How to banish teenage acne for that #nofilter look !
by Lisa Young – Salon Director
#nofilter – Definition – A photograph that hasn’t been altered by running it through any photo software filters. Source https://tagdef.com
Come on, admit it, you all do it !!
I think most of us can admit to a slight bending of the truth with a little cheeky filter on our social media pictures.
But the trend is now moving towards #nofilter and if you want to get with it you have to drop the filter and go bare.
Yes no edits, no filters just naturally you.
More and more teens are kicking the filter and going filter free on their pictures.
The pressure is off boys and girls but if you suffer with problem skin or teenage Acne you may want to think about getting your skin #nofilter ready.
We all know that our teenage years are a hard time. Hormones and emotions run wild. There’s added exam pressure, relationships and futures to decide. So no wonder your skin has a hard time of it. According to The Journal of Paediatrics Acne is more common among children aged 7 to 12 years old. This is mainly due to a recent phenomenon known as precocious puberty or early onset puberty. By their mid-teens more than 40% of teenagers have had some form of Teenage Acne. Some even suffer associated scarring due to Acne.
So what can be done to help counter Teenage Acne ?
Well, a good skincare routine is a great start. If you need more help to kick start your #nofilter skin, there are a variety of treatments that can help to reduce and even heal the look caused by teenage acne. You can however start with a few simple steps for getting problem skin under control and then keep it under control.
Our 6 Top Tips for combating Teenage Acne
1) Control Excess Oil
FACT – Spots and acne can be due to excess oil. This is caused by teenage hormones and is the reason why your skin feels like an oil slick only hours after washing your face. Controlling this oil is key to treating and preventing teenage problem skin and teenage acne. Do not automatically think harsh alcohol based product to dry up the oil, instead look for a gentle cleanser with active ingredients such as:
- Niacinamide.
- Sesame Seed.
- African Whitewood Bark.
- Meadowsweet.
- Saw Palmetto.
All of these ingredients can be found in professional skincare ranges such as Dermalogica Clear Start.
2) Prevent bacteria
Bacteria is the second cause of problem skin and acne. When combined with excess oil you have the perfect breeding grounds for bad skin. 1st start with keeping your hands away from your face. Think about what you do at school.
Do you lean on your hands on one side whilst sat at your desk ?
Do you have spots in the area where you lean on your hands ?
Do you frequently run your hands through your hair and then touch your face afterwards ?
If so, you may be transferring bacteria on to your skin. So key to preventing spots and acne is to keep your skin clean and bacteria free.
Look for products with ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide, which is a powerful antibacterial ingredient. Other effective ingredients with an antibacterial effect on the skin are:
- Salicylic Acid.
- Meadowsweet.
- Tea Tree Oil.
- Collodial Silver.
- Sulphur.
3) Develop Healthy Skin Habits
Get yourself into a few healthy skin habits and you will be well on your way to a #nofilter healthy skin and banishing that problematic teenage acne. Here are a few good habits:
- Wash your face morning and night without fail.
- Removing make up properly (especially long wear make up that can clog the pores and make a perfect breeding ground for bacteria).
- Never pick or squeeze !
- Never share make up with friends such as mascara and concealer.
- Wash make up brushes regulary using an antibacterial cleanser (you can use the same as you use on your face or even shampoo). Leave to air dry laying them flat so that water does not collect and dissolve the glue holding the bristle in place.
4) Stop Inflammation and Redness
Redness and irritation usually accompanies spots and acne skin and this is made worse by picking and squeezing of spots. What you are looking for are products that soothe and calm the skin whilst drying up excess oil and controlling bacteria. Ingredients that are especially good and effective for calming skin whilst not drying out the skin are:
- Green tea.
- Camphor.
- Liquorice.
- White Birch Extract.
- Oleanolic Acid.
5) Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the key to resolving most skincare problems and that also includes teenage skin and acne. By gently exfoliating the dead skin cells and giving them a helping hand to shed, you will enable the skin to become clog free. After all who wants a deadly cocktail of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells clogging pores and creating the ideal environment for spots, blemishes and acne to develop ?
This doesn’t mean “scrub” the skin, just a gentle exfoliation using gentle exfoliating ingredients such as Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Pore Control Scrub that uses a mix of tiny microbeads and gentle chemical exfoliating ingredients. Do not use products that contain harsh ground stone, fruit stones and shells that contain rough and sharp edges that can rip at the skin and cause more damage.
6) Moisturise
Lastly don’t forget to moisturise ! Even if your skin is oily, it still needs moisture and hydration. They are completely different things and are both essential in the right quantities for healthy skin. You don’t want to have dehydrated skin as this has a negative effect on the skin creating yet more oil. This also means that more blackheads may appear that become difficult to control and remove as dehydrated skin closes pores tight.
So getting moisture into your skin is important to hydrate your skin and keep it healthy. You need to choose the right product that hydrates and controls oil such as Dermalogica Clear Start Oil Clearing Matte Moisturiser.
What if you aren’t suffering with spots and acne now ?
We always believe that prevention is better than the cure, so if you follow these steps and use products that help your skin to control the causes of spots and blemishes, you should be able to avoid spots and acne.
And there you have it, 6 easy steps designed to help your skin on the road to recovery or to prevent spots and acne for a #nofilter ready skin naturally.
Treatments to try at Studio 8
There are a variety of treatments available that we’d recommend for problem skin, spots and acne skin. With each treatment you will get a full consultation and Facemapping Analysis accompanied by expert skincare advice from one of our Dermalogica Skincare Experts.
The treatments we recommend are:
- Teenage Microzone Facial.
- LED Light Therapy.
- Microdermabrasion.
- Ultrasonic Deep Cleansing.
Did you know ?
Professional products are proven to be great value as consumer tests have shown that you spend less on professional products in the long run compared to consumer chemist store products. This is because professional products are more economical as they contain more expensive but more effective ingredients, so you need less each time you use them meaning that a bottle of professional product will last 2-3 time longer than other cheaper products.
Dermalogica Clear Start
How it works
Skin care product choices are vast but products for teens often contain harsh and inexpensive ingredients, artificial fragrances and colours – all the things that can irritate and strip oil from skin, causing even more problems.
Clear Star is different as it’s specifically formulated to:
- Unclog pores.
- Minimise breakout-causing bacteria
- Control oil.
All key factors for controlling teen breakouts but it does it without aggravating already troubled skin – something other teen products don’t do.
The Clear Start approach combines the best of nature’s botanicals and the science of breakout-clearing skin care through an easy-to-follow regime that incorporates extra clearing products. This helps teens achieve their clearest level of skin whilst establishing good skin care habits that will last a lifetime.
A full range is available at Studio 8 Beauty priced from £8.50 to £16.00. There is also a starter kit available for only £23.75, which contains all the products in the range for you to try.
If you would like to know more about treatments or products for teenage skin, or to arrange an appointment for a skincare assessment with our Dermalogica Facemapping, please contact the salon on 02392 380 692 or email salon@studio8beauty.co.uk.
Quote of the Day
“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”
Shauna Niequist