Face the acne: 4 steps to deal with acne
TREVOR WEE talks about how acne affects teenagers and how to reduce and prevent breakouts
Published 7 August 2019
Acne - the bane of every teenager. However, with some simple steps, it can be kept in control and you can live your life with a clear face.
Acne is “a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles, specifically a form found chiefly in adolescents and marked by pimples, especially on the face” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. According to a poll conducted by The Walking Sun, 64% of youths aged 16 to 25 had acne, 70% of which felt that their acne diminished their self-esteem.
The Walking Sun spoke to Cindy Low, Team Leader at The SK-II Boutique Spa by Senze Salus. “Normally, teenagers will have more oily [skin] because of their lifestyles and hormones, and also because their oil glands are active. Their skin [recovers] very fast, that’s why they don’t [take care of their skin]... they don’t really protect their skin from the environment.”
Here are some ways that you can help prevent acne!
STEP 1: WASH YOUR FACE REGULARLY
Cleansing your face removes oil and impurities from the surface of the skin. The American Association of Dermatology recommends washing your face twice a day to remove impurities and unclog pores. However, washing your face too often will result in drying out the skin. “Once your water level is low, it will [age faster] and it will get [more acne-prone],” says Cindy. For people with dry skin, she advises them to drink more water, use masks and get enough sleep. Good cleansers include Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Wash ($16) which has the added benefit of combating bacteria that cause acne.
STEP 2: EXFOLIATE
After cleansing your face, the next step is to exfoliate. “Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical, granular substance, or exfoliation tool,” according to Healthline. It helps to remove impurities and prevent buildup of excess dirt and skin. “[Exfoliation] isn’t good when you do it too often, as it will thin the skin,” Cindy says. Recommended scrubs include The Body Shop Tea Tree 3-in-1 Wash Scrub Mask ($24). It contains tea tree oil, which helps to combat acne.
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STEP 2: TONE AND MOISTURISE
The next step after washing your skin is to hydrate it using moisturiser. However, before moisturising your face, Cindy recommends using a toner first. “Toner… helps to prepare the skin to absorb products. After you cleanse your face, there might be some residue left behind, so the toner will [help get rid of it]. The Tea Tree Skin Clearing Mattifying Toner from The Body Shop ($20) is a good option as it helps to fight acne-causing bacteria as well as help prime the skin to absorb other products.
STEP 3: SUNBLOCK
“When you’re under [the] sun, your skin will get dehydrated and it tends to produce more oil to protect [it]. That’s how you have oily yet dehydrated skin.” According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin.”
STEP 4: AFTER-CARE
After all the care you have given your skin, a pimple may still appear from time to time. Popping one may seem attractive, however it actually causes deep damage that will have long-lasting effects. “When you squeeze acne, it tends to produce a lot of melanin,” Cindy says. This will cause dark spots on the face. Therefore it’s important to take good care of your face and refrain from popping pimples.
The Walking Sun spoke to Cheriya Chomrat and Faith Leong, both 18, about their experience with acne. “I used to get really bad breakouts and a few times because I used really harsh products… It made me really self conscious,” Faith said. Cheriya also shared similar sentiments, saying that she would “always want to hide from the eyes of the public especially on bad breakout days”.
