Hi guys,
Welcome back to my blog. It has been a long time since I’ve written on here but I’m back and I’ll be trying my best to post often. So remember to be on the lookout every Sunday for a new post.
Today I will be talking about my acne journey and what I have been using recently to heal my acne. The pictures in the collage above were taken over three months and it is clear to see the improvements my skin has encountered.
My acne journey began almost 10 years ago when I started puberty but got worse when I turned 13 and throughout my secondary school journey (high school), I had dealt with cystic breakouts which would bleed out of nowhere and sometimes my friends would point it out of concern (but I'm grateful that they did not ostracise me for something I could not control). Throughout this period as well, I was trying any and every acne remedy that was recommended to me from toothpaste, pimple popping, oil cleansing with coconut oil (would not recommend for acne-prone skin too comedogenic I would even exfoliate my face with the exfoliating glove hoping it would remove my acne but I would bleed and my skin became, raw and sensitive, I even incorporated toothbrushes into my facial cleansing routine to have it replace the exfoliating brush that was quite popular in 2015 amongst YouTubers.
Anything you could imagine under the sun for "acne treatment" I have done it. So my expertise on what does not work for active breakouts and acne-prone skin is very much up there with the specialists.
However, it was also around 14 that I have my first encounter with a dermatologist who prescribed me adapalene (Differin gel), antibiotic, and adapalene with benzoyl peroxide(Epiduo) to treat my acne but because of lack of willpower and lack of knowledge I did not realise how good these ingredients were so I technically set myself up for failure by using these products irregularly because they were not working fast enough plus my parents discouraged me (long story).
From 2017 onwards, I had been on the hunt for acne treatments whilst also using adapalene sparingly instead of frequently but this was also the beginning of my skincare journey. I began learning about acids in skincare and what they do for the skin and how they combine together to treat acne which is what led me to Dermalogica (By the way, this not a promotion post for Dermalogica- unless they want to sponsor me). I am currently using my own custom treatment for acne from Dermalogica and this magic in a bottle has changed my skin for the better within three months. After all the trials and tribulations I have endured for my skin I can finally say I have skin that is decent enough to leave the house without makeup.
If you are dealing currently dealing with acne or have acne-prone skin here some tips for you to get started on your skincare journey. But it is also important to note that you must go visit a doctor to get diagnosed and to understand the underlying issues of your skin problems.
1) Keep your routine simple
When dealing with acne, it is important to not aggravate your skin but to nurture it the skin is our largest organ and we are to protect it with our life. As acne-prone skin is already sensitive, using too many products at once will only aggravate the situation. If you haven’t yet created a skincare routine for yourself, here’s one that can be of help to you and it’s one that I rely on during this healing process:
- Wash your skin twice a day in the am and pm with a face wash of your choice. For acne-prone skin, I would recommend a face wash that does not strip your skin from its natural oils and moisturises the skin whilst cleansing. Cerave foaming cleanser is my go too I would highly recommend it.
- moisturise skin with an oil-free and non-clogging moisturiser. I would recommend the Garnier 3-in-1 Aloe water Jelly. It is very moisturising and does not feel heavy on the skin which makes it perfect for the summer season. You can purchase it on Lookfantastic for £12.99. But you can find it at other places that are much more affordable.
- use sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage as sun damage can lead to premature ageing and if you’re of a darker complexion, sun damage can worsen your hyperpigmentation. Although people say black people don’t need sunscreen we still do cause as amazing as the sun is it can still cause damage.
2) Research
When you want to clear your skin or build a new routine or try new products, research is very important. Research your skin type by taking quizzes on the internet or watching YouTube videos as now more dermatologist whether p.o.c ( people of colour) or black are now more readily available than ever and are dropping gems (would’ve been helpful when I was 13). Another reason research into skincare is important is because what may work for Rihanna or Jane Fonda may not work for you and it’s an opportunity to learn what ingredients work best for your skin type.
For example, AHA’s (alpha-hydroxy acids) which are water-soluble tend to work more on the surface of the skin and work best for mild hyperpigmentation (age spots, melasma and scars), surface wrinkles, fine lines and enlarged pores just to name a few. Whereas, BHA's (beta-hydroxy acids) work by penetrating deeper below the surface of the skin helping to unclog pores, reduce excess oils and remove dead skin cells. Also what may work for someone else may not work for you so research is key.
3) Go to a professional
For everyone that still believes that acne is to do with hygiene and whether someone showers daily, I will have you know that acne is not related to hygiene and many people who have acne take their hygiene seriously and pay more attention to their skin.
So acne is NOT related to someone's lack of hygiene but has varying causes for example in my case, my acne is due to genetics because one of my parent(s) has acneic skin and I was lucky enough to win acne in my genetic lottery. Another cause for acne can be due to changes in hormones, for example, your body may be producing too much testosterone ( specifically true for teen acne) or PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Medication can also trigger acne. Due to many different reasons why people may get acne, it is important to go see a dermatologist (if you can afford it because it is expensive) or you general practitioner because they will be able to properly diagnose the causes for your acne and can give you medication to help treat it.
Do not rely simply on your own devices and do go seek help when you can. Because that trip to the doctors can do you more good than harm.
4) Hygiene routine
As I have mentioned before, acne is not related to poor hygiene. However, to calm the situation and maybe improve the appearance of the acne, it is important to clean your make up brushes, makeup sponges and pillowcases because these items come into contact with our faces constantly and when we do not clean them it allows for the acneic bacteria without skin to keep producing and clog the pores which lead to more acneic breakouts.
So make it your priority to clean your makeup brushes every week or every other week depending on how often you wear makeup. Also, the pillowcase that you use every night that has trapped in your sweat and saliva make sure to wash it weekly and to change your bedsheets and pillowcases weekly or every two weeks but was that pillowcase every week- trust me your skin will thank you for this and will no longer want to tackle you in your sleep.
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