Clogged pores, excess oil production, poor diet and a lack of hydration can all wreak havoc on your skin, and cause acne and breakouts to form.
If you’re tired of having to deal with unwanted visitors taking up residence on your skin’s surface, read our guide to banish acne, and feel confident with your complexion.
The dreaded A word. It can happen to any of us at any time in our lives. Although acne is commonly thought of as a problem of adolescence, it can occur in people of all ages. When you get a breakout (yep, usually at the most unexpected time when you have a particularly important event or meeting to attend), you question if it’s that time of the month or if your diet was off track that week. Although this is true, moments of intense stress or lack of sleep can also affect your skin and cause havoc with breakouts.
Acne or skin congestion is one of the most common skin concerns treated by skin therapists so if you think you’re alone… you’re most certainly not, let us tell you.
Our skin types can be inherited which means the skin is determined by genetic makeup. Internal factors such as these plus hormonal influences can make a difference. Oil glands produce sebum which is triggered by the male hormones.
If these androgenic hormones increase, so does the release of sebum. This then accumulates behind a build-up of dead skin cells. In turn, sebum continues to accumulate, oxidises and inflammation occurs. The response is that in an oxygen-deprived environment, inflammation occurs and infection develops.
Lifestyle factors such as stress can affect the activity of hormones. Exposure to pollution can clog pores, which can bring on the development of acne. Diets high in sugar have been also associated with acne and some studies suggest dairy consumption can play a role in triggering acne and skin congestion. Even hair products, skincare products, and makeup can clog pores and certain medications can increase the chances of adult acne.
This one is the red blemish that hasn’t quite reached the surface. It’s an infected blemish under the skin that requires calming, not drying. This way the whitehead can reach the surface and be gently extracted.
Not to be confused with the papule, this bad boy is your traditional zit and if you don’t follow the recommended care for them, they will scar and leave their trace. Pustules should be dried out as soon as you can get to them.
Those dreaded clogged up lumps we fear are growing since we last looked in the mirror and are showing themselves in all their glory. Exfoliating products are good for these ones as we want to clean the pores and resist the squeeze!
Contrary to popular belief, these guys are not full of dirt or debris or anything but oxidised oil. Tempting as it is to squeeze it out, we recommend the contrary. As there is no way to permanently get rid of blackheads, our best advice is to get monthly deep pore-cleansing facials and use well-formulated products at home to keep your pores clean long after the facial.
Those painful lumps that seem to last for weeks. Don’t attempt to pop them. They were not intended to be prodded, and eventually the body absorbs the infection and the lump will disappear, albeit even a few weeks later. Keep your hands away and if you have to go near them, just apply ice! Some say that reducing dairy products can help banish these unwanted spots.
Acne is one of the most common and stubborn skin problems. Regardless of skin type or lifestyle, approximately 80% of the population will suffer from acne at some point in their lives. Yet many patients fail to respond adequately to current treatment options and others develop problematic side effects. Further, the cost and duration of acne treatment with topical medications and oral antibiotics make standard therapy far from ideal.
Ever heard of Blue-Light Therapy? We invest in the most up-to-date technology available anywhere in the world to achieve excellence in skin treatment results.
Celluma Pro Acne is a technology we use at Total Body Concept to clear moderate inflammatory acne without drugs, side effects, patient discomfort, photosensitivity or downtime. Our machine emits blue light at a wavelength of 465 nanometers (nm). Blue LED light penetrates only a few mm into the epidermis and creates an ‘elimination cycle’ of the P acnes bacteria.
Don’t let the scars tell your story. Microdermabrasion Treatment… think expert exfoliation treatments for polished skin. Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical exfoliation technique to remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of skin (and promoting new cell generation). Reveal a brighter, more vibrant complexion. It is a mechanical process using a diamond head to exfoliate together with a vacuum to remove the dead skin cells leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth.
An ideal treatment for problematic, congested or acne prone skins, Mandelic acid, the main ingredient of the peel is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). Derived from bitter almonds, the peel helps to efficiently eliminate dead skin cells, counteract excess lipids on the skin, unblock pores, break down intercellular bonds and activate the skin’s natural regeneration cycle.
Mandelic acid works on two levels: as a mild exfoliant and as an antibacterial. It reduces hyperpigmentation in the skin and is very effective for acne. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles. At higher concentrations Mandelic acid makes a great chemical peel and is less irritating than a glycolic or lactic peel.
Read more about acne on our journal
