Acne, as most people know it, can be a pain in the…well, face and other areas like the chest and back. The painful red spots, hyperpigmentation and acne scars can in fact take a toll on one’s self esteem.
This skin concern can affect anyone, especially teenagers and young adults and it can appear in different forms for various reasons.
While having it can be overwhelming and sometimes persistent, it can still be controlled and managed. In this article, we will take you through what acne means, its types and causes, how to treat it and the best products to combat the skin concern.
What Causes Acne?
Acne is a skin condition where the pores on your skin are clogged with sebum(oil), bacteria, dirt or dead skin cells. It is not an uncommon skin concern, and it is absolutely normal if you develop it at a point in your life.
It can appear in different forms and the most common ones are whiteheads and blackheads.Â
The other kinds of acne are inflammatory. These kinds often cause hyperpigmentation and scars. They consist of papules, cysts, nodules and pustules and are usually red, painful and swollen.Â
Contrary to the popular belief that poor hygiene is the main or only cause of breakouts, it is in fact, has other causes that are not hygiene related and beyond our control sometimes. As said earlier, these pimples develops on the skin when the pores or hair follicles are blocked or clogged with excess sebum, dead skin cells, hair or bacteria. This skin condition can be triggered by a number of reasons. A trigger is dehydrated skin. If your skin is dehydrated, it tends to produce more oil to make up for lack of moisture, this can in turn lead to excess sebum production then breakouts.
Below are other reasons that can cause acne to develop on your skin.
Pregnancy, menstruation, menopause as well as puberty can cause hormonal changes. Changes in the levels of some of these hormones like androgen can cause excess sebum production which can in turn block your pores and cause acne.
Genetics is also another factor that is likely to trigger this skin condition. If both or one of your parents have at a point had it, there are chances you’ll have it too.
Some medications like steroids, lithium and birth control pills can also cause your skin to breakout. Â
Other factors that are likely to cause or aggravate it are stress, diet, using heavy or oily skincare products, popping existing pimples and using too many skin care products.Â
Treating Acne
The good news about this skin concern is that regardless of what the cause may be, it can always be controlled or managed. You can even go from having severe acne to having clear skin with the right and effective treatment.
Mild breakouts might require a basic routine that consists of an effective and gentle cleanser that can cleanse dirt and oils without stripping your skin’s moisture barrier, a lightweight moisturizer, and an oil-free sunscreen. In cases where you have moderate to severe acne or comedones that just won’t leave, you might want to do the following:
Cleanse your face with cleansers that contain acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Introduce retinoids to your routine.
Use chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid to get rid of dead skin cells.
You might want to consider seeing a dermatologist if after prolonged treatment, there are no changes. You might be asked to undergo procedures like comedones extraction( if you have whitehead or blackhead).
In the case of severe acne like cystic acne, visit a dermatologist. The best form of treatment or medication will be determined by them.
Best k-beauty products for acne
There are lot of k-beauty brands out there targeted at treating various skin concerns.
The Korean beauty line is known for putting their buyers’ needs in mind. From packaging, to price as well as using the best ingredients in formulating their products. Treating acne particularly requires carefully choosing products that best suit your skin condition. You don’t want anything that can further clog your pores or irritate your skin.
The following are the best k-beauty products we have put together, depending on skin type and needs, for acne.
If you have acne-prone skin, you do not want to be using products that can further irritate your skin. This gentle cleanser contains no irritants and is suitable for all skin types and perfect if you have acne.
It effectively cleanses the skin, leaving it clean and soft while maintaining or restoring your skin’s PH balance.
This ampoule has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a great choice for your skin if you are looking for a product to calm cystic acne. It is also hydrating and it gives your skin the radiant boost it deserves.
Having acne means you have to carefully select the products you put on your skin. For moisturizers, you have to ensure they are at least lightweight, non-irritating, hydrating and non-comedogenic.
Almost everyone who has the essence in their stash knows it is a holy grail. If you don’t already have it, maybe this is a sign. It could work wonders for your skin as well.Â
If your skin is thirsty and acne-prone, this essence provides intense hydration(just what your skin needs)Â that will leave your skin looking healthy.Â
It is essential to have acne-fighting actives like AHAs and BHAs in your routine if you have regular breakouts. With the TIAM AC Fighting AHA BHA PHA Toner, you can manage breakouts with triple-action exfoliation that gently removes dead skin cells for a smoother texture. This toner also balances oil production to prevent further breakouts, soothes irritated skin and calms angry pimples.
Breakouts may leave you with hyperpigmentation and even scars. To reduce this, you should add products that have brightening properties to your routine. The Tiam Vita B3 Source contains niacinamide and combats dullness to reveal a brighter skin tone. It also fades hyperpigmentation, refines the skin texture and reduces acne marks.Â
Things to note:
You may have the perfect routine or right products but they may not work like they should if you:
Keep touching your face.
Pop your pimples.
Cleanse improperly.
Have too many products or actives in your routine.
Layer your products the wrong way.
Exfoliate everyday.
Sleep in your makeup.
Don’t use sunscreenÂ
Fail to change your sheet and pillowcase occasionally.
Â
Stick to your routine with the right products, patience and consistency. If there are no visible improvements within six months, you may see an esthetician for consultation and advanced treatment.
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
_gac_
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
SourceBuster is used by WooCommerce for order attribution based on user source.
Name
Description
Duration
sbjs_session
The number of page views in this session and the current page path
30 minutes
sbjs_udata
Information about the visitor’s user agent, such as IP, the browser, and the device type
session
sbjs_first
Traffic origin information for the visitor’s first visit to your store (only applicable if the visitor returns before the session expires)
session
sbjs_current
Traffic origin information for the visitor’s current visit to your store
session
sbjs_first_add
Timestamp, referring URL, and entry page for your visitor’s first visit to your store (only applicable if the visitor returns before the session expires)
session
sbjs_current_add
Timestamp, referring URL, and entry page for your visitor’s current visit to your store
session
sbjs_migrations
Technical data to help with migrations between different versions of the tracking feature
To set you up as an official stockist or partner, please take a moment to complete our online onboarding form. This process helps us verify your business and ensure a smooth partnership experience.
