6 causes of skin breakouts and how to treat them with skincare
6 causes of skin breakouts and how to treat them! Part 1: Skincare
Blemishes and breakouts are a common skin condition that can appear at any age and are often linked to hormonal changes. Most breakouts are caused by an overproduction of oil or sebum that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, leading to the formation of pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. While genetics and hormones are causes of pimples, several factors contribute to the development of breakouts, and the severity can vary from person to person. Here are some main causes of pimply skin:
- Hormonal imbalance: can be genetic or caused by menstruation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopause. The imbalance is usually related to increased androgen levels, such as testosterone, but breakouts can be caused through a drop in oestrogen levels, just before your menstrual cycle or during transition into menopause. Hormonal breakouts generally appear on the chin and jawline.
- Excess oil production: increased production of sebum (skin oil) can contribute to clogged pores and pimple formation.
- Dead skin cells: the accumulation of dead skin cells on the skin’s surface can mix with oil, clogging pores and leading to pimples.
- Bacteria: C.acne (Cutibacterium) bacteria is a bacterium that commonly resides on the skin. When pores become clogged, C.acne can multiply due to the anaerobic environment (absence of oxygen) that has been created, contributing to inflammation and pimples.
- Hormonal changes: fluctuations in hormone levels, especially during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can contribute to increased oil production and breakouts.
- Inflammation: inflammation responses within the skin and gut microbiome can exacerbate acne lesions and breakouts. Stress, food allergies and poor nutrition, such as foods high in sugar, saturated and trans-fats, low fibre and highly processed foods could contribute to blemishes and breakouts and usually appear on the oiliest areas of the face, such as forehead, nose and chin.
Several product ingredients have been shown to be effective in reducing the severity of blemishes and breakouts, however, it’s essential to note that individual responses can vary from person to person. Some common ingredients found in acne-fighting products include:
- Salicylic acid: helps remove dead skin cells and excess oil and prevents clogged pores. Good for blackheads and whiteheads.
- Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinoids, Retinyl Palmitate/Acetate/Propionate): promote cell turnover, prevent the formation of new comedones (clogged pores), and has anti-inflammatory effects.
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s): glycolic and lactic acid exfoliate the skin, help unclog pores, and help reduce uneven skin tone.
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): helps regulate sebum production and has anti-inflammatory properties that can improve redness and breakouts. It also prevents new skin cells from receiving melanin and therefore reducing pigmentation after blemishes have healed.
- Azelaic Acid: has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, helpful for both inflammatory and comedonal acne and reduces uneven skin tone as a tyrosinase inhibitor.
- Tea tree oil: known for its antibacterial properties. Add a few drops to your moisturiser during application that may help reduce the number of pimple lesions.
Soothing and calming ingredients:
- Green tea: has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, polyphenol – rich properties both topically and helps internal inflammation to improve your skin.
- Arnica Montana: has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may relieve redness and irritation.
- Oatmeal: calms and reduces inflammation
Everyone’s journey with their skin is different, so we need to find out what triggers your skin. Keeping a diary of your cycle including foods and other lifestyle factors like how much sleep you are getting, or what levels of stress you are experiencing at the time. Do you eat too much sugar or processed foods?
At Holistic Skin Solutions, we believe in choosing gentle products, that respect the skin barrier and protect and enhance the skin microbiome are key to long term skin health. As product scripts are custom made to suit each person’s type of pimples and skin type.
We have two skincare ranges that produce targeted skincare to address your blemish prone skin that we recommend:
Dermatonics:
Cream Cleanse
Enzyme Exfoliating Gel
Copper Peptide calming mist
Rejuvenating Moisturiser
Clearskin Balancing oil
Clearskin Forte
Clean The Day Away Mask for home use
Environ: Holistic Skin Solutions has a range of Vitamin A products that treat mild to moderate forms of blemish prone and pimply skin.
Please book an appointment to start your journey towards clear skin!
