Here's What Acne You Have & How Best to Treat It
Here's What Acne You Have & How Best to Treat It
From genetics to trying out a new skincare product, anything can be a trigger for an acne breakout. What a lot of people don’t know is that not all acne is the same, and there are different types that exhibit their own characteristics and require different treatment methods. By understanding what type of acne you have, you can address it more effectively to speed up healing and recovery time.
First things first: never try to squeeze your skin and ‘pop’ your acne. Doing so may aggravate the complexion and irritate it further, leading to bacteria spreading, acne scarring and longer-term damage. Treating acne requires consistency and a little patience, but we promise this is the best way to heal your skin without long-lasting consequences.
Below are 5 different types of acne and key ingredients to heal and treat them for a healthier complexion. Remember to bookmark this guide for future reference and keep scrolling to read on.
The Concern: Blackheads
Did you know: blackheads are actually a form of acne known as the non-inflammatory type. They are a result of dead skin cells, excess sebum and bacteria clogging up the skin’s hair follicles, forming little bumps called open comedones. The buildup oxidizes when exposed to the air, therefore turning black in color. Blackheads commonly appear on the nose, cheeks and chin, but can also appear on the chest, back and other parts of the body.
The Fix: Salicylic Acid
To get rid of blackheads, exfoliation with Salicylic Acid is your best bet. Gentle exfoliation with this chemical exfoliant will dissolve excess sebum, break down dead skin cells and overall unclog the pores. This ingredient is especially useful as it’s oil-soluble, allowing it to penetrate deep into the pores to bind to sebum.
SOME BY MI - AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Set
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - SOME BY MI
Salicylic Acid (a form of BHA) can be used in any step of your skincare routine, and the SOME BY MI AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Set gets your skin clean and clear with a BHA-enriched toner, serum and cream routine. The 30 Days Miracle line includes Tea Tree extract in each formula to soothe inflammation, minimize the appearance of enlarged pores and regulate sebum production.
The Concern: Whiteheads
Whiteheads and blackheads are often used interchangeably and while their origins are similar (they’re both forms of non-inflammatory acne), they have their own characteristics. Whiteheads are referred to as closed comedones; like blackheads they form when sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria enter the follicles, but because the opening to the follicles is too small, air can’t enter and the buildup doesn’t oxidise. Whiteheads can appear anywhere blackheads do, and you may even find yourself experiencing them both at the same time.
The Fix: Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid is a great exfoliating ingredient to turn to for clearing away impurities and boosting skin cell turnover, preventing buildup in the follicles. As it works on the top layer of the skin rather than deep in the pores, Glycolic Acid is best used for minor acne breakouts like whiteheads in particular.
APRILSKIN - Calendula 10% PHA+AHA Resurfacing Serum
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - APRILSKIN
The APRILSKIN Calendula 10% PHA+AHA Resurfacing Serum addresses dullness, enlarged pores and uneven skin texture, exfoliating away impurities to balance the complexion. This serum features soothing Calendula and utilizes a combination of PHA and AHA that exfoliates with minimal irritation, meaning it can be safely used on sensitive skin. Plus, 2% Hyaluronic Acid delivers hydration to replenish the skin post-exfoliation.
The Concern: Papules
We typically think of acne as those red and inflamed spots that are visible from a mile away and ruin picture day. Papules are a type of inflammatory acne that are caused by bacterial infection, excess sebum clogging the pores, or external factors such as stress or diet. They’re visible with a distinct border, raised from the skin and are fairly angry-looking no matter big or small. These are the types of pimples that do not have pus, but can still be painful. You may find papules on both the face and body.
The Fix: Retinol
Retinol, a type of Vitamin A, is an active ingredient that simultaneously enhances collagen and elastin production, as well as accelerates skin cell turnover. Throughout the process, Retinol breaks down dead skin cells and other debris trapped in the follicles to clear the skin and alleviate papules. It’s highly recommended to pair Retinol with a calming hydrator, such as Centella Asiatica or Heartleaf, to offset potential dryness.
APLB - Retinol Vitamin C Vitamin E Ampoule Serum + Facial Cream Set
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - APLB
Double down on Retinol with our APLB Retinol Vitamin C Vitamin E Ampoule Serum + Facial Cream Set. The pair uses an EPS External Protection System™ to protect the Retinol within its formula and safely deliver it to the skin for maximum absorption. It’s got an impressive lineup of ingredients aside from its core mixture, including Centella Asiatica for a touch of calm, Rice extract to even skin texture and Beta-Glucan for skin protection.
The Concern: Pustules
Inflammatory acne with pus is called a pustule and it’s a papule that has come to a head, containing white or yellow pus that is visible from the skin’s surface. The pus is a mixture of dead white skin cells and fluid, and is a result of your body’s white blood cells coming to fight against the bacterial infection. Papules can progress into pustules, but not the other way round.
The Fix: Hydrocolloid Patches
There are two main goals of treating pustules: absorbing the pus and bacteria from the blemish, and protecting the skin to heal it. Hydrocolloid patches are extremely effective because they are able to absorb all the gunk from the pores and maintain a moist environment for the skin to heal in, all the while protecting it from external harm.
COSRX - Master Patch Intensive
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - COSRX
K-beauty label COSRX is well-known for their OG hydrocolloid patches, but they’ve actually come out with the supercharged Master Patch Intensive. The pair uses an EPS External Protection System™ to protect the Retinol within its formula and safely de that contains active acne-fighting ingredients like Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid. Stick on the patch to heal, flatten and protect your blemishes at any time of day; these patches are designed to be invisible and feel weightless for a bare faced feeling.
The Concern: Nodules
Nodular acne is a more severe form of acne that starts from deep under the skin surface. When excess sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria clog the pores, they can form hard and painful lesions that appear as inflamed bumps on the skin. Nodular acne differs from the types of acne mentioned above in that the size, depth and inflammation of the lesions are more serious. It can last weeks or even months, and requires careful treatment to avoid long-term acne scarring.
The Fix: Retinoids
Extremely severe cases of nodular acne will require professional treatment, but milder cases can be resolved with topical skincare. Above we’ve learned that Retinol accelerates cell turnover, and Retinoids (forms of Vitamin A including Retinal and Retinoic Acid) are deemed suitable to treat nodules because they help remove buildup and impurities from the pores.
CELIMAX - The Vita-A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - CELIMAX
We recommend CELIMAX's The Vita-A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster to treat nodular acne because it features a nano-sized Retinal that is 16 times thinner than the pores and able to directly penetrate the dermis. As it refines blemished and textured skin, it also boosts skin elasticity and makes the complexion more firm and lifted. CELIMAX encourages a sandwich method of application – light moisturizer, this booster followed by a richer moisturizer – to prevent any potential irritation.
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