Acne Symptoms

Turn those “sighs”s and symptoms of Acne Symptoms into sighs of relief by understanding what causes acne and what treatments are available in helping you to return to clear and smooth skin.

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1. Blackheads

Blackheads appear as small dark brown to black spots on the skin and are commonly found on the nose, sides of your nose, forehead and chin. Contrary to popular belief, blackheads don’t contain dirt. Instead, they’re open pores filled with bacteria and oil which turns brown when oxidised (is exposed to oxygen).

2. Whiteheads

Whiteheads occur when dead skin cells and oil become trapped in pores that don’t make it to the surface. However, like the name suggests, they appear as white raised bumps unlike blackheads as no oxidation is involved (not exposure to oxygen).

3. Papules

This is caused when excess oil and skin cells clog an open pore. Papules appear as small red, tender bumps that develop from being infected with bacteria but do not contain pus.

4. Pustules

When a papule is left untreated and accumulates pus, this blemish turned into a pustule. Commonly referred to as pimples, pustules are papules with pus at their tips.

5. Nodules

Nodules are large solid lumps located beneath the skin. They are painful to the touch and any attempt to pop it should be avoided as it may lead to irritation. Nodules are the result of overactive oil glands, excessive acne causing bacteria and abnormal buildup of dead skin cells within a pore.

6. Cysts

Like nodules, cysts are also large lumps located beneath the skin. However, they’re filled with pus and painful to touch. It is important to avoid any temptation to pop the cyst as this can encourage bacteria to be introduced back into the skin, worsening the cyst.

What are Microdermabrasion treatments good for?

Getting that enviable glow like you’ve just returned from Hawaii should NOT add more stress to your week and skin. With popular  treatments such as Microdermabrasion emerging as a popular choice in maintaining long term skin health for those leading busy lives, let’s discover how you can ALSO look like you’ve also returned from vacation at a fraction of the cost.

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What is Microdermabrasion and what does it do?

Using a diamond tipped wand, Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive treatment that deeply exfoliates, restoring your natural glow. A form of exfoliation, Microdermabrasion delivers a range of benefits such as:

• Evening out your complexion
• Addressing uneven texture
• Reducing the appearance of acne scarring
• Repairs and restores a youthful complexion
• Decongests and refines pores
• Removes blackheads and whiteheads
• Removes dryness
• Minimal recovery after treatment
• Treatment is as short as a lunch time break

Why is exfoliation important for your skin?

Often overlooked, exfoliation is an important step in our regular beauty routine as it encourages cell turnover and the maintenance of cleansed pores. Exfoliation involves removing the oldest and outermost dead skin cells, resurfacing younger cells, resulting in a brighter, more radiant complexion as nobody wants to look like they’ve been stuck indoors all week!

Exfoliation is key to eliminating dead skin cell build-up. If left untreated, this can lead to clogged pores, dryness or irritation, breakouts, whiteheads or blackheads. From people who have a packed schedule to those who are just staying at home, exfoliation is necessary in maintaining clear pores and overall skin health.

Microdermabrasion uses a diamond tipped wand to gently exfoliate the skin’s topmost layer, encouraging cell turnover, allowing you to achieve a clearer complexion in no time. For best possible results, we recommend regular treatments at fortnightly intervals.

 

Can I add a Microdermabrasion to another treatment?

Yes! Now that you have a clean base to work with, depending on your skin priorities, our passionate therapists recommend deeply exfoliating before a Chemical Peel, Skin Needling or Oxygen Infusion. Microdermabrasion helps cleanse and prepare the skin before treatment

Do blackhead vacuums work?

We’ll admit it: black head vacuums that can be done in the comfort of your own home? We’d be lying if we said we weren’t almost sucked in by this viral beauty trend. Let’s explore whether blackhead vacuums really work in bringing your pores back to its clearest best.

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Blackheads or sebaceous filaments?

Not a type of acne, sebaceous filaments are a normal part of the human body that happens when oil forms around a hair follicle. Oil dilutes the pores, making them look prominent. What are blackhead vacuums? Blackhead vacuums are a handheld device that have been advertised to suck out your blackheads, leaving your skin spotless. Seems too good to be true? Let’s find out …

What causes skin dryness?

The last thing anyone wants to do after spending most of their week indoors is to stay in the weekend just because their skin is looking dry and lacklustre. By understanding what causes skin dryness and what treatment solutions there are to combat this – we can revive that glow from within!

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What is dry and dehydrated skin?

Dry skin can appear flakey, feels rough, tight, textured and sometimes be red or itchy. Dehydrated skin is a lack of water in the top layer.

Why is my face breaking out all of a sudden?

We all know that feeling when your skin care is going smoothly, then all of a sudden you’re experiencing break outs. This can be incredibly frustrating and it may be hard to detect the root cause.

Which in turn, leads to you wondering “Why is my skin breaking out now?” This is especially important when you’re trying to determine the next steps.

