How to get rid of acne on the face [advice from La-Roche Posay dermatologist]

What is pimples (acne)?

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous hair follicles, characterized by hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands and clogging of pores by excess sebum and other impurities.

Acne or a black dot is a cork from a mixture of sebum, sweat, dead skin cells of the epidermis and external environmental pollution, clogging the sebaceous gland and its ducts.

Sebum oxidizes on contact with oxygen and acquires a characteristic dark tint – hence the name “black dots”. This plug creates an airless environment favorable for the growth of acne bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes or Malassezia), which are the cause of acne recurrences.

The main types of rashes on the face

There are several types and symptoms of acne:

• open comedones – dense rashes of the superficial type, usually gray or black. This type of acne is easy to remove with cosmetic facial cleansing.
• Closed comedones (subcutaneous acne) – white subcutaneous rashes, the mechanism of occurrence of which is similar to the appearance of open acne. Closed comedones often turn into classic red pimples: the accumulated sebum has no way out and leads to painful inflammation.
• papules – dense red pimples without purulent contents.
• Pustules – classic pimples with purulent contents and a red inflamed head, often leave behind a stagnant spot.
• Knots (nodules) – deep subcutaneous seals, usually accompanied by the release of pus and leave scars behind.
• Pink (red) pimples – are signs of rosacea and do not depend on the work of the sebaceous glands.

Causes of acne on the face

The appearance of acne in adults is most often associated with hyperandrogenism or increased sensitivity of the sebaceous glands to an increase in the synthesis and activity of male sex hormones. According to dermatologists, 23% of women of childbearing age and 8% of adolescent girls experience hyperandrogenism. We will analyze other possible factors and causes of acne on the face.

1. Hormonal imbalance Most often, the appearance of acne is associated with changes in the hormonal system. Such changes occur during puberty, pregnancy, or during certain phases of the cycle. When an excess of male sex hormones appears in the body, the sebaceous glands actively produce sebum. Excess sebum, in turn, leads to the command of rashes at different ages.
2. Heredity Physiological features in the hormonal background can be inherited from parents. If one of the parents had a tendency to develop acne in childhood, then there is a high probability that the child will similarly face the same problem.
3. Improper diet An unbalanced diet can also cause the activity of the subcutaneous mite (Demodex), which causes acne: fried, fatty, salty, spicy foods, confectionery and flour products are also the cause of increased sebum production.
4. Frequent stress, lack of sleep The stress hormone cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands during an emotional upheaval or against the background of sleep disturbances, also activates the sebaceous glands.
5. Non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene Insufficient cleansing and the habit of often touching the face with hands also provoke the appearance of black dots.
6. Wrong skin care The main thing that you should pay special attention to is the right care for problem skin. Oily skin is prone to increased activity of the sebaceous glands. In this case, care for other types will not work, as it will not allow normalizing sebum secretion and removing excess sebum. A suitable beauty routine based on gentle cleansing, moisturizing, seboregulation with antibacterial anti-inflammatory action will help keep acne under control.

What determines the location of acne on the face?

According to dermatologists, various types of skin rashes (pimples and large blackheads) occur at any age. Rashes are most often localized in the T-zone, since it is in this zone that the pores are almost always enlarged, and the sebaceous glands are most active: forehead, nose, chin. In the area of ​​the cheeks and cheekbones, the skin is mostly dry, but acne can also appear in this area. This is due to the individual physiological characteristics of the body.

It is in the area of ​​​​the T-zone (nose, forehead, chin) that the largest number of sebaceous and sweat glands are located, which contribute to blockage of pores and the formation of black spots.

• Pimples on the forehead indicate violations of the intestines;
• Acne on the chin – about possible hormonal disruptions and gastrointestinal disorders;
• Pimples on the nose are the result of violations of the pancreas and liver;
• Acne on the cheeks can be the cause of stomach diseases.

How to get rid of acne at home with the help of cosmetics?

