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The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Acne

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Acne

Dec 19, 2019

I am not one who's blessed with perfect skin. I have dealt with so many skin issues growing up and i am sure many of you who have been long time followers would have seen some parts of my skincare struggles. Oh boy, what a journey my skin has went through in this lifetime of mine! Till today, even though i am better equipped with all the knowledge, i still face the occasional pimples and clogged pores because having perfect flawless skin is so much more than just following a good skincare routine. Hormones, diet, stress and climate changes can cause acne. I also tried Accutane at one point as i wanted to rid Acne once and for all but unfortunately, i could not deal with the side effects.

  

 

Different types of acne i have personally faced in my life. 

What is Acne?

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles (pores) become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Comedones on the other hand is a non-inflammed clogged pore in the skin. Open comedones are known as blackheads and closed comedones are known as white head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Main Factors that cause Acne: 

  • Bacteria (P. acnes)
  • Sebaceous gland hyperactivity (excess oil production)

  • Hormonal Imbalances -  Males: Testosterone Females: Luteinizing hormones following ovulation which results in the increased gland activity or excessive androgen states such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) 

  • Changes in follicular keratinization (pores clogged by oil and dead skin cells)

  

How to deal with Acne, Blackheads and Closed Comedones?

Make sure you at least start a basic Skincare Routine of the following steps:
Cleanse > Exfoliate > Tone > Repair (Serum) > Hydrate (Moisturizer) > Protect (Sunscreen)

 

 

1. Cleanse

 At the end of the day, always remove Sunscreen & Make Up thoroughly with a Oil Cleanser/Micellar Water and follow up with a gentle foaming cleanser.
We call this the Double Cleanse - it helps ensure your skin is free from sweat, dirt and impurities which will cause acne. Always avoid cleansers and toners which are too drying. The best face wash for acne is effective at removing oil and dirt, but still gentle enough to use regularly without overdrying your skin. Avoid Alcohol in Cleansers and Toners which can strip your skin of its natural oils and leave it feeling dry. After cleansing, your face should not feel tight. If it feels "tight", you should change and look for a more gentle, low PH cleanser. There are cleansers which contain acne fighting ingredients which are still gentle.

 

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2. Exfoliate

Avoid abrasive exfoliating scrubs which can strip the skin of its natural oils and disrupt the skin barrier. Exfoliate 1-2 times a week using a Chemical Exfoliant (AHA/BHA). 

 

What are BHA and AHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid vs Alpha Hydroxy Acid)?

They are comedolytics that remove the substances that clog pores. They unglue dead cells to make them slough off the skin without physical traumatic irritation.

AHA is water soluble while BHA is lipid (oil) soluble. A popular BHA we find in many "anti-acne" products is Salicylic Acid. BHAs are able to penetrate sebaceous material in the pores and induce exfoliation within it (remove dead skin cells and excess sebum). BHAs also has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it great for reducing acne. To prevent closed comedones and rid it, you can use AHAs. AHAs work on the surface of your skin to get rid of dead skin cells built up. Some popular AHAs are - Glycolic Acid (smaller molecules, can penetrate deeper but can be too strong for people with a damaged skin barrier), Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid (bigger molecules, ideal for sensitive skin). 

A helpful and easy way to remember what the chemical exfoliant is for:

(A)HA works Above 

(B)HA works Below

 

 

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If you are afraid to use Chemical Exfoliants, you can use a Physical Exfoliant in the form of Peeling Gels which are gentler than Scrubs containing micro beads, purmice stones and ground up nut shells - which will damage the skin by causing micro-tears in its surface.
You can also consider doing clay masks 1-2 times a week. Clay masks help draw impurities to the surface and detoxify the skin.


 

3. Toner

Toners are so misunderstood and toning is often not seen as an important step in a skin routine, but I’m here to tell you that it is—especially for oily/combination and dehydration-prone skin. It is a very effective way to deeply hydrate the skin. Since your type of skin still has oil underneath the surface (this is the reason why you still get clogged pores and breakouts), your skin mainly requires water and toners are a great way to get it. After washing your face, wipe an alcohol-free toner over the skin and then immediately apply a serum. A toner should not make your skin feel "tight". Instead, your skin should feel soothed and hydrated. You can also find Toners containing a small percentage of BHA & AHA which is suitable for everyday use to keep your pores clear.

 

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4. Repair


Apply an Essence and/or Serum with ingredients to help repair your skin and calm down inflammation - look out for ingredients (like Centella Asiatica Extract, Calendula Extract, Green Tea Extract, Honey/Propolis, Snail Secretion...etc) which will soothe your skin, reduce redness, speed up wound healing, fade dark spots and hydrate your skin at the same time.

 

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5. Hydrate


Always put on Moisturizer. Some think that avoiding putting anything at all on the face will help get rid of acne fast, but this is a misconception. Failing to moisturize your skin can lead to over-drying, which can cause excess oil production. Keeping your skin hydrated with an oil-free lightweight moisturizer designed for acne-prone skin is an important step toward clear skin.

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6. Sunscreen

Sun damage plays a significant role in permanently disrupting the surface of skin.  Getting broad-spectrum sun protection from a moisturizer with SPF is of key importance for preventing sun damage and premature signs of aging, but it doesn't have to stop there. The best sunscreen moisturizers also come packed with potent antioxidants to ramp up skin's defense against pollutants, plus soothing agents and other skin-replenishing ingredients.
 
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After you have learnt to build a good basic skincare routine, you can learn more about the available Treatments for Acne.


 Beneficial Ingredients to look out for in your Skincare for the treatment of Mild-Moderate Acne Treatment are:

- Benzoyl Peroxide 
- Salicylic Acid (BHA)
- Azelaic Acid
- Sulphur 

 

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Moderate-Severe Acne Treatment

If all of the Over-The-Counter products do not seem to work, there are stronger options which you can only obtain with a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

 

Prescription Only Medications

 
  • Topical Antibiotics + Benzoyl Peroxide (Clindoxyl Gel)
  • Oral Antibiotics (doxycycline, erythromycin, minocycline)
  • Contraceptive Pills for females such as Yaz
  • Adapalene (Differin)
  • Benzoyl Peroxide + Adapalene (Epiduo Gel)
  • Tretinoin Cream (Retin-A)
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane) *the success rate of this medication is very high and it is the most effective way to get rid of acne, however there are many side effects hence this is usually the last resort

 

Other Treatments (in clinic treatments)

  • Laser treatments (carbon laser peel – reduce sebum production, reduce P.acnes on the skin)
  • Hydrafacial (contains Salicylic acid in the serums which help to reduce inflammation and unclog pores. it’s vortex suction technology helps to remove dirt in pores without physical extractions which can result in further inflammation and scarring.)
  • Chemical Peels
  • Light Therapy- Blue/ Red light treatment/ IPL (kills bacteria)

 

For more information, check out the video i did with Dr Kellyn Shiau from Lux Aesthetics Clinic.

 

 

Feb 25, 2021

Hi! Thank you for this detailed write up! I have dry skin and lots of closed comodones (mostly on my forehead). Was hoping to use the some by mi toner to help with it. Could you recommend how many times a week I should use the toner? Don’t want to risk further drying my skin out or getting even more CCs 😣 Thank you!

K

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