Acne-prone skin? Help is here!  

There’s no doubt about it, breakouts and clogged pores can be super-frustrating. And with so many treatment options to choose from, it can be difficult to know what will really help get your skin looking clear and healthy. Don’t stress, though. It’s 100% possible to reduce the appearance of blemishes and help your skin look its best. Let’s dive into all things acne and sort out the myth from the facts. 

What is acne-prone skin? 

First of all, there’s not just one type of acne-prone skin. In the broadest terms, being acne-prone simply means that your skin is more likely to experience pimples and clogged pores. Acne-prone skin tends to be on the oily side, though dry or dehydrated skin can have breakouts as well (more on that in a minute). 

Acne happens when your pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. In case you didn’t realize, each of your pores is an opening to a hair follicle. In an ideal world, the sebum your oil glands produce would move through these hair follicles and up to your skin’s surface with no issues. But all too often, the hair follicle becomes clogged with a sticky mixture of oil and dead skin cells. If the hair follicle remains open, the mixture is exposed to air and you end up with a blackhead. If it’s closed, you end up with a small bump known as a whitehead. And if bacteria starts to grow, you can end up with a red, inflamed pimple or a cyst.

What causes acne-prone skin? 

As we said, it’s all about that pore-clogging mixture of oil and dead skin. But there are other factors at work too. Fluctuating hormones can trigger excess oil production, which is why acne is common in teenagers. Many women also experience breakouts around the time of their periods, during pregnancy or during perimenopause. It’s an unfortunate truth that more women suffer from adult acne than men, due to fluctuating hormone levels.

Another big cause of acne is stress. It’s not just a coincidence that you see breakouts when you’re feeling stressed out.  When you’re under stress, your body releases hormones that can trigger excess oil production and exacerbate breakouts. Using pore-clogging skincare and haircare products can also contribute to acne, and diet is thought to play a role as well. A diet high in sugar and processed foods contributes to overall inflammation in the body, which can lead to more visible signs of aging as well as acne.

What can I do about acne? 

There are several approaches to take, and we’re going to be honest, finding a solution that works for you probably will involve some trial and error. First of all, if you’re suffering from deep, inflamed cystic acne, it’s always best to see a dermatologist. They can prescribe a topical treatment cream like Adapalene, which helps your skin shed dead skin cells more normally, or other types of oral medication. Over-the-counter creams or gels with benzoyl peroxide can also help kill acne-causing bacteria, but for your skin’s sake, it really is best to see a derm to be properly diagnosed and treated for cystic acne. 

If you’re mainly seeing blackheads or whiteheads, it may be easier to find an at-home skincare routine that works for you. Your main goal is to keep your pores clear. Start by checking your skincare and haircare products for comedogenic (i.e. pore clogging) ingredients such as shea butter, coconut alkanes, coconut oil and marula oil. Again, this will vary from person to person, but these are a few common pore-clogging ingredients, so it’s worth checking. In general, the best moisturizer for acne-prone skin is a lightweight lotion or an oil-free hydrating serum like Active Cocooning Serum. It’s important not to skip hydrating altogether. If your skin becomes dehydrated, it may respond by producing more oil. Just choose a lotion or serum instead of a rich cream. 

Next, make sure to remove your makeup every. single. night. Otherwise, your foundation can trap oil and dead skin cells in your pores. It’s also crucial to regularly exfoliate your skin. An exfoliating toner like Botanical Ketoacid Toner helps to keep your pores free of built-up debris that can lead to clogs, by gently dissolving the mixture of oil and dead skin trapped in pores. 

How often should you exfoliate acne-prone skin? 

Exfoliating toners can generally be used once or twice a day, depending on the formula and your skin type. Botanical Ketoacid Toner is formulated with a gentle acid blend including lactic, malic and encapsulated salicylic acid, plus gentle ketoacids sourced from the hibiscus flower, and it’s safe for even sensitive skin types to use twice a day.  

Sonic dermaplaning with LUXE+ can be performed once a week to gently remove dead skin cells—just make sure to avoid any areas of active breakouts. You may find sonic dermaplaning especially helpful if you’re experiencing clogged pores due to perimenopause, since it removes pesky peach fuzz at the same time. (Note: If you have inflamed cystic acne, it’s best to avoid dermaplaning. Always ask your dermatologist if you're unsure.)

Should I squeeze breakouts or blackheads? 

It can be very tempting to pick or poke at clogged pores, but the rule is clear: Hands off! Not only can you cause potential scarring, you can also spread bacteria or push gunk deeper into your pores and delay healing even further. Not what you want!

One solution to unclog pores without damaging your skin is to use an ultrasonic pore extractor like DERMAPORE+. Unlike a manual extractor (which often looks like a pick or pair of tweezers—eek!), DERMAPORE+ uses proprietary ultrasonic + ionic technology and a custom-designed spatula to help remove clogs without damaging your skin. The ultrasonic vibrations gently loosen up the oil and dead skin that are trapped in your pores, while the spatula attracts and draws out the gunk.  “This device keeps me from picking at my skin and leaves my skin looking poreless,” says user Stephanie V.  “I'm no longer spending time trying to conceal the damage I've caused trying to squeeze my pores clean.”