To the question “how to get rid of acne?” experts recommend sticking to a comprehensive beauty routine. It includes deep cleansing of the skin from all types of impurities, as well as corrective care that will improve the functioning of the sebaceous glands, optimize sebum production and prevent future imperfections.

The key steps in a beauty routine to effectively fight acne are outlined below.

1. Problematic skin needs constant gentle cleansing. The use of aggressive agents can injure the dermis and acne treatment may be delayed. Please note that cleaning agents do not contain aggressive acids, oils and ethyl alcohol. Ideal for these requirements Effaclar foaming gel. Its formula is specially designed for problematic and oily skin. Gentle gel gently cleanses clogged pores, removes excess sebum.

How often is it best to use this gel? Optimally – twice a day. In the morning, using the gel, it is necessary to remove excess sebum from the surface of the skin that has accumulated overnight. In the evening after work – the gel will help remove makeup and remove minor impurities that have appeared from being outside.

2. For matting the skin and narrowing enlarged pores after cleansing, we recommend using a special effaclar pore tightening lotion. What are its benefits? It evens out the surface of the skin and with regular use helps to reduce the size of the pores. At the same time, the lotion has a matting effect, which is very useful for owners of oily skin.

When is the best time to use lotion? Only after preliminary cleansing of the skin. The product does not require rinsing with water, but after application it is better to wipe the skin with a tissue to remove excess lotion.

3. For deep skin cleansing 1-2 times a week it is necessary to use a cleansing mask. It is good if the product has a calming effect and does not dry out problem skin. Try to use Effaclar cleansing mask. It effectively cleanses the skin due to the presence of Kaolin and Magnesium Aluminosilicate in the composition. These components absorb excess sebum. Panthenol in the composition soothes the skin, and thermal water moisturizes and saturates it with moisture.

1. To correct and visually reduce the visibility of acne use matting emulsion Effaclar Mat. A cosmetic clinical test and a survey of 49 participants proved that the use of the emulsion for 4 weeks visibly tightens the pores, evens out the complexion and reduces the shine of oily skin. Already after the first application of Effaclar Mat, the skin becomes noticeably matte.

2. For a spot solution to the problem with acne use corrective cosmetics of local action, for example Effaclar AI It contains keratolic components that effectively inhibit bacterial activity and even out the surface of the skin. Regular use of the product reduces the likelihood of post-acne on the face. Effaclar AI will be your perfect assistant if you need to remove a pimple from your face. After a week of use, pimples and blackheads become less noticeable (result of a survey of 52 test participants).

3. For daily acne correction use corrective emulsion for oily skin Effaclar K(+). It contains a unique component AIRLICIUMTM, which absorbs a large amount of sebum and effectively mattifies the skin.

Salicylic acid, together with lipo-hydroxy acid, gently exfoliates dead skin cells and prevents the appearance of clogged pores on the face. Already after the first application of the emulsion, a feeling of cleanliness and freshness appears. After a month of using the product, the skin microrelief is leveled, all enlarged pores are cleansed and narrowed, the oily sheen disappears. The skin looks healthy and elastic.

How fast can acne be removed from the face?

It usually takes 1 to 4 weeks to visually reduce the visibility of pimples. But there are situations in life when you need to get rid of a pimple very urgently due to a date, business meeting or other important event where you want to look great. Below we will analyze several express methods that will help hide rashes in a short time.

Let’s be realistic, you will not be able to completely get rid of such an unpleasant problem as acne in 60 minutes. But do not be upset, in an hour you can remove the swelling and significantly reduce the redness of the skin.

• Using ice cubes Ice is not a cosmetic product, but for our purpose it is ideal. If you wrap a couple of ice cubes in a napkin or a thin towel and apply them to acne for 30-60 seconds, the skin will cool down a lot. This will slow down blood flow and visually reduce the size of the swelling.
• Apply pure salicylic acid We do not recommend using salicylic acid in its pure form, as it dries out the skin and in high concentrations can lead to burns. But if you have no other options – use it at your own peril and risk. If you treat the rashes with pure salicylic acid (for example, using a cotton swab or cotton pad), then the pimples will dry out quickly. Dried up acne will not be so inflamed, redness will decrease and visual imperfections will become less noticeable.

