Pimples, pimples, pimples!
The first thing we would like to say about those pesky unwanted pimples and those huge/under the surface ones that practically need their own postcode is; PLEASE DO NOT pick them, and I repeat, PLEASE we beg you, DO NOT do any home surgeries!
You will thank us in the end :)
Our body has a funny way of showing us that something isn't functioning correctly internally, which can appear on the skin as a rash or the thing we all dread the most: pimples!
Not to worry or fear, your saint skin angels are here! This blog to tell you everything you need to know to manage this issue in your very own home (and we mean EVERYTHING- it’s a long one so feel free to use the subheadings to navigate through the info useful to you).
Causes
We have already discovered the first rule: no picking!
Secondly, we are going to discuss the different types of pimples/acne we can experience, your signs, symptoms and severity will vary depending on the cause:
Blackheads (open clogged pores).
Whiteheads (closed clogged pores).
Small red, tender bumps (papules).
Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at their tips.
Large, solid, painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin (nodules).
Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin (cystic lesions).
If you just want to know what you can use to spot treat any of the above when they arise, you can scroll down to the spot treatment section, but if you want to know more about the underlying cause - keep reading!
Thirdly, we are going to talk about why these may be occurring, and please remember each individual will have their own cause creating the issue, we are all unique and there is not an overnight, one product, one treatment fix to this issue. It is an ongoing commitment to reduce the severity, resolve and ensure you keep it under control to avoid future occurrences.
Hydration
Both internally and topically this is extremely important….. why?
Think of a desert land, do you want your skin to feel and look like this image below?
Without adequate hydration, our skin has insufficient free water levels resulting in transepidermal water loss.
This inhibits our skin's natural functioning!
Our skin has a natural enzyme process that helps remove dead skin cells, with insufficient free water levels this enzyme becomes deactivated, meaning your skin thickens and your skin cells become cemented on, your acid mantle and immune response becomes impaired which becomes a breeding ground for inflammation and bacteria!
Oxygen
P.ance bacteria is an anaerobic bacteria, meaning it cannot thrive with oxygen around. When this bacteria is trapped in a clogged pore, with oil, dead skin cells and no air, an inflammatory response occurs - leading to pimples/acne.
This inflammatory response is normally controlled by enzymes called histones but the production of acids by the bacteria deactivates this response.
This is why using products that will assist in a gentle exfoliation of dead skin cells is important, to allow oxygen into the pores to assist in killing the bacteria. This is something your skin therapist will guide you on, as you NEVER want to over-exfoliate the skin and worsen your issue.
Diet
A big contributing factor when it comes to pimples/acne and even premature ageing (jump over and check out our anti-aging blog).
Western-style diets are high in refined carbs, fast foods and unhealthy fats, which contributes to an increase in blood sugars levels. When this occurs insulin levels along with production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) increase to help expel the sugar from your bloodstream and into your cells. This increases androgens activity, meaning skin cells produce at a more rapid rate and sebum production is increased.
The same applies with a diet high in dairy and whey protein powder which contains amino acids that contribute to increasing both insulin and IGF-1.
Chocolate, being both dairy and sugar can contribute to the same bodily processes as above, and stimulating acne-causing bacteria.
When it comes to digestive issues and food sensitivities/intolerances, your immune system identifies these foods as an intruder and enters into an immune attack against it. This increases inflammation in the body contributing to break outs.
Hormones
Androgens are hormones that increase during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and create more sebum. Low amounts of androgens circulate in the blood of all women and can contribute to exacerbating pimples and acne. Another issue that occurs during puberty is our hormones go through many regulatory functions and changes, contributing to an increase in IGF-1, again altering sebum production (remember we discussed this growth factor in the diet section?)
All hormonal changes including pregnancy can also affect sebum production.
Hormonal fluctuations lead to excess sebum / oil production, inflammation, follicular hyperkeratinization and bacterial colonization.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome & endometriosis
Both are complex hormonal conditions that contribute to a hormonal imbalance within the body which leads to the creation of pimples/acne.
Contraceptive pills/hormone replacement pills
These tend to be handed out by doctors like Smarties to control our hormones. In some cases, these are great, but for treating pimples and breakouts but they also feed the body synthetic hormones. Your body will not undergo your natural hormonal functions and it will alter your sebum production.
This means when you stop the contraceptive pill, your body over the next 12-24 months will be regulating itself and trying to remove the synthetic hormone build up, you will have a surge in sebum, dead skin cells and inflammation.
Bacteria
Known as the P.acnes bacteria is a normal bacteria that lives on our skin. This bacteria can be stimulated and increased by internal and external factors, creating an abnormal growth leading to inflammation, increased sebum production, skin damage and follicular hyperkeratinization.
