What Does Acne Prone Skin Mean?
Acne prone skin refers to the skin that is more susceptible to breakouts and blemishes. These can also present as a combination of blackheads, whiteheads, spots and cysts on the face and neck (and sometimes on your back and chest). Acne prone skin is not a skin type that will over time become less prone - it could take months or years with the right acne treatment to manage it.
There are a number of factors that cause acne prone skin to break out. Typically, when your oil glands produce excessive sebum/oil and your dead skin cells are not being shed properly can cause your pores to be blocked with oil, dead skin, bacteria and other impurities. Pores are tiny openings in the skin that release oil and sweat, so it is important they’re not blocked.
How do I know if I Have Acne Prone Skin?
The best way to know if you have acne prone skin is to notice if you have to constantly deal with acne breakouts. The best method in effectively managing acne is by having a skincare routine using targeted acne cream treatments and being consistent with it.What Causes Breakouts And Flare-ups?
Hormones
Hormones are one of the primary factors that cause acne prone skin, that’s why a lot of us suffer from acne in our teens the most. The reason for this is due to the sebaceous glands in our hair follicles are quite sensitive to hormones and a spike in our hormones causes our glands to overproduce sebum. Acne and acne prone skin can follow us into adulthood, as hormonal fluctuations also happen during adulthood. Women are more prone to this as breakouts are common during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause and polycystic ovary syndrome. In boys, androgen hormone can also cause overproduction of oil, slow shedding of dead skin cells, which create a breeding ground for acne.Stress and Acne
Stress isn’t a direct contributor to acne however, if you already have acne it can worsen due to stress. Dr Joshua Zeichner, the director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology says “stress interferes with proper skin barrier function, impairs wound healing and causes skin conditions like eczema and rosacea to worsen.”Acne In Families
Acne can be genetic as it can be passed down by your parents. It is important to highlight that there is no specific gene that makes you more likely to develop acne breakouts. The NHS say if both parents had acne, you’re most likely to have acne.
How To Prevent Acne
You should consider adopting a skincare routine tailored to your acne prone skin. If you’re unsure which skincare products to use then take advantage of our free 15-minute online skin consultation, where we’ll talk to you about your skin concerns and goals and at the end of it you’ll have a bespoke skincare plan to help improve your acne prone skin.Our range of acne treatments and face masks formulated with pharmacists and beauty professionals help with acne breakouts. Our acne range includes the Anti Blemish & Acne Mask, which is recommended for oily and blemished skin and our Reveal Facial Peel is fantastic if you suffer from oily skin, blemishes, dark spots, rough texture, and acne scars.
