Skincare 101: Part 2
The follow up to Skincare: Part 1 is here! Part 2 addresses everything from causes of acne to ingrown hairs. If you have any skincare questions, comment below and they will be answered in Skincare 101: Part 3. Remember to visit Soule Skin Spa for your next facial!
Q: What causes acne? What are some myths about acne? Will you naturally outgrow acne?
A: In most cases, acne is an inherited disorder of the pores. Normal pores shed about one layer of dead skin cells per day inside the pore, while acne-prone pores shed up to five layers of dead skin per day. At this rate, your body cannot keep up with this level of exfoliation, therefore, causing a clogged pore. The pores become clogged with dead skin cells, oil, or sebum. This congestion under the skin creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. If bacteria is present in the clogged pore, it causes inflammation, redness, and the formation of pimples and pustules. An imbalance of hormones can lead to lower estrogen levels which causes an increase in oil production. Other factors that can contribute to acne include; stress, medications, exercise, and cosmetics.
Myth: Acne is caused by dirty skin
Truth: Acne starts deep within the pore, and is caused by excessive shedding of dead skin cells. This has nothing to do with the dirt or oil on your skin’s surface. Washing your face multiple times a day will not stop acne from forming underneath your skin. When your body is unable to slough off the excess dead skin cells, they get trapped inside your pore and stir up trouble. It is extremely important to use products that penetrate your pores and increase exfoliation to stop acne where it starts.
Myth: Eating too much chocolate, drinking soda, or eating french fries can cause acne
Truth: Although these are, “acne triggers”, they aren’t the root cause of acne. It’s not the food itself, rather what’s on/in the food that causes the acne flare. For instance, it’s not the french fry that aggravates acne, it’s the “salt” on the fries. A diet high in iodides (salt) can make acne worse. When iodine enters the bloodstream, the excess is excreted through our oil glands. This irritates the pores, causing inflammation and breakouts. Foods high in sugar, like chocolate and soda, are also known to cause inflammation within the pore. Taking care of your body by eating a healthy and drinking water will always result in better looking skin.
Myth: You will naturally outgrow acne?
Truth: The truth is, maybe you will or maybe you won’t. Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine who will and who won’t outgrow acne. The culprit causing this uncertainty is hormones. Hormones continue to flow and fluctuate throughout life, therefore, so do acne breakouts. The good news, however, is that no matter what age, acne can be managed with the right home care and professional treatments.
Q: What purpose is the Clarisonic tool designed for?
A: The Clarisonic tool is designed to be used with your cleanser to provide a deeper cleaning than you would get manually using your hands. It uses ultrasonic pulses to penetrate the skin for a deeper cleansing. The Clarisonic is not an exfoliation tool. Suggested use for the Clarisonic is once a week, to not over stimulate the skin. If you suffer from rosacea or thinning skin, use the Clarisonic with caution, as it may cause broken capillaries.
Q: Is it possible to shrink your pores?
A: It is impossible to shrink your pores, but it is possible to minimize the appearance of your pores. If your pore appears enlarged, that means that your pore is clogged. Cleansing and purifying the pore will help to minimize the appearance of the pore.
Q: How can you even out your skin tone?
A: Evening out your skin tone can be done gradually and gently over time. Hyperpigmentation is the hardest skin condition to correct, but consistent home care will yield the best results for evening out your skin tone. Use of a skin lightener like, hydroprene or lactic acid with a melanin suppressant like, arbutin and azelaic acid are necessary to see results. The ingredients in these products work best when being used synergistically. Use of a skin lighter and melanin suppressant should be daily, applying both in the morning and at night. Peels and microdermabrasion can also aid in the process of evening your skin tone, but the real results will come from consistent home care.
Q: How can you keep your skin’s ph balanced?
A: The skin’s natural ph is 5.5 Each time we cleanse our skin, we drop our skin’s ph. This means every time we cleanse our skin, we must replace that moisture by using either a toner or a moisturizer. Find a cleanser that is naturally ph balanced, without sulfates to avoiding stripping your skin. Remember that every time you cleanse your skin, you have to replace that moisture with either a toner or moisturizer.
Q: How can your prevent ingrown hairs?
A: An ingrown hair is caused when the hair curls back into the skin instead of growing out of the follicle. To avoid this, you must keep the hair follicle open to ensure the hair doesn’t get trapped. Exfoliation directly after shaving is essential to help prevent ingrown hairs. Cheryl, recommends PFB vanish to aid in the prevention of ingrown hairs.