Understanding Acne

There are a lot of misconceptions about what causes acne and how to get rid of it. Some of the most common methods do more harm than good.

What causes acne?

There are 3 main causes of acne:

Retention keratosis – Blockages at the top of the hair follicle, commonly recognised as blackheads, which are caused by dead skin cells, some makeups and some products.

Sebum quality – The sebum or oil we produce should be able to flow easily from the sebaceous gland through the follicle, but when we have poor sebum quality it becomes thick, inhibiting adequate oil flow and causing blockages.

PH level – Our skin’s PH should be anywhere between 4.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic). An unbalanced PH will cause an alkaline environment, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

How to treat acne

It is important to understand what is causing your acne in order to effectively treat it.

Blackheads – These are caused by dead skin cells and comedogenic makeup and skincare, so make sure you're using high-quality cleanser and skincare products. Exfoliating consistently will clear any blockages on the surface.

Sebum quality – It’s important to maintain a healthy diet full of essential fatty acids (EFA’s) to achieve free flowing sebum (oil flow). Some of these foods include avocado, fish high in omega 3, nuts & seeds and plant oils (flax seed, soy bean) and you may need supplements to ensure you’re getting the right amount everyday.

What you should avoid if you have acne

Don't pick your face – it's tempting... everyone wants to do it! But this will only slow the healing of your skin, cause scarring and sets you up for bacterial infections by pushing the sebum deeper into the skin. Remember, once you pick it, it becomes an inflamed open wound which you have contaminated with your fingers!

Avoid moisturiser – for those overly oily skin types, you might be thinking that you don’t need a moisturiser as you want to get rid of the excess oil instead of adding to it. This isn’t true! If you are using a good quality moisturiser suited to your skin type, you will see a reduction in oil flow as your skin isn’t trying to make up for what it has lost. We recommend using Mattifying Oily Skin Cream for oily skin types.

Let’s talk about some prescribed medications. Yes, they might clear up your acne but the way this works is by shutting down your skin’s oil production, attacking your sebaceous glands and essentially depriving your whole body of the natural oil that keeps your skin supple and healthy.

When deciding on a product to combat acne, be mindful of the ingredients they contain as they’re often drying, damaging and nasty! Some of these ingredients to avoid are…

• SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate)

• Alcohol (ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, alcohol denat, and methanol)

• Anything artificial such as colour, fragrance & preservatives

• Parabens

The good news is there are products available to treat acne in a healthy and sustainable way!

Products to help manage your acne

Ingredients you want in your skincare to reduce and prevent acne include salicylic acid (great as a spot treatment – don’t over-do it!) and Vitamin A.

The Micro-Retinol range is ideal for treating a number of skin conditions including acne as it contains the most effective form of Vitamin A.

We recommend these Pevonia products for acne:

Phyto-gel Cleanser Saponaria, Rosemary, Lemon, and Pine, precisely blended to rid your skin of impurities and surface toxins while giving you a deep clean.

Clarifyl Spot Treatment Powerful ingredients including Glycolic and Salicylic Acid, Betaglucan and Aloe combine to provide exceptional visible results. Encouraging rapid healing, it keeps skin follicles clean, clear, and bacteria-free.

Enzymo-Spherides Peeling Cream

Pineapple and Papaya enzymes eliminate impurities, blackheads, dead cells, excess sebum, and toxins as you work this cream into your skin and gain a bright, smooth complexion.

Combination Skin Lotion

Alcohol-free Combination Skin Lotion helps you face the day with balanced, radiant skin. Combining Aloe for its hydrating benefits with Lactic Acid for its oil-control capability, this lotion prepares the skin for further treatment.

Mattifying Oily Skin Cream

Lemon and Vitamin B complex, hydrate and mattify, preventing breakouts and effectively refining your pores.

And for teens...

Our Teen Rebalancing Facial is a great introduction to professional skincare, designed specifically for the skin concerns of teenagers. Ask us about Pevonia's SpaTeen range, combining high quality organic ingredients and a gentle formula, perfect for young skin to counteract acne and unclog pores.

Our therapists are available to go over any skin concerns or skincare questions you may have, so don't hesitate to contact us!

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