#comedones

[itsmyaccutanejourney]

My skin really started to clear at the end of month 5 and I was ready to be off this medication but my dermatologist said I should really be clear a month before I go off it. So here I am, a few days into month 6! Only makeup is mascara.

[healthyskinbabes-blog]

Oily Skin Babes

It’s very common for people with oily skin to skip moisturizer or probably never even use it, because they believe, “If I have oily skin, why do I want to add more moisture on top of that?” Well, when dealing with oily skin, almost in contradiction, you want to make sure your moisturizing and hydrating so that your skin does not produce more oil than it needs to. 

Before treating your skin, you want to understand it so you can care for it and use the right products that will help treat instead of worsen your conditions. Our skin is the biggest organ in our bodies, and sometimes we forget to give it the care that we need. Our skin has sebaceous glands that produce natural oils (sebum) that help keep our skin healthy. Sometimes, due to external or internal factors like stress, too much sun exposure, or improper skincare, our bodies can overproduce those natural oils and cause our pores to get clogged. They begin to build up with the dead skin getting trapped in our pores along with the excess oil and it is then when our enemies (blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples) start to form. 

When you’re using harsh cleansers that promise to get rid of oil, these cleansers usually strip not only the excess oil but also the moisture that your skin needs to stay healthy. When this occurs, your skin then begins the overproduction of oil to make up for the moisture that was stripped away. People with oily skin tend to skip on moisturizer because they think their skin gets oily enough so using a moisturizing cream or oil would make no sense. But, in order to control your oil, you NEED to moisturize! Once your skin gets accustomed to having the moisture or hydration it needs, the oil production slows down. 

Now, of course someone with oily skin isn’t going to use the same types of moisturizers or oils as someone with normal or dry skin would. With oily skin, you want to look for products that are non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog your pores. We all have heard about coconut oil and all the amazing benefits it has, but coconut oil is highly comedogenic, and would quickly become an oily-skin babe’s nightmare. 

As an aesthetician, these are some natural oils I recommend that will properly hydrate your skin, have endless benefits for your skin, and balance your sebum production without hurting your pockets.

Non-comedogenic oils that can be used to moisturize:

-Argan Oil

-Hemp Seed Oil:

-Raspberry Seed Oil

-Sunflower Oil 

-Watermelon Seed Oil

-Grapeseed Oil

-Pomegranate Oil

-Rosehip Oil

*Please take precaution before using any skin products and make sure you’re not allergic or sensitive to any ingredient(s).  

[drbry-blog1]

Acne skin, how to handle it

Acne is something most of us endured as teens. Eventually you outgrow those epic awkward years, but in cruel twist of fate, acne can rear its red, inflamed head well into adulthood.

Acne could appear on the skin as: -occluded pores (comedones), also known as blackheads or whiteheads -tender red bumpsaka pimples or zits -pustules(bumps containing pus) -cysts (deep pimples, boils)

How acne form? During the initial stage, dead skin cells and excess sebum accumulated in the pores forming comedones. If exposed, these oils started to oxidized and become darkening, forming blackhead. Whitehead on the other hand, is cover with a layer of skin. All these organic material is now becoming food for acne-causing bacteria. Proliferation of these bacteria eventually causes production of irritating and pro-inflammatory compounds. Further oxidation of these compounds lead to inflammation and pus formation. And these inter-dependent cycle go on, causing persistent formation of acne.

It is commonly said that acne is a surface-level and underlying skin imbalance caused by these 5 interdependent factors that causes blemishes to appear and persist, in summary: -hyperseborrhea (aka too much oil produced) -oxidative stress- both environmental and psychological -hyperkeratinization (aka too much dead skin cells) -bacterial proliferation -inflammation and immune responses

How to deal with acne skin In light of the different biological mechanisms involved in oily skin and the appearance of imperfections, any treatment must act on a variety of targets to be effective, including -reduce dead skin cells in the hair follicle- this can be achieved by proper exfoliation (scrub) or BHA (eg salicylic acid). BHA could remove outer layer of the skin, unclog the pores effectively. But, overuse cause skin drying. Exfoliation on the other hand, depending on type of exfoliator, might sometime cause acne become even worse. -regulate oily skin- this can be achieved by oil-controling skincare, and avoiding oily skincare especially sunscreen. -Delivering antioxidant topically – look for serum that is high in antioxidant, I personally love Annurka apple extract and spearmint -directly inhibiting bacterial proliferation-moisturizer that contain triclosan, hydrogen peroxide or some natural ingredient such as Norway Spruce bark extract that could perform equally. Clean your face frequently is also equally important. -Preventing inflammation- look for some soothing or anti-inflammatory moisturizer. Chamomile, alpha bisabolol, allantoin, pine bark are some useful ingredients.

