June Is Acne Awareness Month

Acne Awareness At RITUAL Skin & Beauty Clinics In Hampshire

June is Acne Awareness month and we always like to take the time to focus on this skin condition at RITUAL Skin & Beauty Clinics in Alton & Alresford, because we know what a huge impact it can have on self-confidence and, let's be honest, acne can be quite painful too!

Despite acne affecting 75% of us at some point in our lives, there are so many myths that are simply not helpful and can actually make things much much worse.

But to start, why do we get acne?

We've talked about rosacea on the blog before and mentioned it is a progressive condition, meaning if there’s no intervention and the rosacea will only get worse. The good news is that acne, is not progressive. It comes but it can also go and stay gone too, YAY!

Time to bust some myths.

Myth No 1

Acne does not happen because the skin is dirty or unclean. Acne is an inside-out condition. It comes about when there is an excess production of sebum (oil) in the skin. Sebum is necessary, it keeps our skin lubricated and supple, but too much can cause a problem. Over production combined with dead skin cells on the surface of the skin can cause sebum to become stuck underneath the skin resulting in a blemish or whitehead. Basically a spot.

Myth No 2

Acne is not caused by bacteria. As part of our natural microbiome, bacteria lives on our skin very happily thank you very much. It's only when C-Acnes bacteria feed on excess sebum in the skin that the scales become tipped, the happy bacteria equilibrium becomes unbalanced and the skin reacts.

Myth No 3

So if oil is the problem, all I need to do is strip oil from my skin. Nope! Remember our skin needs sebum. And if you try to strip it all away using unnecessarily harsh products, your skin will simply product more. It will also cause sensitivity, a compromised skin barrier and generally angry skin that is unable to re-balance.

So, what should you do then? Here are 3 easy steps.

With a caveat. We've tried to simplify things here, but the reality is that there is no one size fits all approach. Having a consultation with one of our Skin Specialists will be your best first step.

Step 1

Good quality skincare is essential. A gentle cleanser that respects the skin barrier whilst cleaning excess sebum and environmental pollutants is a must. An oil-free non-comedonic sunscreen will also provide your skin with the protection that it needs to rebalance and heal.

Step 2 

Bacterial management is key. Avoid touching your face, change pillowcases regularly and maintain a healthy diet.

Step 3

Stay positive! You are not alone. Small steps can have a big impact and if you are unsure on where to start, come and have a chat with one of our skin specialists. We are here to help.

If you would like a consultation with one of our Skin Specialists, please call your local RITUAL salon or book online using the pop-up button.