Skincare Tips I wish I knew sooner

As someone who has studied skincare for a long time here is a list of skincare tips I give my teenage daughter (17) who suffered from acne (which she mostly ignores)

1.      Only go on the pill for contraception, not acne! At 14 I went to my GP for acne and was put on the pill for SIX years. If you need the pill for contraception then that’s another matter, but as a virgin, I was prescribed this, and off I went! I wish I had known the chaos this would cause pumping my body full of artificial hormones! I would always recommend treating acne with topical treatments first to avoid things that disrupt your hormones. Antibiotics rarely work for acne. This is because hormonal acne isn’t a bacterial infection. It will get better as your hormones balance and we know how disruptive to our gut long-term antibiotics are. Try Sticking to a good skincare routine. I see firsthand the devastating effect acne causes in young people so I do not say this lightly but I still suggest exploring all topical treatments first.

2.      I was never offered topical treatment as a teenager but if I had acne now I would recommend Differin! Differin is a prescription item, you can order from Boots online or see your GP for it. I do not have acne but I love this product as a retinol. It's only about £30 and if my skin feels bumpy or congested I order myself a box. Compared to what I pay for a retinol this is actually really inexpensive. (If you holiday to Turkey you can buy it over the counter for about £5) It helps by increasing cell turnover so keeps the pores from clogging, reduces inflammation and regulates oil production. You will see an improvement within 2-3 weeks. You will need an SPF whilst using this. An SPF in your foundation or moisturiser is not enough. An SPF should be its own product. It’s the last product you use after moisturiser and before foundation.

3.      If your skin is too inflamed and painful for skincare try light therapy. This kills bacteria and helps calm skin with no risk of making things worse.

4.      Your skin needs a holistic approach! Junk food disrupts our hormones and gut health! Eat well, supplement and get your sleep in! (I should mention reducing alcohol for skin health but anyone who knows me knows my love of cocktails and I don’t want to be a hypocrite) We all know alcohol isn’t good for the skin so let's move on.

5.      Skincare routine.

-        Start young so it becomes part of your routine without even thinking about it.

-        Double cleanse! One cleanse removes the SPF and make up and the second cleanses the skin. If you spend good money on good products but are only doing one cleanse then you are wasting your money. (If you haven’t left the house and have no makeup or SPF then one cleanse is okay.

-        For acne skin – wash your face in the morning (once) to remove the build-up of oil. If your product stings imagine it's your skin screaming at you to stop using it. Treat your skin with care. Most problems with skin come from being  too aggressive and causing sensitive skin. I always say to clients if you have any skin concerns and your skin is sensitive, treat sensitive skin first and most problems go away!

-        Exfoliate with acids like salicylic acid! This keeps the skin clean and helps stop clogged pores! Scrubs are not required if you are exfoliating with acids. (I cringe at the thought of scrubbing my face with St Ives Apricot scrub) They can cause irritation. Remember gentle! Protect the skin barrier.

-        There is a lot of misinformation about acne-prone skin and one we often have to educate our young clients about is still using mosturisier! If your skin is tight and dry you need to be using an oil/serum! Do not let the skin dry out, ever. It will produce more sebum.

-        Not every skin fad is for you. I love skincare and understand the urge to have it all. Vitamin C serums for example are super popular right now but no designed for acne skin so leave that one for later.

-        SPF… Yes, it has been done to death but start using SPF young to protect the skin and stop you needing to laser it off in later life and premature ageing.

-        Facial cleansing wipes…. Unless you are sleeping in a tent and have no access to water these are only moving dirt around the face and not cleaning it at all! Sorry.

-        Sunbeds – no!

-        Regular facials are good for a treatment but what you do for the rest of the month is just as important.

-        Once you get on the other side of acne-prone/oily skin it’s okay to change your skincare! I sometimes see ladies in their 40s with normal/dry/dehydrated skin still treating it for oily skin, because that’s what they have always used. Our skin will change with age, hormones and even seasons.

And finally don’t listen to every social media/influencer out there. There is so much information out there that its easy to be confused. Keep it simple. Good consistent skincare! Remember your skincare should be picked for its quality of ingredients NOT packaging! Some of my best skincare is prescription packaging but its medical grade. Unpopular opinion but your Make Up brand magic £80 cream is good marketing, yes I know it's pretty packaging, but probably not helping you!

Facials I love for acne:

Skinceuticals Gel peel for deep cleaning.

Light therapy facials.

For acne scarring – once the acne is gone microneedling. (to avoid scars only pop spots if they come out easy and require no excessive squeezing and pain. They should pop out beautifully if they are ready.)

If consistent skincare doesn’t work then your GP who should hopefully be able to offer you help!  

Despite all my help and my advice of course my daughter squeezed her spots before they were ready and we are now treating her with microneedling and having amazing results. She had really bad spots and is now virtually clear -Don’t stress – it does get better!  Hope this helps anyone suffering from acne. Having any skin issues can affect our confidence and there is usually a solution so never suffer alone. Send us any questions you have😊

Katie

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