What to do to avoid acne

“What to do to avoid acne” – this question is relevant for owners of oily, often problematic skin, which, due to natural features, is prone to the formation of acne and comedones. However, oily skin is not a sentence at all, and the appearance of imperfections can be prevented. How? With the right care.

Causes of Acne

Oily skin is characterized by more active sebum production, which is visually expressed in greasy shine and enlarged pores in the T-zone, the appearance of black dots on the nose. There is nothing catastrophic here. You just need to take into account these features and select adequate cosmetics for care.

Problems begin at the moment when sebum, mixed with scales of dead cells, clogs the ducts of the sebaceous glands, forming a sebaceous plug, that is, a comedone, which can turn into an inflammatory element – a pimple.

Note that if once a month a pimple pops up in owners of oily skin (before the onset of the monthly cycle, the sebaceous glands stimulated by hormones work more actively), this is a completely natural phenomenon. Another thing is when single pimples become your constant companions, and the skin goes into the oily/problem category.

Oily skin is prone to comedones.

There may be several reasons for this course of events, although most of them are somehow related to the hormonal status of the body:

excess high-carbohydrate, sugary, starchy foods – the intake of glucose and the subsequent release of the hormone insulin, which increases the activity of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which leads to the appearance of rashes;

stress – cortisol (stress hormone) provokes dehydration and, as a response, greasiness of the skin, and also negatively affects the quality of sleep, reducing the regenerative abilities of the skin and its immunity;

hormonal disbalance – with severe rashes, it is worth checking with an endocrinologist;

improper care – you need to find out at what stage you make a mistake and what needs to be corrected in the care of oily problem skin.

Check if you are properly caring for oily problem skin.

How to care for oily skin

Vichy expert dermatologist Victoria Klisko describes the protocol for competent skin care:

So, choosing care for oily skin or correcting it, you must first find out what NOT to do. We answer.

  1. Choose acne medications at your own risk: there is a danger of overdrying the epidermis and increasing the sensitivity of the skin, that is, provoking another problem. Do not self-medicate!

  2. Squeaky clean skin with aggressive cleansers: Oily and acne-prone skin tends to have an alkaline pH, so alkaline cleansers only exacerbate the situation by lowering the skin’s defenses.

  3. Neglect hydration: mattifying and sebum-regulating properties are certainly welcome in the composition of care products for oily skin, but the moisturizing component is no less necessary. With increased dryness, the skin is threatened with dehydration, which can provoke an even greater activity of sebum secretion. The optimal level of moisture is the main condition for the normal functioning of the skin of any type.

What ingredients in cosmetics to pay attention to

Modern products for the care of oily skin are characterized by a complex effect due to the combination of different categories of components.

  • Exfoliating

    Oily skin is prone to hyperkeratosis, that is, thickening of the stratum corneum caused by delayed cell renewal, which can cause imperfections. To avoid this, for example, salicylic acid, known not only for exfoliating, but also for bactericidal action, helps to avoid this.

  • Anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating

    Zinc and copper are included in cosmetics for oily and problem skin to reduce the amount of sebum on the surface of the epidermis and prevent possible imperfections.

  • Matting

    For these purposes, absorbents are used: kaolin (soft clay), perlite.

  • Hydrating

    In particular, hyaluronic acid is among the most effective: low molecular weight retains water in the deep layers of the epidermis, high molecular weight prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin surface.

  • Vitamins

    They are essential for protecting and restoring the skin. Note vitamin C, a universal antioxidant, which also reduces the appearance of post-acne, having a whitening effect.

  • Fractions of probiotics and prebiotics

    They care about the skin microbiome, which plays a critical role in maintaining the protective and barrier functions of the skin. Read more about the skin microbiome here and here.

Overview of the Vichy Normaderm Phytosolution line

At the moment, there are only two products in the Normaderm Phytosolution series, but thanks to their carefully balanced composition and complex effect, taking into account the needs and problems of oily skin, this is quite enough for basic care.

Cleansing gel for washing Normaderm Phytosolution, Vichy

Qualitatively and at the same time gently cleanses of impurities, sebum, leaving the skin fresh, radiant and smooth. Does not contain soap or sulfates. The formula includes the probiotic Bifidus.

Corrective care double action Normaderm Phytosolution, Vichy

Day care product reduces the appearance of pores, evens out the surface of the skin, mattifies. The secret of success lies in multilateral action, which is aimed at:

  • matting;

  • imperfection prevention;

  • stimulation of cellular renewal of the skin;

  • moisturizing;

  • strengthening the skin barrier.

Ingredients: salicylic acid (2%), kaolin, zinc, Bifidus probiotic, hyaluronic acid and thermal water.

Leave a Reply