Acne is one of the most common skin issues. Despite how common it is, however, there is no shortage of misunderstandings and misperceptions about acne. This leads to a lot of people making mistakes when it comes to skin care.
So, what are these mistakes? And what should people do to make sure that they are taking care of their skin? These are topics that we want to address in order to help everyone's face glow.
Acne 101
Despite what most people think, acne is not caused by dirty skin, bacteria, or eating lots of greasy food. Yes, these factors lead to less healthy skin, but they are not the triggers or causes of acne. They are among the so called 'acne myths.' These are frequently written about and are the bane of dermatologists and responsible cosmetics and skincare companies. This is because people who try to solve their acne based on myths make it impossible for us to do our job.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association has a really cute quiz on their website that helps people know whether they are getting in their own way of having clear and glowing skin. It is literally titled, "Acne Myths: Are Any Preventing You From Seeing Clearer Skin." Some of the other common acne myths are that the sun will clear up acne and that blackheads are dirt caught in pores. This last one encourages people to try to squeeze the dirt out, as well as to pop their pimples. None of these, or washing your face more, are going to help make acne any better. And the myth that acne has to get worse before it gets better also gets in the way of people having healthy skin, as pointed out by Women's Health Magazine.
Acne is actually related to, and caused by, inflammation. Because of this there are some foods that can cause a reaction in some people that might contribute to acne. However, overall, acne is actually caused by chronic inflammation. As we point out on our website, GLOWBIOTICS.com:
Chronic inflammation is usually linked to unhealthy, inflammatory things like eating unhealthy foods, not sleeping well, being stressed, and exposing yourself to toxins like cigarettes and alcohol. If you have acne, it's likely you may have chronic inflammation from one or more of these things, at least to a moderate degree.
Chronic inflammation… can occur with or without acne bacteria present. If bacteria are present, a chronic inflammatory response dramatically increases the body's reaction, releasing inflammatory chemicals, causing collateral damage to the rest of the pore. Inflammatory chemicals like cytokines are supposed to break down injured tissue at the site of a wound so that the body can repair itself. But with chronic inflammation, this response breaks down healthy tissue too, and at a high rate. The damaged pore and the surrounding skin is now red, swollen, and painfully irritated. Stress hormones like cortisol further trigger more inflammation. To add insult to injury, many acne treatments also cause damage to healthy skin as well, which leads to more acne.
Acne Product User No-Nos
In the case of acne products and your skin, there are some things that you should really take into account. You could be doing more damage to your skin, and even making the acne worse. The good news is that more and more people are starting to recognize and realize this. It is no longer just health and medicine publications that are writing and reporting on this; fashion and lifestyle publications are as well. Thus, it is not hard to find really good information on what not to do to your skin if you have acne. Tips include:
- Make sure that you are using the right ingredients for your acne. This is easier said than done if you are not seeking the advice of a skin expert. There are many different ingredients, as noted by Teen Vogue (relevant even for adults), including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and sulfur. There are others as well. They all work differently.
- Don't overuse products. When you put more product than you need, or mix products, you can agitate and dry out your skin. This will lead to worse inflammation and even more acne, as well as skin that can become flakey.
- On the other hand, make sure that you are using enough product.
- Don't skip the moisturizer. Many people think that just because they have acne they should avoid moisturizing their skin. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, a good moisturizer may be the exact thing your skin needs.
What To Really Do For Acne
By incorporating a comprehensive skin care routine with good products that use probiotics to balance your skin, you are going to help soothe acneic skin, clarify congested pores, and help to prevent new blemishes. The probiotics work in several ways. First, they reduce inflammation. Second, they actually help to strengthen the skin's barrier layer which improves the skin's look and feel. This routine should include cleansing with a gentle cleanser twice a day in order to remove the dirt, oil, and makeup that is in the way of your skin's natural cycle. GLOWBIOTICS Probiotic Acne Treatment Cleanser has the right balance to help your skin. Follow this cleansing with a non-comedogenic, oil-free moisturizer. This simple routine will help you see your way to clear, glowing skin.