Acne, Your Questions Answered

Do you struggle with acne? Curious about what causes breakouts and how to get rid of them, fast? Acne is one of the most common and frustrating beauty concerns, so it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most Googled as well. From how to fade acne scars to which acne products actually work, we’ve answered your most pressing acne-related questions. 

As acne breakouts disappear, they’re sometimes replaced by red or brown marks (caused when inflammation damages the collagen in your skin). As long as this hyperpigmentation is red or brown (which indicates blood flow) then the scar will fade. You can help your acne scars to fade faster by using gentle chemical exfoliation products (containing AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid) which gently buff away the top layers of the skin. As each layer is removed, the scar will appear more faded. Read more about fading acne scars here.

A lot of people think that the best way to get rid of acne is to dry out your skin, but it’s actually so important to keep your skin well moisturised if you have acne – especially as a lot of acne treatments can be quite drying. Moisture trains your skin to stop overproducing oil – excess oils will clog your pores and lead to breakouts. What’s more, since moisturised skin is healthy skin, it’s stronger and better able to defend itself against acne-causing bacteria. 

Some acne products can be quite drying on skin, which can actually make acne worse. Look out for tried and tested ingredients in your products, like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, tea tree, glycolic acid, vitamin C, and lactic acid, but also for soothing, hydrating ones like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera. 

Acne isn’t contagious, so you can’t catch it. However, if you have acne, you’ll very rarely have just one breakout, since acne is caused when pores become clogged with excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin particles. 

Stress doesn’t directly cause acne, but it can indirectly trigger it. When you become stressed your adrenal glands release hormones that stimulate your oil glands, which causes them to produce more sebum. This excess sebum can clog pores and lead to acne, especially when bacteria and dead skin cells also fill the pores. Stress can also affect your immune system which can weaken your skin’s ability to get rid of bacteria, and lead to slower healing of blemishes. 

Since so many factors (from hormones to genes, stress, and diet) can affect acne, there’s no 100% guaranteed way to prevent it. However, there are some actions you can take to reduce the number and severity of breakouts, including removing your makeup thoroughly every night, washing your face twice a day, avoiding touching your face, drinking plenty of water, and finding a skincare routine that works for you. 

If you’re prone to breakouts, it’s a good idea to keep a targeted acne treatment close to hand for emergencies. Targeted treatments are designed to be applied directly onto existing blemishes to take down swelling, redness, and pain. Some of our favourites are Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, and Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion. 

Finding the best skincare routine for acne is about finding the right skincare routine for you. Products that may work for your friends might not work for you, so it can take a bit of trial and error. To get you started, we put together this handy guide to building a skincare routine for acne-prone skin, featuring some tried and tested favourites.