- Hormones. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives also can affect sebum production. And low amounts of androgens circulate in the blood of women and can worsen acne.
- Certain medications. Drugs containing corticosteroids, androgens or lithium can worsen acne.
- Diet. Studies indicate that certain dietary factors, including dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods — such as bread, bagels and chips — may trigger acne. Chocolate has long been suspected of making acne worse. A recent study of 14 men with acne showed that eating chocolate was related to an increase in acne. Further study is needed to examine why this happens or whether acne patients need to follow specific dietary restrictions.
- Stress. Stress can make acne worse.
After much trial and error, I have finally found a regiment thats worked for me. My face is clearing up, and I'm not embarrassed to leave my house without makeup on. So now I want to share these products with you in hopes that it can help someone going through a similar issue!
1. Cetaphil Cleanser - A gentle cleanser great for removing makeup and cleaning the skin.
2. St. Ives Apricot Scrub - It's important to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin so that your pores remain free and happy. I immediately noticed a difference after I started using this. It also has a little bit of salicylic acid which helps treat acne.
3. Kate Somerville Benzoyl Peroxide - Helps kill the bacteria. Use after throughouly cleansing the face.
4. Kate Somerville Eradicate - Excellent for spot treatments. Use a Q-Tip and apply at night before bed. DO NOT SHAKE THE BOTTLE. The good stuff is at the bottom.
5. Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Fibroblast Anti Aging Moisturizer - All of the above items will dry your skin out. Use a moisturizer with a light retinol to keep your skin from drying too bad or getting too greasy. I found that this has worked best for me.
Keep in mind, all of the products I suggested above are what has worked for me specifically! This can vary based on your body chemistry and skin type. Try one or two at a time and see how your face reacts. Also, any time you are using new skin care, you can run the risk of your skin purging because it is acclimating to new products.
I sincerely hope this helps!
XoXo,
Sheena
Source: MayoClinic