Excess oil production
We do want oil production as this is what maintains a healthy skin barrier, however we do not want this to increase in production. With an increase there comes a change in the viscosity of the oil produced and this will act as cement for dead skin cells, exacerbating pimples by clogging pores and enlarging their size.
Follicular hyperkeratinization
This is when follicles and pores become clogged with dead skin cells and thick sebum because our skin is not shedding correctly through its own natural exfoliation system. This issue can be corrected with the use of retinoids and acids that your skin cells can recognise that are not going to strip the skin.
Medications
Many medications can contribute to hormonal and microbiome disruption. This imbalance will contribute to many of the things we have already discussed- changes to the viscosity sebum, inflammation and killing of both bad and the good bacteria within the stomach and contribute to leaky gut syndrome.
Stress & sleep
When we start to stress or experience a lack of sleep our body produces hormones called cortisol and adrenal androgens, which are designed to protect us. What this does for the body is slows down wound healing, increases inflammation and changes the viscosity of the sebum your sebaceous glands are producing.
Hygiene
It is extremely important that if you are experiencing pimples that you ensure you wash your linen more frequently. The reason for this is during the night whilst we sleep, we still produce bacteria, we may sweat, drool and so on….all of this goes into your linen!
Every night you wash your face before you get into bed and place your fresh clean face or body back onto that same linen, which the night before has accumulated a lot of bacteria; that bacteria is going back onto your clean face or body. A rule of thumb for pillow cases we have is; it has two sides to it...sleep on one side one night, flip it over for the next night and then it goes into the wash and a fresh one goes on!
Cleaning of the area
Double cleansing - is a MUST! The first time you cleanse you are removing makeup, oil, dirt, and bacteria that has built up throughout the day. Your second cleanse - is *drum roll*......cleaning your SKIN!!! Getting into your pores and giving them the good clean they need. You want to use small upward circular motions and make sure you get into the corners and creases of the nose.
Product use is a very important part in controlling this skin condition, we don't want to strip the skin and have it produce more oil only to exacerbate the issue. We will talk about incorrect product use a little further down!
Facial wipes
We are all no stranger to a face wipe: they are a quick easy method to taking off your makeup (perhaps after a night on the town with a few too many wines!). While they may better than not removing your makeup at all, they are NOT cleaning your face. Many of the face wipes on the market contain ingredients that are stripping on your skin, which we want to avoid!
Washing tools
Devices, face washers and towels are great for washing and drying your face and body but need to be used carefully. Remember to wipe and pat the skin gently as you do not want to irritate the area further through friction. And again, ensure you wash these items regularly, as bacteria will build up in these items. For face washers; we recommend you use a fresh clean one each day.
Makeup
Pimples can be exacerbated by the one thing we use to try and cover those pesky lumps and bumps to make us feel better (this is known as acne cosmetica). When using makeup and combating pimples you want to make sure you are using non-comedogenic mineral-based products. We want our skin to be able to breathe at the same time as covering up what might be making us self conscious, and some makeup products can prevent both of these things from happening.
Ingredients like; fragrances and dyes, alcohol, acrylics, talc, silicones and parabens.
The best makeup to use when experiencing pimples is mineral makeup, Jane Iredale is a mineral makeup that we stock because they fit in with our holistic philosophy. This brand not only provides good coverage for those pesky lumps and bumps, but it also contains skincare ingredients that will help with inflammation and have antibacterial effects.
Makeup tools brushes, beauty blenders
Similar concept to your linen and face/body washing tools, these collect bacteria and if they aren't cleaned regularly that bacteria is going back onto your face. We recommend using an antibacterial makeup brush cleaner or baby shampoo.
Incorrect skin product use
Your skin cells recognise the structure and formation of certain ingredients and this helps them to be accepted and transported into skin cells to create a change. If your skin cells do not recognise the ingredients within your products, they are not going to be working at a cellular level and will only be masking the condition on the surface.
This is why it is extremely important to use products recommended by your skin therapist, because they have a qualification in knowing the skin and how it functions.
Hair products
We always recommend when you are washing your hair, you wash your face and body last. The reason for this is there may be ingredients within your hair products that your skin does not agree with and these can contribute to the occurrence of pimples.
Ingredients
When it comes to ingredients you want to make sure these are non-comedogenic as this is going to contribute to clogging of the pores. You want products that are going to support your body’s natural functioning and help create a balance with all the above contributing factors. Stay tuned for a blog on ingredients to avoid and ingredients your skin will love!
Treatment
Other than all the lifestyle changes above, we are going to talk about what else you can be doing and using at home in the meantime. Here at St.Skin, we take a holistic approach on skin - now that we have talked about all the internal factors contributing to your pimples, we are going to delve into internal supplements and products that will help to control your breakouts.
Supplements
Pro Paira Skin force - $30.00
250mg Nicotinamide (Niacinamide or Vit.B3) & 100mg Zinc Gluconate (Equivalent to Zinc 12.5mg).
