In fact, managing occasional breakouts and the more extensive form known as acne can be a downright puzzle that lasts decades.
According to skincare brand La Roche-Posay 80% of teenagers suffer from acne. It can also persist as we age thanks to a variety of factors including fluctuating hormones, lifestyle and skincare practices.
So the first thing to know, given June is Acne Awareness Month, is that you’re certainly not alone. The second, is that there are some simple strategies to try that may help.
If you’re looking for some products to help on your spot-clearing journey, La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar range is a great one to try. It is specifically formulated to regulate oil production and maintain a healthy skin barrier, with gentle products that are also suitable for sensitive skin.
The hero of the range is the Effaclar Duo+M, a targeted treatment product designed to reduce blemishes and prevent their reappearance. It contains salicylic acid to exfoliate and unclog pores, while niacinamide soothes inflammation.
We spoke to Dr. Monique Mackenzie, a leading New Zealand dermatologist, who shared some further insight about how to help deal with breakouts and acne.
1. Establish a simple, consistent skincare routine
Dr. Monique Mackenzie advises to start by sticking to a simple daily skincare routine that includes a gentle cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen.
“A good, really simple and simplified skincare routine, is going to make a big difference,” she says. “It’ll actually be enough to clear up a lot of people’s acne on its own.”
She says we need to be cleansing with a gentle product, twice a day. For those with persistent spots, she suggests choosing a product with salicylic acid in it.
“2% salicylic acid is a common ingredient to find in acne-specific cleansers. It is keratolytic so it helps skin cells exfoliate more quickly, which is helpful with acne.”
Following cleanser, make sure you moisturise. “It feels counterintuitive to a lot of people, if they’ve got oily skin or acne, but you actually still need to put a barrier over the top and help hold the moisture in the skin, because that allows the skin to function like it would normally.”
Finally, using sunscreen is non-negotiable. “That’s always at the end of your skincare routine,” she says.
2. Take a complicated skincare routine back to basics
If you’re chopping and changing or using a lot of different products, particularly active skincare, pare it back and stick to the basics mentioned above.
“When you’ve got acne and you try one product, then you’ll often try another product, and then you’ll try something else, and then you’ll combine them,” says Dr Mackenzie. “There is one survey that shows teens had tried at least eight different types of treatments before they sought help. So if you’re using a lot or dabbling with harsh scrubs, or inappropriate peels that you can get over the counter, that can be really damaging for the skin.”
The says the risk is that you can dry out skin, or it can cause more oil production, which throws off the natural balance of your skin.
Dr Mackenzie advises giving a simplified routine four to six weeks to start improving skin.
3. Try using pimple patches
If you get a spot, keep your hands off, and don’t be tempted to squeeze.
Instead, covering it with a pimple patch is the best idea says the expert, who calls the hydrocolloid patches ‘a game changer.’
The thin, transparent and flexible patches are barely noticeable and can be worn on skin overnight or for a number of hours. Though they can keep the area moist and absorb some of the pimple’s contents, Dr Mackenzie says their main benefit is to prevent damage to the skin.
“They offer protection and prevent picking,” she says. “Picking causes more inflammation and can just introduce more bacteria, and of course, it can leave scarring.”
4. Consider lifestyle changes
The dermatologist says a lot of people don’t realise the other things we do that may seem unrelated actually have a big part to play.
“Stress is shown to significantly worsen the severity of your acne, that’s been quite well demonstrated,” she points out. Smoking is a huge no-no as is vaping given the nicotine content. “It’s pro inflammatory, so that will make acne significantly more severe.”
Consider work environments that are very sweaty or you need to wear a mask, which can trap moisture.
Finally, getting more quality sleep is important.
“With our busy and high-tech world we’re always inundated with lots of things, but getting good sleep is also really important for maintaining good skin care and helping optimise what you’re doing with your skincare.”
5. Discuss your challenges with an expert
If acne is ongoing, it’s sometimes best to speak to an expert to rule out other causes.
Acne can sometimes look very similar, particularly in the 40+ age group, to rosacea according to Dr Mackenzie. “Rosacea is far more common, it’s about one-in-three in European or fair skin types. You can get the same inflammatory bumps, and you can even get little pustules.”
The expert can help rule out other issues. “Some medications can cause acne, so it’s important that that medical history is taken into consideration.”