If you have more than 1 hour of time, then there is a real chance to treat an inflamed pimple. During sleep, skin regeneration occurs much faster than during the day, if you use the right products, the inflammation around the pimple will decrease significantly, as will the size of the imperfection itself.

1. Pure tea tree oil This ingredient is often used in home care as it is a good antiseptic and has pronounced bactericidal properties. Apply the oil in a clean video directly to the pimple. To do this, it is convenient to use a regular cotton swab. At the same time, it is not necessary to apply oil to healthy skin.
2. aspirin tablet A regular aspirin tablet can serve as an excellent quick remedy for acne. To do this, you need to grind 1 tablet to a powder state, mix the powder with pure water, gently apply the resulting mixture on acne and leave it overnight without rinsing.
3. benzoyl peroxide Once applied to problem areas, peroxide kills all the bacteria that cause acne. To prevent irritation on the skin, choose a 2,5% composition.

How to remove acne from the face with the help of cosmetology?

If with the help of properly selected care it was not possible to cure acne at home, you should consult a dermatologist. He will prescribe tests, based on the results of which he will adjust the treatment. If black dots become inflamed and painful pimples with purulent contents appear at the site of acne, you should also consult a specialist.

With a non-inflammatory form of acne, acne on the face can be eliminated with the help of aesthetic cosmetology:

• hardware or mechanical cleanings;
• mesotherapy by invasive delivery of active substances into the deep layers of the skin;
• dermabrasion (mechanical resurfacing of the skin of the face);
• cryotherapy (cryopiling) by exposing the skin to low temperatures for its intensive renewal;
• acid (based on glycolic, lactic, azelaic, salicylic acids) peels or retinoids;
• laser skin resurfacing.

Cosmetic procedures often complement corrective care, but do not replace it: an integrated approach will help to remove acne from the face.

Prevention of acne: how to forget about acne forever

Since acne is the result of excess sebum in oily skin, it will not be possible to get rid of them forever: even after mechanical cleansing, black dots will reappear over time. Acne can and should be treated with corrective home care. Let’s figure out how to get rid of acne on the face.

By adhering to our preventive recommendations and providing problematic skin with appropriate care for its needs, you can quickly get rid of acne, prevent recurrence of acne, keep the skin matte and clean for a long time.

• Follow the rules for caring for problem skin: cleanse the skin twice a day with a delicate gel or foam, apply an exfoliating peel 1-2 times a week, and deep cleanse the skin with clay-based masks. Instead of folk remedies, choose proven pharmacy cosmetics of a narrowly targeted action, which has clinically proven effectiveness.
• Choose the right care products: it is desirable that cosmetic products for problem skin contain antibacterial components: salicylic acid, triclosan, AHA acids.
• Choose corrective care with an appropriate pH level for your skin (5,5). Eliminate aggressive (hard alkaline) drying agents from your daily routine.
• Do not forget about regular moisturizing: dehydrated oily skin reacts with even more intense production of sebum. Follow the drinking regime to maintain the water-mineral balance of the body.
• Do not try to squeeze out blackheads on your own – instead of cleansing the pores, you will injure the skin around the acne, which will provoke an inflammatory process, a stagnant spot or a scar. If you still have rashes (a pimple or inflammation has jumped up), use an SOS remedy to correct correction of local imperfections Effaclar AI
• Eat right: as a prevention of rashes, enrich the diet: vitamins A, C, fatty acids, antioxidants, beta-keratin and fiber, B vitamins and zinc.
• Apply sunscreen daily for oily problem skin to avoid additional damage and dryness of the skin after negative UV exposure.
• Rarely touch the skin of the face with your hands – this provokes increased production of sebum and clogging of pores.