As one of the most common skin concerns, with around 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 having experienced acne breakouts at some point, its safe to say we aren’t alone in our acne experience. Although its often minimised as being a teenage problem that occurs around puberty and resolves itself, the truth is many people find themselves experiencing breakouts well into their 40’s and 50’s, some experiencing it later in life for the very first time. So, whilst it’s clear to see no acne journey is linear, as more and more research is being done – we are more in the know about how to treat and prevent this skin condition than ever before.
What Is Acne?
The term acne itself refers to a condition in which the hair follicles beneath our skin become clogged with sebum (our skins natural oil) dead skin cells and bacteria. This clogging of the pore causes inflammation on the skin, usually felt as swelling, soreness, and heat – and finally, when the follicle wall is broken down, the mix of sebum, bacteria and skin cells spreads onto the skin close by, in turn creating spots or lesions. Although we might think of acne only occurring on the face given that this is the most common area it surfaces, around half of people with acne find it occurs on their back, and 15% of people on their chest.
Types of Acne
So, whilst we know acne itself is very common, the causes/types of acne can vary from person to person. For most of us having experienced acne in our lives, its likely we were dealing with Active Acne. This term describes a group of four different blemishes that can surface the skin:
- Blackheads: formed because of the clogging of the pores with dead skin cells and oil and turn dark coloured when the hardened oil reacts to the polluted air.
- Whiteheads: white bumps formed when the pores are clogged with excess sebum and dead skin cells.
- Pimples: red bumps formed when pores are clogged with both oil and dead skin cells.
- Cysts: red, inflamed, and sore bumps formed when the skins pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells.
Although active acne is an umbrella term that covers the types of acne many of us have likely dealt with, another very common, more specific kind is hormonal acne. When it comes to hormonal acne, the clue is in the name – changes and fluctuations of the hormones. For those going through puberty, experiencing significant surges and drops in hormones can result in acne most found on the chin, nose and forehead (the t-zone) – whereas adult hormonal acne is more likely to appear along the jawline and the chin. When at its most severe, hormonal acne can become cystic, meaning inflammation is caused deep under the skin, forming sore, painful bumps on the surface of the skin which don’t come to a head. And whilst for some women this can just occur around the time of menstruation, others find they are dealing with it all month as a result of their hormone imbalances.
Lifestyle Changes to Treat and Prevent Acne
Its important to note that your acne is not your fault – you are not doing something to cause this condition, but rather it is your bodies natural response to certain triggers or circumstances. There are however a few little changes you can implement into day-to-day life which can help show some improvement and perhaps a reduction in the severity or frequency of your acne. Although you may not first think of this, ensuring you get a good night’s sleep can make all the difference to your skin the following morning. If your body can’t get some restorative sleep, you can find a surge in the cortisol (stress) hormone in the body, which can further trigger your acne. So, the solution is as simple as prioritising your sleep, perhaps by putting in place a relaxing evening routine to help unwind and settle down for the night. This also goes for general day to day stressors, resulting in the rapid increase in cortisol – making it crucial to manage and reduce stress to in turn help prevent further acne breakouts. Another way to help prevent and heal existing acne is to fill your diet with antioxidant rich foods, from spinach to carrots to blueberries, your diet is a brilliant way to include a little more goodness in your body, and over time your skin can reflect this.
Natural Skincare to Include
Alongside enriching your skin from the inside out with skin loving foods, topical treatments bursting with goodness can also work wonders to both heal and prevent acne. But not all acne treating products are created equally. Finding a range of products that are effective enough to get results yet gentle enough to not further aggravate your acne is crucial. At Vemel we believe all our skincare woes can be resolved from mother nature itself. So, with pure, potent and natural products brimming with acne fighting ingredients, there’s no long-winded search necessary. Implement a simple three step routine AM and PM with consistency to see a real change in the overall health of the skin. To begin, the Vemel No.1 Cleanser is filled with effective cleansing ingredients like antioxidant rich Raspberry Extract and vitamin C to help purify the skin without further damaging or irritating the already compromised skin barrier, all the while injecting goodness into the skin even during the cleansing stage. Follow up your cleanser with the Vemel Active Radiance Serum – with the antiseptic properties of Tea (Camellia) Seed Oil, it is particularly effective for those with acne prone skin types, perfectly blended with the repairing Oat Active to protect the skin lipid barrier. Finally, end your routine with Vemel Moisturising Face Butter, an all-around effective moisturiser to deliver a burst of antioxidants, fatty acids and boost collagen levels with skin loving Mango Butter and Jojoba Oil to improve the overall texture and appearance of the skin.
Whilst many of us might find we struggle with our acne journeys, its important to know we aren’t alone in it. And what it always comes down to is loving your skin whatever condition it is in, and continuing to show it the love it deserves in the little things we do each and every day.