Treat acne and acne scarring (the right way)
Clear acne-prone skin with active skincare products and bespoke facial treatments at Buoy Spa
Let’s start by stating the obvious. Acne sucks. It’s not fun for anyone, and what’s worse is that it can persist for years, often flaring up at the most awkward times, like right before a date or big event. We’ve all felt the embarrassment of what feels like everyone’s eyes in the room, fixated on our problem skin.
Acne will strike most people at least once (if lucky) in their lifetime. Affecting some people much worse than others. There are often several contributing factors that result in acne. We will cover some of those causes below and leave you with actionable steps to treat and prevent pesky pimples, more severe acne and help improve acne scarring.
ABCs of Acne
ACNE ARRIVALS
Acne usually strikes during the teenage years for both men and women. It’s no surprise that the rise of acne coincides with a sudden surge of hormonal changes. Hormonal imbalances can be one of the biggest instigators of acne. Because our hormones are in a state of flux throughout our life – acne can also strike in later years – resulting in adult acne.
There are several types of acne, ranging in severity. We’re not talking about a lone pimple but the ongoing (chronic) types of acne – that can cause physical and emotional discomfort. Chronic acne is a disorder that affects the hair follicle and sebaceous gland in areas on the face and body. The hair follicle experiences an expansion and blockage, resulting in inflammation and topical acne.
ACNE CAUSES
Acne can result from several factors (both internal and external), making it hard to narrow in on one main cause. Your genetic/hereditary makeup plays a role. Androgenic hormones – which are an excess of the male hormone (testosterone) circulating within a female. Polycystic ovaries can be a common cause of this. Bacteria on the skin, your immune response to inflammation, and hair follicles swelling or completely blocking.
Like any chronic disorder, acne can be exacerbated under certain conditions. It pays to be aware of those conditions and how best to manage them to avoid future flare-ups or intensifying of an existing breakout.
If you suspect you might have a hormonal imbalance, visit your GP and ask for blood tests to rule out polycystic ovaries. Are you taking any prescribed drugs such as steroids, hormones, anticonvulsants? Does your skincare need an overhaul? Are you using expired or heavy (pore-clogging) products? Are you working in an overly humid environment? Your environment could be facilitating a bacterial breeding ground for acne to thrive. We also suggest you honestly assess your diet. Dairy products and foods high in sugar and carbohydrates (high glycaemic foods) strongly correlate to acne outbreaks.
ACNE SCARRING
It hardly seems fair to be rid of painful acne only to be left with visible (and stubborn) reminders of the unpleasant journey.
Scarring is the body’s way of protecting or healing a skin-based trauma. Around 30% of people suffering from moderate to severe acne will be left with scars.
To learn more about the various types of acne and whether your acne is more commonly associated with scarring, check out – https://dermnetnz.org/topics/acne-scarring.
It is recommended to seek treatment early to reduce the chance of permanent acne scarring. If you’ve come out the other side of an acne battle and are left with the battle scars (AKA) acne scars, fear not, we’ve got you covered.
Advice from our experts
The best course of action for managing, treating, and preventing acne will depend on the type and severity of your acne. Our beauty therapist experts at Buoy Spa, Wellington, will consult with you and prescribe products and a treatment plan tailored to your acne concerns.
In the meantime – we suggest following the below guiding principles to help ensure your skin stays clean and blemish-free.
– Washing your face (and any other acne-prone areas of your body). It’s an essential first step. Gentle washing will remove excess bacteria and dead skin cells that clog your pores.
– Make sure you’re using the best products for your skin. Some skin types require more active and stringent ingredients, while others may call for a gentler approach. Book a free consultation, and we’ll recommend the right products for you.
– Don’t touch your face more than necessary. If you have to touch your face, ensure your hands are clean and sanitised.
– We know you’ve been told this a thousand times before, and we can’t stress it enough – avoid popping your pimples. Popping and squeezing can cause further spread of bacteria and infection, and worst of all – scarring. Come see us for a facial, and we’ll perform extractions in a hygienic and skin-friendly way.
– Wash your skin after a workout or sauna (or any excess sweating) to avoid the spread of bacteria.
Skincare products for acne
The good news is that many amazing skincare products and treatments exist to help manage, treat, and prevent painful and embarrassing acne. We swear by Ultraceuticals products and have witnessed some incredible results from clients who were once long-time acne sufferers.
The Ultraceuticals Ultra Clear treatment range targets active acne and works to prevent future breakouts. The range helps to decongest and exfoliate the skin, control excess oil and shine and soothe inflamed skin.
The Ultra Clear range includes a foaming cleanser, treatment lotion, spot complex treatment and purifying mask. Contact us to place your Ultraceuticals order here.
Acne facial treatments available at Buoy Spa
At Buoy Spa Wellington, our award-winning beauty therapists have achieved incredible results for clients suffering from active acne and acne scars. We have a range of facial treatments designed to treat and prevent future breakouts and diminish the appearance of acne scarring.
With some of our facial peels and laser facial treatments, we recommend a course of 4-6 for optimum results.
- Mandeiclic Acid peels contain a powerhouse ingredient that deeply cleanses and clears the skin, leaving you with transformative effects. Mandelic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), that targets excess oil and cellular buildup, promoting clarity and rejuvenation. Enriched with Niacinamide and potent antioxidant Clove Oil, this peel not only reduces congestion and inflammation but also unclogs pores, revealing a smoother, more radiant complexion.
– The Sonophoresis infusion facial enhances the results of the Ultraceuticals Ultra Clear treatment range. This facial involves the use of Sonophoresis technology, which uses low-frequency ultrasound waves to create microchannels in your skin – allowing our active ingredients to penetrate deeper. Using the Ultra Clear range helps target active acne and prevents future breakouts by decongesting and exfoliating the skin, controlling excess oil and shine, and soothing inflamed skin. Incorporating Sonophoresis helps optimise the delivery of these active ingredients found in the Ultraceuticals Ultra Clear range.
- The Laser Genesis facial is incredible for scarring but also offers a double-whammy effect. The heat from the laser kills bacteria, which helps reduce acne inflammation and redness and works to prevent future breakouts. The heat stimulates collagen production, bringing healthy new cells to the surface faster and reducing pore size. You can read more about this incredible facial here.
– Vitamin A – is a hero ingredient when it comes to scar treatment. We offer Vitamin A in our facial treatments and at-home skincare products. Book a consultation with one of our skincare experts for a product recommendation.
We know that acne and acne scarring can significantly impact your well-being and confidence. That's why we’re passionate about offering effective acne treatments and skincare products that treat and prevent breakouts and scarring in a skin-loving, nurturing way.
Begin your skin-loving journey at Buoy Spa today