4 Need to know Acne advice from Dermatologists

It never occurred to me the importance of a proper skincare routine until I entered puberty. At first, I had no idea what was going on, what was causing my skin to break out, until the last 2 years of high school. I can still remember the Biology teacher going through the material on the Reproductive Cycle, then explaining how estrogen and internal body changes contribute to acne. Then in medical school, I truly understood what was happening. Now once I know what will occur I can definitely help myself and others.

The first is acne advice from a Dermatologist.

"Understand what is happening on and in the skin before you choose skincare products".

This was the first advice I ever got from a dermatologist when I visited her office for the first time. She knew I was a medical student then and in her own way, I think she was trying to teach an important concept in Medicine. Instead of explaining, she encouraged me to go home read about the skin and the menstrual cycle, then return the next day for the first official day of consultation.

I learned 3 things about acne most dermatologists will explain.

First, the skin is an environment and organ, which is separate from the body but works very closely with it. The skin has its own local bacterial population, dirt and cell residue as well as excretory products. When everything works optimally, hair follicles and pores are not clogged nor will the epidermis and dermis be infiltrated.

Second, Acne is a disorder of the natural process that should occur on and in the skin. When there is a decrease or increase in any of the parts listed in 1 the pores and openings of the skin are clogged and acne can develop.

Third, Androgens are the major contributor to acne. Androgen, specifically, testosterone regulates the secretion of sebum onto the skin, sebum provides lipid-based secretion which should maintain skin dewiness. Yes, women have small amounts of testosterone which helps to develop muscle and bone mass. But when producing excess amounts, sebum production also increases disrupting the natural process of the skin. Hence acne formation.

The first acne advice from a dermatologist

Since I already understood the cause, she when over what I can do to fix the problem. Now you maybe be thinking, how can you decrease the amount of androgen the body is making and secreting. The short answer is you cannot. But what the dermatologist taught were techniques to limit the number of breakouts and control the spread of infection on the skin.

The 5 need to know acne advice from a dermatologist.

There are many techniques used over many different cultures to treat acne. As a medical professional, I understand the importance of good advice for proper skin care. So much so I decided to compile 4 of the best pieces of advice I received about treating my acne.

Additional tip: One common none dermatologic advice for maintaining healthy skin is by a good healthy diet. One such diet you can use short-term is the Keto diet. Get your custom keto diet Now, to help maintain healthy skin.

1. Wash the skin twice daily with lukewarm water.

Washing is the most fundamental start to any cleaning process. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should wash your face twice daily especially after sweating. Use lukewarm water instead of hot or cold water.

Im sure you understand why washing after sweating and with lukewarm water is important. But let's analyze the importance. First, washing physically removes sweat, dirt, dead cells, and excessive residue of sebum from the skin surface. And you know what happens when you sweat while wearing hats and helmets.

Lukewater water is the idle temperature for the skin, to open the pores for declogging. An added advantage of lukewarm water I discovered, is it helps to dissolve oil residue on the skin faster.

The information was taken from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/tips

2. Use the fingertips to scrub

I have seen lots of articles and beauty products that encourage the use of brushes and other skin cleansing apparatus. But the AAD suggests just using the fingertips and gentle pressure for cleansing. These products can irritate the skin. But it doesn't mean you cannot use it once in a while.

Broken skin is the perfect place for bacteria to grow and replicate, then with the sebum and cells, these bacteria have lots of food. And dirt makes the perfect medium for them to stay.

So instead of preventing acne outbreak and spread, the use of abrasive apparatus as soft as washcloth can cause more harm than good.

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/tips

3. How to wear makeup on acne-prone skin

With acne scars, anyone would want to cover up every time we leave the house. The biggest problem is finding the right product to cover the scars and not cause more breakouts. On my search to find myself the right product, I discovered Dr. Cynthia Bailey.

Doctor Bailey gave a few tips to help pick the right products and how to use the products.

1. First, figure out the color of the blemishes on the skin and how to use "the color-wheel" to cover it. And thank goodness for colored concealer. Now since I am not a makeup expert I'll direct you to her page on Best Makeup Tips for Acne-Prone Skin.
2. Second, she explains how to layer the products to achieve the best coverage.
3. Then she advises using loose mineral powdered foundation. More so, powders with natural minerals and Kaolin clay does well for persons with acne.
4. And lastly, she explained the importance of keeping the makeup brushes clean always. This is even more important than color correction. Clogged, dirty brushes are breathing ground for bacteria and a host of other pathogens. Which means more acne.

So far this is the most helpful website for information on skincare.

4. The best products to use on acne-prone skin

There are many products on the market that may work for your acne. But do they treat all the symptoms associated with acne, including scaring? Over the years, research and advice from a few cosmetologists have helped to narrow down 4 products I use and will recommend to anyone.

First, is the best cleanser I have ever used, and I have used it a lot! The soap and glory face wash with Vitamin C has been a lifesaver for the past 3 years. It is a huge hit in my house and I recommend it to my friends. It was a sales rep from Ulta Beauty that introduced me to this product and it was the first time I have ever heard of it.

It is a gentle cleanser with a burst of vitamin C. After the first wash my skin felt clean and fresh like a mint. I guess that is from the pink grapefruit particle packed with vitamin C. And only after 1 week the acne scars began to fade and my true complexion start to show again.

Second, is the No.7 HydraLuminous Water Surge Gel Cream

I moisturize with this., at first it seemed odd to be using a gel to hydrate, but I still went ahead and tried it. I have not regretted it. The best part is the softness and hydration. It does not interfere with the layering of makeup after application.

Third, are the two treatments for the skin. The Aveeno Maxglow serum and primer for the day and the CeraVe Resurfacing retinol serum for the night. Even though it can be used during the day I prevent using it like this.

Aveeno Maxglow surprisingly keeps the pimples breaks under control. It does nothing for the scars that's why the retinol serum is important. Together, there is added vitamin C, A, Mineral, and hyperpigmentation treatment. What more can I ask for.

These are not affiliate links, I just love sharing good products to help persons who have had acne problems as I do.

5. Stay away from excess carbs

If you are an ice cream fanatic like I am, then you will need a short leash and a mind of steel to stay away from carbs. Carbohydrate is a favorite of bacteria on the skin as much as we like ingesting them. This means if you eat more sugar then you will be feeding the bacteria on the skin.

Sugar in the blood gets to the skin through sweat. In the body, however, the immune system is also weakened in high blood sugar states. This means the skin is left vulnerable to more breakouts and further infection.

Instead of ice cream on movie nights, get a bowl of fruits and/or yogurt. Start eating a balanced diet to reduce the amount of sugar and fat secreted onto the skin. And coupled with 30-60 minutes of exercise daily, I am sure it will help the acne problem. Even though you may have a normal BMI, lipid secretion onto the skin can still occur.

Let's Recap

When seeking treatment for acne the best advice is the least to settle for. Therefore, you look for the best advice and who best to get it from than a dermatologist. 4 of the best acne advice from 2 dermatologists are:

1. Wash the face twice daily with lukewarm water.
2. Use the fingertips to gently scrub away the residues on the skin.
3. How to use makeup on acne-prone skin.
4. Stay away from carbs.

Now that you know all this information, it's time to reclaim your skin and evict acne for good. It is best to stay on routine and only use products that agrees with your skin.

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