Debunk the myth Here are some factors that don’t usually play a direct role in acne:

food: some often avoid greasy and fried foods, or spicy foods. While these foods may not be good for overall health, they don’t cause acne or make it worse. Although some recent studies implicated a high carbohydrate diet in aggravating acne, these findings are very far from established.

Hairline acne- those products that keep your hair perfectly smooth, glossy, styled could cause the blackheads and breakouts around your hairline. Those bumps can eventually spread onto your cheeks, especially if you sleep with products in your hair (it gets all over the pillow and thus, your face). While it does not directly cause acne, the occlusive ingredient in these products does block pores and eventually cause comedones.  

Hormone is another main factor for acne; which is true. Those breakouts about a week before your period and appears along your chin and jaw line. Skincare doesn’t help much for this type of acne. Hormonal fixes such as birth control maybe useful (check with your doctor).

Acne caused by stress hormones does not directly cause acne and it can’t be helped by contraceptives. Your skin freaks when you’re stressed because it causes your adrenal glands to pump out more cortisol, increasing oil production and feeding the acne-causing bacteria on your face. Managing your stress is the best solution.

My recommendation for acne care: 1. Cleanse with a mild cleanser (preferably sulfate-free), twice daily 2. If you wear heavy make-up regularly, be sure to remove make-up with a proper make-up remover and follow with a mild cleanser. 3. Use a gentle toner containing AHA or BHA 4. Use a gentle exfoliator 1-2 times a week 5. Hydrate your skin with a moisturizer containing some anti-bacteria agent and antioxidants, preferably oil-free if your skin is oily 6. Apply a spot cream to the affected area especially during the night 7. Apply an oil-free hydrating mask 1-3 times a week to keep your skin balance and hydrate 8. If you would like to wear make-up, choose water-based product 9. If your skin is seriously oily, try to use a toner with witch hazel extract or mild AHA to clean you face in between your busy schedule 10. Be patient, it could takes 6-8 weeks for your skin to have noticeable real change 11. Visit a beautician regularly to remove blackheads safely without scarring. Microdermabrasion is useful too for those with hyperkeratinization. 12. Don’t pick your zits! It could spread bacteria and even lead to permanent scarring.

Some ingredient to look for: Lauryl glucoside- this is a very gentle cleansing agent I will recommend for acne skin. It is made from corn and coconut. Drawback is, it doesn’t foam much. Cleansing is gentle and usually not drying. Salicylic acid- an effective exfoliate to remove dead skin cell. drawback is, it could be very drying. Idon’t recommends this for those with relatively dry skin; especially if you stay in air-conditioned room for long hours or living in Tropical country. Benzoyl peroxide- an effective ingredient that kills bacteria. Look for 5-10% benzoyl peroxide for your skincare regime. I personally do not like this chemical as it could be harsh to your skin. Norway spruce- this is my favorite, it has anti-inflammatory and strong anti-oxidant effect; perfect for natural skincare lover. AHA- such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid; alternatively look for natural source such as orange extract, pineapple extract, lemon extract, sugarcane extract. It could stimulate renewal of cells and act as a mild exfoliator. Natural plant extract- such as chrysanthemum, peony, chamomile, honeysuckle, herba violae are some effective soothing agent good for inflamed skin. Good for mild acne skin. Witch hazel- this natural astringent is also good for daily cleansing or toning for acne skin. Japanese knotweed- it has effective anti-inflammatory and anti-bacteria functions, perfect combination for severe acne.

