AUG 18
_LEARN
/
REFERENCE LAB
The 101 Guide To Understanding Acne-Prone Skin
_LEARN
/
REFERENCE LAB
AUG 18
The 101 Guide To Understanding Acne-Prone Skin
Whether you have acne-prone skin or not, chances are you’ve probably had to deal with some form of acne in your life. In your pesky teen years or during your menopausal transition, acne can easily wiggle its way into your life and onto your face.
So why does acne occur in the first place, how does it affect skin health, and how can you best avoid it?
What causes acne?
Hormone fluctuations, environmental conditions, and even stress can trigger the overproduction of sebum in these glands. This excess oil can clog your pore, trapping the hair follicle or deposits of dirt. This creates a bulge which presents as a pimple, the primary symptom of acne. That’s why those experiencing hormone fluctuations, such as pubescent, pregnant, and menopausal individuals, often experience breakouts and other common acne symptoms such as scarring or hyperpigmentation. Accumulation of dead skin cells on the face can also block pores and create a pimple. Occasionally, bacteria infect the clogged pore leading to more severe acne, like inflammatory acne.1,2
The skin’s pH also plays a huge role in acne development. Ideally, the skin actively maintains a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to prevent bacterial growth. Even a slightly higher pH can allow bacterial growth and create the perfect environment for infectious and severe acne.3
What are the different types of acne?
- Blackheads - open bumps, visibly filled with excess oil and dead skin.
- Whiteheads - closed bumps filled with excess oil and dead skin. (4)
- Papules - small red or pink bumps with swelling and redness.
- Pustules - whitehead-looking pimples with pus, visibly surrounded by redness.
- Nodules - solid, large, and painful pimples deep in the skin.
- Cysts - pus-filled pimples that can often scar. (4)
How does acne impact long-term skin health?
What is acne-prone skin?
What is the difference between acne and acne-prone skin?
How do I know if I have acne-prone skin?
What is the protocol for acne-prone skin?
What are preventative measures I can take if I have acne-prone skin?
- Avoid touching your face or picking at pimples. The dirt in your fingers can get trapped in your pores, leading to further breakouts. Some pimples are also infectious and can spread with touch.
- Wash your face at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser vs face wash. You may consider using a face wash at least once per day to cut through excess oil and dirt.
- Change your pillowcase often. Many pillowcases retain oil, dirt and bacteria. Sleeping on a dirty pillowcase can expose your skin to these factors for long periods of time.
- Avoid harsh scrubs. Scrubs can significantly irritate acne and acne-prone skin, worsening breakouts.
- Stay hydrated. Water encourages the flushing of toxins from your pores, keeping your skin clean from the inside! (1)
- Birth control
- Accutane
- Antibiotics
What are the dos and don'ts for acne-prone skin?
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Beans and legumes(9)
Wondering what foods cause acne? The following foods can encourage sebum production and insulin sensitivity to promote acne in the skin and should therefore be avoided.
- Sugar
- Red meat
- White bread, pasta and rice
- Dairy products such as milk and yogurt (9)
What should be included in a skincare regimen for acne-prone skin types?
- Cleanser: Using a daily face cleanser during your morning and evening skincare routine can help keep dirt away from your pores. Slightly drying and less moisturizing varieties are usually a better option for oily skin to prevent the accumulation of excess oil. However, you want to make sure you don’t entirely strip the oils from your skin, as that can increase your skin’s natural oil production.
- Toner: Using a toner can help you achieve cleaner and clearer skin by removing excess oil. Try looking for toners specifically designed for acne-prone skin.
- Moisturizer: Moisturizers that are careful not to clog pores will help you keep your skin hydrated. Consider using a daily peptide moisturizer that promotes overall skin health without introducing pore-blocking ingredients such as petrolatum and coconut oil. Our OS-01 FACE Topical Supplement and OS-01 BODY Topical Supplement are formulated with ingredients that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, such as niacinamide.
- Sunscreen: Sun damage can cause irritation and make acne symptoms, breakouts, or other skin conditions worse, especially if you use acne treatments that increase your skin's sensitivity to UV exposure, such as retinol and benzoyl peroxide.
- Exfoliate: Once your breakouts calm down, you can try gently exfoliating to cleanse, remove your dead skin cells, and encourage new cell turnover. (1)
Key Takeaways
- Hormone fluctuations, environmental conditions, and even stress can trigger the overproduction of oil in your skin. This excess oil clogs your pores, creating a pimple.
- Acne can be inflammatory, bacterial, or non-inflammatory. Acne-prone skin often experiences the bacterial form of acne.
- Genetics is a common cause of acne-prone skin. In fact, a UK study on 400 twins demonstrated that around 81% of acne resulted from genetic factors.
- If you have acne-prone skin, avoid touching your face or picking at pimples. Wash your face and your pillowcase often. Avoid harsh scrubs and stay hydrated!
- Avoid dairy products and foods that raise blood sugar levels. These foods promote acne.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/acne-prone-skin#prevention
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/comedonal-acne
- https://www.theskincareclinic.com.au/acne-oily-skin-congested-skin/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3699905/
- https://skintactix.com/pages/benzoyl-peroxide-skin-damage
- https://www.laroche-posay.com.au/blog/whats-the-difference-between-acne-vs-pimples.html
- https://www.news-medical.net/health/Genetics-of-Acne.aspx
- https://www.healthline.com/health/anti-acne-diet
- https://www.singlecare.com/blog/exercise-and-acne/
Whether you have acne-prone skin or not, chances are you’ve probably had to deal with some form of acne in your life. In your pesky teen years or during your menopausal transition, acne can easily wiggle its way into your life and onto your face.