Both Zinc and Niacinamide have been studied and shown to reduce inflammation in the skin and help with wound healing, zinc also helps to regulate P.acnes bacteria and oil gland activity. Not only is this supplement great for acne, but also, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, DNA damage, hidradenitis suppurativa and actinic solar keratosis.
DMK EFA Ultra - $68.00 (contact to order)
Contains your Omega 3, 6, 7 & 9 essential fatty acids derived directly from the best sources in one capsule.
EFA’s are the building blocks for healthy cell membranes, they make up the skin's natural oil barrier, and when we have EFA’s in high levels our body is able to prevent and correct skin barrier disorders. They aid in reducing inflammation, speeding up the wound healing process and thinning out the oil our glands are producing, which means our skin’s natural desquamation process is regulated and functioning correctly = less inflammation, less redness and less blockages.
It is important to have an even balance of each omega in your body, if you consume more of one omega than the other, an omega deficiency can be created and your body will enter into an inflammatory state, which we want to avoid as this will contribute to the issue.
This is why EFA Ultra is a highly recommended omega supplement, as you will not become deficient in any of the omega’s your body needs. Great for acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, DNA damage, hidradenitis suppurativa and actinic solar keratosis.
Regul8 Relax - $68.00 (contact to order)
Stress is a large contributing factor to many many skin barrier disorders. Relax is a chinese herbal supplement that contains passionflower, lemon balm, rhodiola and rehmannia.
Designed to relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, mental fatigue and regulate adrenal function. If you have read the whole blog, you will know why and how stress is a big contributing factor to pimples including those hormonal ones.
Osmosis Skin Defense - environmental detox -$96.00
Our bodies have to process a large amount of toxins everyday. Some can be harder and take a very long time for the body to expel. ie . the synthetic hormones from the contraceptive pill.
This supplement uses the most effective detox strategies, by binding and removing estrogen toxins, pesticides, plastics, heavy metals and food preservatives from the body and will balance hormones, clear pimples and strengthen your immune system.
Gut cleanses:
Osmosis Digestive Support - $99.00
Formulated with pancreatic enzymes that match our own enzymes, needed to help breakdown dairy, fats, proteins and carbohydrates to enhance nutrient absorption. This will help increase energy naturally while reducing toxicity for a healthy gut and clear skin.
Osmosis Skin Clarifier - 10 day cleanse - $118.00
Cleanse your digestive tract of unwanted toxins and mucous that can lead to leaky gut and find their way to our skin and result in pimples, eczema and other skin barrier disorders.
Regul8 digestive tune up- $198.00 (contact to order)
Cleanse, restore and maintain; a three-step process that cleanses, soothes and repairs your gastrointestinal system by removing unwanted and unhealthy organisms, calming existing irritations and aiding in long-term digestive health. Say goodbye to leaky gut, which contributes to many skin barrier disorders.
Pimple Spot Treatments
DMK Acu-therm (PM) - $30.00 - apply to large under the surface cystic or nodule pimples and leave for 5-10 minutes.
DMK Acu-klear (AM) - $40.50 - apply to smaller surface pimples and leave on the skin.
Other things that you can try are warm compresses with a face washer, ice cubes, or even freezing green tea to help with any pain and inflammation that may be associated with your pimples/acne. Make sure your pillow cases are clean when you sleep, avoid touching the area as much as you can, cleanse the area correctly and use products recommended to you by a qualified skin therapist.
Home facial treatmentS
Check out our Anti-Acne & Congestion home facial kit for a St. Skin experience at-home!
Skin Care Products
Medik8 Hydra B5 (hyaluronic acid & vit.b5) - $79.00
Medik8 Balance Moisturiser (glycolic acid) - $98.00
Osmosis Cleanse 50ml - $49.00 or 200ml - $93.00
or
Osmosis Purify 50ml - $49.00 or 200ml - $93.00
Osmosis Rescue (beta glucan) - $224.00
Osmosis Calm (retinaldehyde & niacinamide) - $150.00
Osmosis Immerse oil - $140.00
Osmosis Nourish oil - $140.00
DMK Milk Cleanser - $72.00
or
DMK Deep Pore Cleanser - $72.50
DMK Melanotech Drops (kojic acid) - $145.00
DMk Beta Gel (beta glucan) - $145.00
DMK Seba-E Oil (topical EFA’s) - $77.00
or
DMK Herbal Pigment Oil (topical EFA’s) - $84.50
*Both the DMK oils above require the DMK Herb and mineral mist as the carrier to deliver the ingredients into the skin.
DMK Herb and Mineral Mist $70.00
Speak with our team
If you would like further information on how to use any of the home products, please book in for one of the online skin consultation options with one of our experienced skin therapists. They will be able to curate a home skin care plan and future treatment plan to suit YOU and YOUR individual concerns!