I remember how fragile my self-esteem was in junior high school. Especially since my skin had the look of a hormonal battlefield. Not knowing the correct way to apply make-up or having the proper home care product for my skin, I struggled every morning to look my best. I desperately wanted to learn more about controlling acne and improving my self-esteem.
One day, while walking to class, a popular girl surrounded by her fan club made an ugly comment about my skin condition. That painful memory still haunts me today. While teens will be teens, doing whatever it takes to boost your teenager’s self-confidence will help them ignore whatever negativity may come their way.
🙌 Scheduling an appointment with a skincare specialist is a great place to start.
The skincare specialist will provide them with correct guidance in skin hygiene and proper make-up application to help control the acne condition.
Any degree of acne is not a small issue. It’s annoying, embarrassing, and scarring (both physically and mentally), and always in our face, or shall I say, pops up on our face at the wrong time! There are so many options for the treatment of acne that it can be quite difficult in deciding what professional treatments and home care regimens are the most effective.
What exactly is acne?
Currently, acne is a non-curable disease of the sebaceous glands and/or hair follicles. An estimated 80% of people suffer from some form of acne in their life. It’s hard to believe that there are fifty types of acne. During puberty, the surge in hormonal activity increases the skin’s oil production, causing the skin to thicken, making a perfect breeding ground for the acne bacteria to grow. Acne can affect people of all ages and in many degrees from acne simplex (congested pores) to deep cysts. Understanding how it thrives and multiplies can help in the control of acne.
Acne is an inflammation of the skin caused by anaerobic (living in the absence of oxygen) bacteria called Propionibacterium. This bacterium is a common resident of the skin and lives inside the sebaceous gland. The Propionibacterium needs dark, airless areas in order to multiply and survive. While feasting on the oil or sebum within the skin’s follicles, the mixture of the fatty acids and bacterial by-products creates inflammation, causing redness and pustules on the surface of the skin.
During puberty, the surge in hormonal activity increases the skin’s oil production, causing the skin to thicken, making a perfect breeding ground for the acne bacteria to grow. Acne can affect people of all ages and in many degrees from acne simplex (congested pores) to deep cysts. Understanding how it thrives and multiplies can help in the control of acne.
The Latest in Professional Acne Treatments
With recent reports from the Journal of the American Medical Association pointing out the dangers of long-term and overuse of antibiotics, consumers are looking for more natural and healthier alternatives for the treatment of acne.
Two effective alternatives are non-ablative lasers, which create thermal damage to help control acne, and the use of multi-colored LED lights which kill the bacteria by producing singlet oxygen within the cells, then adjust the cell to repair the damage.
Beyond Beaute utilizes the Soli~tone LED Lumifacial machine which combines the use of 4 color wavelengths from the visible light spectrum. The treatment starts with a blue light which kills the acne bacteria, followed by a red light which has an anti-inflammatory effect and speeds the healing process. A yellow light then is used to increase lymphatic flow to remove waste products, finishing with a green light to help eliminate redness and irritation of the skin. Soli~tone Lumifacial treatments are recommended twice a week for five weeks for the best results for clients with acne. Maintenance follow-ups are then normally scheduled once a month.
Other professional services provided by Beyond Beaute’s skin specialists include removing surface layers of dead cells with lactic, glycolic, or salicylic acids. After removing the excessive buildup, the clogged pores and sebum are gently removed, eliminating the breeding ground for the acne bacteria. Once the acne is under control, the treatments can be followed up with Epidermabrasion to lessen the appearance of scars.
Acne Home Care Regimens
The art of controlling acne is keeping the skin in a PH balance which controls inflammatory conditions. While the old way of thinking was to scrub the skin until it is squeaky clean, this caused the skin to become out of balance with its moisture-to-oil ratio, creating edema within the skin, and locking the bacteria deep within the pores. Therefore, the less aggressive approach is much more effective.
Research does not point to one specific cause of acne, but factors such as repeated stress on the central nervous system can cause the adrenal glands to fluctuate your hormone level, leading to acne eruptions. Practicing relaxation techniques and avoiding caffeine or other stimulants can help.
There are a few things that can help acne breakouts such as:
• practice stress-relieving techniques
• hydrate your body by drinking plenty of water
• remove perspiration after exercise
• avoid excessive coffee during high-stress times
• avoid the use of irritating products that include ingredients such as laureth sulfate
• do not over-scrub the face with aggressive ingredients such as walnut shells; try a facial cleanser with jojoba beads instead
• schedule anti-acne treatments a week before your menstrual cycle
• if you have a problem with body acne, avoid washing with ingredients such as petroleum (mineral oils) which can clog pores
• although products with alcohol might appear to make the skin feel squeaky clean, they strip the skin of its natural balance, thus causing the overproduction of oils
• avoid self extraction-this can increase inflammation and spread the acne underneath the skin
When choosing products to use at home, those which are non-aggressive and anti-inflammatory will be the most effective in clearing acne breakouts. The best products will have the ability to kill the acne bacteria, remove excess cellular buildup and balance the production of the oil secretion without the removal of the skin’s natural PH balance.
Along with our makeup and brow waxing special, Beyond Beaute’ is offering teens a 20% discount on acne home care products with the purchase of a facial. Learn more about our facials by clicking here!
Call now for your teen facial appointment!
For specific questions concerning acne or facial care, give us a call to schedule a FREE skincare consultation.