The Acne Story
Once upon a time there was congestion…
What is acne?
The word acne is used to describe breakouts and congestion in the skin. Acne ranges in severity from mild blackheads through to pustules and in some more extreme cases, even cysts.
Why does acne happen?
All acne begins with a blockage. This blockage means that no oxygen can get into your pore, making it the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Once this happens, infection and inflammation occurs and the body will send out white blood cells to fight it, resulting in pus. This process will repeat itself over and over until we are able to stop that blockage, which is usually related to the sebum (oil) that your skin is producing. Having acne doesn’t necessarily mean you have oily skin, but rather the sebum your skin produces is not the proper free flowing consistency that we want it to be.
Blockages can also happen if your skin is not able to desquamate (exfoliate) itself effectively. Living on the surface of our skin are enzymes that are responsible for breaking down excess skin cells so that they can easily flake off. If these enzymes can’t do their job then we can get a build up of cells on the skin’s surface and this build up can block our pores. Enzymes need water to function so the main reason for this lack of enzyme activity is dehydration.
Where does acne happen?
Depending on where your acne is occurring, this can give as clues as to what other bodily factors could be fuelling it. For example, acne along the jaw line is often hormone related whereas acne on the cheeks can point to gut and digestion issues.
How do we treat it?
The first thing we look at is your skin’s barrier. We want to make it as strong and functional as possible. This also means repairing the enzyme activity by improving your skin’s ability to hold water. On the very top layer of your skin there is something called the acid mantle. This is a layer of sebum that protects your skin from bacteria and stops water from evaporating out. If we can correct the sebum, we can correct the hydration! Once this box is ticked, everything else will follow.
Here are some examples of possible treatments we may discuss with you as we create your individual treatment plan
Enzyme peeling mask: A mask containing enzymes from pineapple and papaya that will be used in customised facials to gently but effectively exfoliate your skin
Custom clay masks: Masks such as Terra Sana and the Individual Mask can be mixed with different creams and serums to suit whatever the skin needs at the time of treatment. Very soothing and anti-inflammatory yet also barrier strengthening
LED light therapy: Different coloured LED lights work on specific wavelengths and this stimulates your skin cells in various ways. For example, green light is calming and anti-inflammatory whilst violet light is great for fighting bacteria. Our LED machine can produce the full spectrum and can be used in a customised facial or as a standalone treatment course
Skin Needling: After repairing the skin barrier, skin needling can be used to help improve the appearance of uneven skin tone or scarring. It will encourage the birth of new skin cells, collagen and elastin, leaving you with stronger and healthier skin
Here are some examples of possible products you may see us prescribe for your homecare to work alongside your salon treatments
Omega 3 supplements: Essential for skin health. It will improve the consistency of your sebum and it will also help to reduce inflammation and improve skin healing
PlutioDerm: Contains salicylic acid to help clean out pores
Lotion P: Contains fumaric acid to help break down excess skin cells
Vitamin B serum: Helps to correct your skin’s pH level and is also anti-inflammatory
Zinc serum: Excellent for skin healing. Acne skins are often low in zinc
So now you know The Acne Story, but don’t forget that we are also here to learn YOUR story.
Talking Beauty knows that no two skins are the same which is why we tailor every treatment plan to each individual client so that you and your skin can live happily ever after!