Some ingredient to avoid: Sulfate- it could appear as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, TEA lauryl sulfate. This harsh ingredient is highly cost effective, but a bit too harsh for acne skin. Soap- it could appear as myristic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, potassium myristate, potassium laurate, potassium palmitate. This traditional cleansing ingredient is natural with lots of foam, however it has to stay at pH 9-10; making it not so suitable for acne skin.   Triclosan- a common antibacterial agent that recently its safety being questioned. Some study concluded that triclosan could potentially cause cancer after long-term exposure. There are lots of controversy for this ingredient, I will advise to avoid triclosan in your daily skincare regime.

[med-school-studies]

Acne Vulgaris

Acne Vulgaris: 

Disorder of sebaceous glands 

Common in teenage years 

Due to hormonal variations 

Both inflammatory & non-inflammatory

Whiteheads & blackheads are non-inflammatory

Papules, pustules, cysts are inflammatory

Comedones- expanding mass of lipid & keratin 

Pathogenesis- Bacterial lipases of propionibacterium breaks down sebaceous oils forming irritating FAs which induce inflammation

[womencix]

Pores and skin Scrubber Face Pores and skin Spatula Blackhead Remover Pore Cleaner Face Magnificence Lifting Device Comedones Ex

Skin Scrubber Face Skin Spatula Blackhead Remover Pore Cleaner Face Beauty Lifting Tool Comedones Ex Price: (as of - Details) Product Description Warm tips: Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds to start the machine. After the machine is turned on, press the power button to switch the function mode.When first using the skin scrubber, you need charge it for about 2-5 hours and notice that the machine can't work when charging.The equipment is not waterproof, do not use this equipment when cleaning.It is very necessary to keep your face wet with cream or warm water before using the skin scrubber spatula.Please use it according to the user manual. Cleaning Mode: High frequency vibration deep clean skin. Use steps: 1. Clean your face with a mild foaming cleanser. 2.The shovel head down（switch button towards your skin).Keep clean your skin about 3--5 minutes. Lifting Mode: Lifting can help massage the skin, enhance the skin of the face and prevent wrinkles.Facial massage will also relax your body. Use steps: 1. Keep your face clean and Apply face cream. 2. Hold the device and move it slowly from face bottom to top using it about 3--5minutes. Ion+ Mode: Remove dead skin cells, dirty, blackhead, white head & deep cleansing for oil, impurities, cosmetic residue; makes your skin smooth and delicate. Read the full article

[birdkoskincare]

hi! is it possible to have closed comedones & dry skin?

definitely! closed comedones actually share a root cause, at least partially, with milia, a problem frequently seen in folks with dry skin. whereas acne usually requires at least some oil production that gets trapped within sebaceous glands, feeds acne bacteria and causes inflammation, closed comedones (plugged-up sebaceous gland) usually happen due to hyperkeratinization — which essentially means an overgrowth of the cells that form the upper layers of the skin, which block the exit of the pore and cause a comedone to form as secretions build up inside.

depending on whether or not there is swelling, redness and pain, the comedones can then become inflammatory or non-inflammatory acne. the latter is commonly known as whiteheads (the closed comedones described above) and blackheads (open comedones full of oxidized sebum); while blackheads tend to appear more on oily skin, whiteheads can happen to anyone who’s prone to hyperkeratinization.

theoretically, acne in its various forms is more common on oily skin types, but in reality you’ll find it across all levels of dryness/oiliness and across all ages, (almost) all ethnicities, and all genders. it truly is the most common skin disease, and tackling acne while also looking after your dry skin can be a challenge! hmu if a post on that subject matter would be interesting to you.

[addictedtoskinbeauty]

Happy ☀️Saturday reminiscing on the good times! Still one of my favorite extractions 🤤 #earextractions • • • #addictedtoskin #blackheads #comedones #pimplepopper #pimples #ear #skin #medicalskincare #dermatology #esthetics #atlantaesthetician #tampaesthetician #extractions #facialtreatment #cloggedpores #skincare #happyplace #drpimplepopper #bestshot #happyclient #clearskin #beforeandafter #skinstudio #stylist #tampa #miamiesthetician #miamiskin #tampaskin #ilovemyjob (at Addicted to Skin Beauty & Aesthetics Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-BGzUFkvu/?igshid=1ai1icexmpneb

[itsmyaccutanejourney]

Isotretinoin day 1. My acne is mild, but I’m 28 and want to nip this in the bud. #accutane