How to deal with Adult Acne

Acne is one of the most common of all skin disorders, affecting almost everyone at some point in their lives. However, as adults, we assume the years of ugly pimples are behind us. While most people outgrow acne in their late teens or early twenties, many are affected into adulthood or even experience late onset acne. Although the exact cause of adult acne is unknown, possible contributors include stress, cosmetics and hormones.

Adult acne can be frustrating but can also have long-lasting effects on the self-esteem and self confidence for those suffering from it. To combat blemishes, treatment starts at home. Here are 4 simple steps to help with adult acne:

1. Wash your Face – washing your skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser is key in removing excess oils and makeup that can clog your pores. We love Vivier’s Acne wash. This broad-spectrum antimicrobial acne wash is an all-in-one cleanser and toner that deep cleans pores to remove surface impurities such as dirt, oil and bacteria while helping to prevent new acne pimples. It contains 2% salicylic acid USP (pharmaceutical grade) for the treatment and prevention of acne pimples.
2. Exfoliate – exfoliating the skin will help to remove the buildup of dirt and oils in the pores causing the skin to look oily. Gentle scrubs are good, especially ones that contain a little salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory which helps flush out the pores as well as reduces inflammation associated with acne break outs. We love the ZO TE Pads which can be used twice a day to help minimize surface oils and exfoliate pore-clogging dead skin cells and dirt. Using the pads twice a day also helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.
3. Hydrate your skin – it is important to keep your skin hydrated to prevent the skin from over producing oils. If your skin feels thirsty, it will create more oil to nourish it. By keeping your skin properly hydrated, it will function normally without becoming overly oily.
4. When choosing makeup, always choose mineral, oil free makeup brands – most drug store brands contain silicone and are oil based. Mineral makeup is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and won’t clog your pores. We love Jane Iredale makeup as it is mineral based and has the added benefit of containing an SPF.

Fortunately, the physical and emotional effects of acne can be reversed with proper at home care and in office treatment. While adult acne can be persistent, an individualized treatment plan from our office can help you reduce blemishes, prevent scarring and eliminate your acne. With diligent at home care, your acne can be significantly improved, allowing you to regain your confidence!

Laser Away Wrinkles, Redness and Uneven Skin with Laser Genesis Technology.

Laser Away Wrinkles, Redness and Uneven Skin with Laser Genesis Technology.

Laser Genesis is non-invasive laser technology that safely, discretely and effectively treats fine-line wrinkles, excessive redness and blemishes such as large pores, uneven skin texture and scars. It promotes vibrant and healthy looking skin.

What is Laser Genesis?

Laser Genesis is a non-invasive skin procedure that stimulates new collagen production, which helps improve your skin’s firmness, improve your skin’s texture, and reduce the appearance of fine line wrinkles. It also helps reduce pore size and diminish redness.

Laser Genesis is also a great treatment for acne-prone skin! The heat from the laser has the ability to kill the bacteria under the skin, as well as stimulate the healing process with the laser light.

How Many Treatments Will You Need?

We generally recommend a series of 3-6 treatments.

Laser Genesis Results?

Clients experience subtle yet consistent results after each treatment, without unwanted side effects such as bruising or skin irritation and no downtime. Treatments are performed in a relaxed, comfortable environment without the need for topical anesthetics.

COME IN FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION!

Bye Bye Blackheads

It’s always the right time to get rid of your blackheads. In the winter they feel dry, and in the summer they feel oily—a confusing combination that leaves you frustrated. Never fear—from simple exfoliation to microdermabrasion, there are many ways to conquer blackheads and repair your skin.

What is a Blackhead?

A blackhead forms when a hair follicle becomes widened or open, allowing dirt, oils, and bacteria to get in. Your skin’s oils, sebum, can overproduce for different reasons, and become stuck in the skin without draining properly, causing bacteria to form. Sebum oxidizes as it sits in this open hair follicle, and gives it the “black” appearance that we know and hate so much.

Medical Grade Cleansers Renew and Keep Skin Clean

One of the reasons sebum can overproduce and get caught in our pores is from over-cleansing. We see oil and dirt building up in our pores, and try to fix it by using stronger cleansers or washing our face more often and more aggressively. This is a mistake—what our skin wants is routine.  Using a medical grade cleanser and lotion, cleanse your skin no more than twice a day to stop from drying it out—overdoing it will cause more sebum to produce and perpetuate clogged pores and trapped dirt!

