When it comes to pimples, I've had a lot of luck. While I've written about them, had the occasional breakout, and even suggested treatments to get rid of them, I've never had to deal with the stress and embarrassment of acne, whether you're a teenager or an adult. But something has shifted in recent times.
Maybe it's because I'm now in my late 20s, but even if the physical pimple is little, it always leaves a red mark on my face that lasts for weeks after the breakout has gone away. This annoys me. Why am I just now starting to experience issues with acne scarring and discoloration? Shouldn't puberty be a zit-free time?
The Redness of Acne: What Is It?
It can cause harm to the skin cells, which can result in redness," Rouleau says of blemish picking. If you pick at your breakout, you may have a red scar that lasts long after the infection has healed.
A red, black, or purple mark that might last for weeks is typical, regardless of whether or not the imperfection was picked. It's as though she's describing my precise circumstance. Sometimes I'm pretty excellent about not picking, and other times I can't help but pick.
She elaborates, "It strains and destroys the surrounding tissue, which leads to increased melanin activity and, ultimately, a scar." It's a scar; however, applying a skin lightener and exfoliating more will help it diminish over time. Acne scars can become red and irritated due to infections, too.
Avoid Touching Acne
Don't be a picky picker! First, you should put it in the freezer. When you pick at a zit, you cause it to become red and swollen, but using ice helps lessen both of those symptoms. Use an ice cube and put it on the spot for 10 minutes to help reduce the redness and swelling. Finally, use a remedy designed to eliminate your specific form of acne, "says Rouleau, who developed the "No Picking Skin Contract" to encourage people to stop picking at their skin. "I assure you, your skin will clean up, and your scars will fade.
Anti-Inflammatory Food and Therapy
The best method to prevent inflammation, Thornfeldt says, is to use acne creams with anti-inflammatory ingredients. One of the Epionce Lytic products is one I suggest to my patients. That'll aid in skin barrier restoration and reinforcement, which will speed up the process of the skin's return to health. When you eat foods that reduce inflammation, it shows up less on your skin. You should avoid chocolate, sugar, flour, alcohol, and spicy meals because they all contribute to inflammation.
Apply Sunscreen
When treating red spots, use a blemish treatment, but also be sure to put on sunscreen, as this can speed up the healing and fading process. Neutrogena's lightweight and oil-free sunscreen is a favorite of ours. Even on a gloomy day, Rouleau explains, "if the damaged skin is exposed to sunshine, the UV rays activate the melanin cells and noticeable for longer."
Drink Tea
"[Acne] redness notably clears faster with the aid of spearmint tea and green tea," explains Thornfeldt. Leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant are used to create the herbal beverage known as green tea. Polyphenols, green tea's active ingredients, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that are good for the skin.
Brighten and Exfoliate Products
The Renée Rouleau Thread Fading Gel ($43) is a targeted therapy for reducing the appearance of scars and discoloration caused by acne, as described by Rouleau.
With regular application, your skin's tone will gradually become more uniform. This gel contains white tea extract, an anti-inflammatory tea, and a lactic/amino acid combination, which promotes cellular turnover with little irritation.
Even Thornfeldt has her favorites, including the Epionce Renewal Facial Cream ($98), which she says she recommends to all her patients, acne sufferers and non-sufferers alike. If your skin is prone to dark patches after inflammation, a hydroquinone-free lightening cream is your best bet for preventing further hyperpigmentation.
Test Out Microneedling
Microneedling is one of the more expensive possibilities, but it also has the potential to deliver the finest outcomes. Indented scars and scars that have caused hyperpigmentation are said to be the ideal candidates for this operation, as stated by the American Academy of Dermatology.
The skin becomes more robust, elastic, and supple due to the microneedling process, and it absorbs more moisture. The cost might mount up quickly since you could need three to six sessions before you see any improvement.