So why does acne occur in the first place, how does it affect skin health, and how can you best avoid it?
What causes acne?
Hormone fluctuations, environmental conditions, and even stress can trigger the overproduction of sebum in these glands. This excess oil can clog your pore, trapping the hair follicle or deposits of dirt. This creates a bulge which presents as a pimple, the primary symptom of acne. That’s why those experiencing hormone fluctuations, such as pubescent, pregnant, and menopausal individuals, often experience breakouts and other common acne symptoms such as scarring or hyperpigmentation. Accumulation of dead skin cells on the face can also block pores and create a pimple. Occasionally, bacteria infect the clogged pore leading to more severe acne, like inflammatory acne.1,2
The skin’s pH also plays a huge role in acne development. Ideally, the skin actively maintains a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to prevent bacterial growth. Even a slightly higher pH can allow bacterial growth and create the perfect environment for infectious and severe acne.3
What are the different types of acne?
- Blackheads - open bumps, visibly filled with excess oil and dead skin.
- Whiteheads - closed bumps filled with excess oil and dead skin. (4)
- Papules - small red or pink bumps with swelling and redness.
- Pustules - whitehead-looking pimples with pus, visibly surrounded by redness.
- Nodules - solid, large, and painful pimples deep in the skin.
- Cysts - pus-filled pimples that can often scar. (4)
How does acne impact long-term skin health?
What is acne-prone skin?
What is the difference between acne and acne-prone skin?
How do I know if I have acne-prone skin?
What is the protocol for acne-prone skin?
What are preventative measures I can take if I have acne-prone skin?
- Avoid touching your face or picking at pimples. The dirt in your fingers can get trapped in your pores, leading to further breakouts. Some pimples are also infectious and can spread with touch.
- Wash your face at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser vs face wash. You may consider using a face wash at least once per day to cut through excess oil and dirt.
- Change your pillowcase often. Many pillowcases retain oil, dirt and bacteria. Sleeping on a dirty pillowcase can expose your skin to these factors for long periods of time.
- Avoid harsh scrubs. Scrubs can significantly irritate acne and acne-prone skin, worsening breakouts.
- Stay hydrated. Water encourages the flushing of toxins from your pores, keeping your skin clean from the inside! (1)
- Birth control
- Accutane
- Antibiotics
What are the dos and don'ts for acne-prone skin?
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Beans and legumes(9)
Wondering what foods cause acne? The following foods can encourage sebum production and insulin sensitivity to promote acne in the skin and should therefore be avoided.
- Sugar
- Red meat
- White bread, pasta and rice
- Dairy products such as milk and yogurt (9)
What should be included in a skincare regimen for acne-prone skin types?
- Cleanser: Using a daily face cleanser during your morning and evening skincare routine can help keep dirt away from your pores. Slightly drying and less moisturizing varieties are usually a better option for oily skin to prevent the accumulation of excess oil. However, you want to make sure you don’t entirely strip the oils from your skin, as that can increase your skin’s natural oil production.
- Toner: Using a toner can help you achieve cleaner and clearer skin by removing excess oil. Try looking for toners specifically designed for acne-prone skin.
- Moisturizer: Moisturizers that are careful not to clog pores will help you keep your skin hydrated. Consider using a daily peptide moisturizer that promotes overall skin health without introducing pore-blocking ingredients such as petrolatum and coconut oil. Our OS-01 FACE Topical Supplement and OS-01 BODY Topical Supplement are formulated with ingredients that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, such as niacinamide.
- Sunscreen: Sun damage can cause irritation and make acne symptoms, breakouts, or other skin conditions worse, especially if you use acne treatments that increase your skin's sensitivity to UV exposure, such as retinol and benzoyl peroxide.
- Exfoliate: Once your breakouts calm down, you can try gently exfoliating to cleanse, remove your dead skin cells, and encourage new cell turnover. (1)
Key Takeaways
- Hormone fluctuations, environmental conditions, and even stress can trigger the overproduction of oil in your skin. This excess oil clogs your pores, creating a pimple.
- Acne can be inflammatory, bacterial, or non-inflammatory. Acne-prone skin often experiences the bacterial form of acne.
- Genetics is a common cause of acne-prone skin. In fact, a UK study on 400 twins demonstrated that around 81% of acne resulted from genetic factors.
- If you have acne-prone skin, avoid touching your face or picking at pimples. Wash your face and your pillowcase often. Avoid harsh scrubs and stay hydrated!
- Avoid dairy products and foods that raise blood sugar levels. These foods promote acne.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/acne-prone-skin#prevention
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/comedonal-acne
- https://www.theskincareclinic.com.au/acne-oily-skin-congested-skin/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3699905/
- https://skintactix.com/pages/benzoyl-peroxide-skin-damage
- https://www.laroche-posay.com.au/blog/whats-the-difference-between-acne-vs-pimples.html
- https://www.news-medical.net/health/Genetics-of-Acne.aspx
- https://www.healthline.com/health/anti-acne-diet
- https://www.singlecare.com/blog/exercise-and-acne/
Reviewed by Alessandra Zonari, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin
Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.
Reviewed by Alessandra Zonari, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin
Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.
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