Helpful Tips

•  Be Clean!
• Use a clean cloth. You are getting bacteria out when you clean, so keep your cleaning supplies clean too. This goes for your fingers as well.
• Be gentle!
• One of the top tips for calming irritated skin is: Just Be Gentle. Light pressure, lukewarm water—keeping things moderate helps your skin to stay relaxed and produce regular levels of sebum.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a gentle way to renew your skin and help blackheads clear up. A specialized brush is combined with a professional cleanser to carefully remove the top layer of your skin, promoting healthy production below and removing layers of dirt and oils. Blackheads are a clog in your skin—microdermabrasion unclogs and promotes regular oil production levels going forward.

Acne–Unfortunately Not Limited to the Face

Ah, yes. “Backne.” An unfortunate but catchy word for a skin problem that is–thank heavens–quite easy to deal with!

Get Rid of Dead Skin

In the shower, give your skin a fresh breath by cleansing with a non-irritating body wash or soap. Scrubbing your back gently with a clean loofa or sponge will help exfoliate away bad, dirty, and dead skin cells and allow for fresh ones to come through. Keeping your skin fresh and clean is going to help rebalance your oils and get dirt out of those pores.

Laundry Soap

For better skin, consider using a hypoallergenic or sensitive skin laundry detergent instead of the usual lavender-puppy-meadow scent that is tempting to pick up off the shelf. An unscented laundry detergent will clean your clothes without adding irritants to them. Our back is almost or completely exposed to our shirts and a heavily scented shirt will rub and irritate your clean and sensitive skin cells. This is something that will extend outwards in your awareness once you start washing your bed sheets in sensitive skin detergent as well–just think about how much time we spend in bed. Remember: this applies to dryer sheets too!

Exercise

Always, always, always shower after going to the gym or experiencing any remotely significant sweating. Sweat dries into salt that will dry out and clog your beautiful skin. Tight clothing such as workout clothes trap sweat to the body. Enjoy your workout and then wash off to keep your skin clean, and remember: wear clean workout gear to be less of an irritant for your back (as well as your chest).

The End of Blackheads

Blackheads–not just for teenagers, unfortunately. Blackheads, dark and most commonly on your face, are terribly annoying. Don’t fret! Microdermabrasion and some old fashioned TLC are here to help.

What They Are

 Blackheads are a widened or open hair follicle that has become filled with dirt, or more specifically, skin’s dirt, oils, and bacteria. The dark appearance comes from the oxidization of the sebum–your skin’s oils. If your sebum is being overproduced (usually a hormonal reaction) or not draining from the skin properly, your pores can become clogged, and, mixed with dirt, a bacteria forms and a blackhead appears.

Wash Your Face! But Just As Much as Normal

It is a myth that washing your face more frequently will make your skin healthier, clearer, and more clean. Washing your face more than twice a day will irritate and dry out your skin, and likely cause more oils to be produced as a reaction to this sudden drying out. Wash with a clean cloth, delicately, and moisturise with a non-oily night cream before bed. This will help keep your skin clean and calm any irritation.

Microdermabrasion

A specialised brush combined with a chemical cleanser applied by a Britannia professional carefully removes your top layer of skin to promote healthy production below. As blackheads are essentially a clog, it is important to clean dirt while helping your oil production levels to even out.

Spot Cleaning: To Pop or Not to Pop

There are many non-surgical or and non-hormonal treatments to change the way acne affects our lives. If acne is a persistent problem for you, or if has recently emerged, you are probably familiar with the many treatments offered by Britannia Dermedics, including Pearl Laser Resurfacing, Laser Genesis, and Chemical Peels. Here are a few tips on how to deal with the emergence of a new pimple between treatments, or when to consider a treatment instead of a new face cleanser.

Hands Off

Acne scarring is caused by improper treatment of breakouts. While we don’t choose how our hormones affect our skin, we are in control of the way our skin is treated. Only some pimples are okay to be popped, which are pus-filled and have the familiar white head.

• Run a sterile needle through the very top to release what is inside.
• Never use your fingers to pop a pimple. They are covered in bacteria that will aggravate your skin even further and hinder the healing process. Furthermore, the pressure is aggravating and damaging to your skin!

Be Good to Your Skin

If these pimples are a recurring problem, consider Laser Genesis, Pearl Laser Resurfacing, or Chemical Peels–all promote new, healthier skin to form. On a day to day basis, consider these ways to deal with pimples you shouldn’t pop:

• Look for professional grade cleanser and face lotion that is catered to your skin’s needs.
• Don’t over-cleanse. It can’t be said enough–cleaning reaches a point of diminishing returns and should be reviving, not drying to your skin.
• Change your diet–if you notice one food is always around when you break out, try to cut it out and see how your skin is affected.
• Sleep on clean sheets and pat-dry your face with a clean towel to reduce bacteria, irritation, and inflammation. Cleanliness is key to speeding up the healing process, as well as helping to prevent irritation from occurring in the first place.