Acne is the first beauty issue most women (and men) encounter. We all know the worry and shame a mere pimple can induce. Each of us has her own story of trying skincare, medical treatments, dietary changes, and makeup to put out the fire of inflammation on her face.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 85% of people between 12 and 24 experience acne. For many, it continues to be an issue into their late twenties and beyond. Simply put, the vast majority of people get acne.
Did we at Pick N Dazzle have acne as teens? Yes, of course. We have two things to say about that: first, some treatments do help, and you should keep trying until you find what works for you. Second, please do not worry. Acne is normal and you’ll be okay.
Superstars have acne, too. Pop princess Lorde has more than once opened up about her struggles with severe acne. Bella Thorne and Kendall Jenner have both shared on Instagram that their acne has made them cry.
Young British musicians King Krule and Mura Masa appear in publicity photos with obvious pimples and acne scars – and they both still look like dream boyfriends.
So, yes, almost everyone gets acne. It’s not the end of the world: if you can, it’s best to channel your confidence and not to shed tears over it.
There isn’t one magical treatment.
It may be an incredibly common problem, but each person’s acne is different.
Acne depends on highly individual factors like your immunity, your hormones and your skin’s microbiome – the mix of bacteria living on your face, the majority of which are healthy and normal.
This is why, as Lorde has complained, your friends’ advice may not work for you. The truth is, you’ll need to try different hacks until you find out how you can beat your acne.
Routine is good.
One way to at least alleviate the issue is a regular skincare routine.
Wash your skin once or twice a day to clean out your pores and moisturise afterwards to restore the skin’s protective barrier. A stable routine can reduce the severity of your breakouts.
Salicylic acid is often an effective topical treatment once the pimple is already there. This active ingredient dries out the pimple and speeds up healing. It shouldn’t be overused so as to not dry out the skin too much.
Sometimes, the solution is unexpected.
Some possible treatments may be less obvious.
Acne is made out of two things: oil and bacteria, right? Well, what if we told you that two ways to combat acne are… oil and bacteria?!
For some people, using a face oil as a moisturiser can alleviate acne. The theory is that oils whose composition is similar to the skin’s sebum, such as jojoba oil, balance the skin. They tell the skin it’s already ‘oily enough’, so it doesn’t need to produce excess sebum.
On the contrary, drying skin out with harsh cleaning products could make things worse for some people.
Probiotic acne treatment is a major innovation that is gaining ground.
A few decades ago, it was common sense that all bacteria were ‘bad’ and needed to be banished to keep us healthy. Modern medicine has come a long way in understanding how vital bacteria are to our health.
The ‘good’ bacteria in our gut, on our skin, as well as in the vagina are essential for our health. When the natural microbiome is damaged, ‘bad’ bacteria can take over, upending our microbial balance and causing issues such as acne and other infections.
This is why putting ‘good’ bacteria on your skin can guard against acne. One option is BeMe’s probiotic cleanser and moisturiser with L. Bulgaricus – the same bacteria you find in yoghurt. You can get BeMe’s probiotic skincare with your Pick N Dazzle box.
Don’t worry, and keep trying! You will hack your acne eventually. Good luck!
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