Luckily, Results Laser Clinic has you covered with our comprehensive guide. Our cosmetic nurses know that skin care is not “One size fits all“. This is why, we detail everything from the different causes to probable treatment solutions. This is so you can embark on the journey to clearer skin, sooner.

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What is a Break Out?

The first step to understanding, “Why is my skin breaking out all of a sudden?” is knowing what a break out is. For most people, a break out is just a pesky skin imperfection. However, this is defined as a skin abnormality, which includes pimples, blackheads and cystic acne.

This commonly occurs on regions of the skin with more oil glands. These include the face, chest and shoulders.

When you have a break out, you’ll find that you may experience redness, swelling or inflammation. This is because your pores are clogged with dead skin, oil, and (occasionally) bacteria!

Identifying Different Break Outs

When it comes to break outs, each one varies from each other. When you’re experiencing one, it’s important to understand the type your skin is prone to. This is so you can pinpoint the right treatment solution. For example, using a pimple treatment on blackheads can be a waste of time and money.

 

Pimples

If you’re experiencing pimples, you’ll find a spot with a white centre surrounded by redness. This occurs because bacteria is contained within a hair follicle on the skin.

Whiteheads

Although these can appear as small white bumps, it can also appear as yellow. This occurs because the comedone (Skin pore/follicle) is closed.

Blackheads

Just like the name, these are consistently black in appearance and come in small bumps. This is not to be confused with sebaceous filaments which can appear as brown or grey. These arise on the skin due to the comedone (Skin pore/follicle) being open.

 

 

What are the Common Causes of Breakouts?

So far, we’ve understood the types of break outs that commonly arise. However, you may be wondering “Why is my skin so bad all of a sudden?” When it comes to this, there are a range of factors to consider.

Our team has broken these down for you below:

• High Stress Levels: Stress does not directly correlate to you breaking out. However, this causes the stress hormone called “Cortisol.” This is because it enhances the production of oils.
• The Wrong Skincare Products: Have you recently started on a new product? The wrong skin care can cause inflammation and break outs on the skin.
• Poor Diet: Foods that spike blood sugar levels are important to avoid. These are otherwise known as “High glycemic” foods. This is responsible for enhancing skin inflammation and sebum production.
• Dehydration: If your water intake is too low, this can lead to the excess production of oil. This is because your skin is trying to make up for the dryness.
• Environmental Factors: Pollutants in the air and high humidity levels can trap dirt and oil on the skin. This can clog pores and trigger acne.

How to Treat Sudden Face Breakouts

Adjusting your lifestyle can help prevent acne breakouts in future. Take the time to reflect on your current skin care and dietary habits. This can help you identify certain areas, and make changes accordingly. Taking small steps at first can help you ease into this.

Skincare Routine

The right routine helps target blemishes, as well as protects and restore the skins barrier.

See our tips below:

• Look for products labelled as “Non comedogenic”
• Avoid oil based products
• Moisturise daily to maintain the skin barrier
• Cleanse daily to remove impurities
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen for UV protection
• Exfoliate the skin weekly (Frequency of this varies)

Diet

Limit the consumption of foods that are “High glycemic” in your diet. This can prevent your acne from getting worse over time.

See our table below:

High Glycemic Food	Low Glycemic Alternative
White Bread	Whole Grain Bread
Regular Pasta	Whole Wheat Pasta
White Rice	Brown Rice or Quinoa
Soda	Sparkling Water with a Splash of Lemon

Stress Management

Have you noticed a shift in your stress levels? Turn to stress reducing activities such as yoga, meditation, or simply ones that you enjoy. This reduces hormonal acne triggers.

Over the Counter Medications

Try over-the-counter acne products to dry excess oil and promote peeling. Look for products containing benzoyl peroxide and adapalene as the active ingredients. You might also try products containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids.

Prescription Medications

For persistent or severe acne, over the counter treatments can be ineffective. Instead, opt for a professional treatment plan. This can be done through consulting with your general practitioner, or dermatologist (Varies based on the treatment type.)

We’ve broken down some effective treatments:

• Topical Medications: These are concentrated ingredients applied to a certain bodily region. Some popular ingredients include: Salicylic acid (prevents growth of plugged hair follicles,) dapsone, antibiotics (Bacteria killing,) and retinoids (Treating mild to moderate acne.)
• Oral Medications: This is frequently used to treat more severe acne. These include isotretinoin (also known as Accutane,) anti androgen agents (For women only,) and antibiotics (Bacteria killing.)

Your Skincare Recap

Next time you ask yourself, “Why am I getting pimples on my face all of a sudden?” Remember this, your skin is as individual as you are.

It’s entirely normal for it to go through phases of purging, to being completely clear. Consider lifestyle factors like a lack of sleep, excessive exfoliating or drying skincare formulas.

These stress skin and imbalance the harmony of those prone to over-flow of oil, leading to stress acne. Acne breakouts which occur in adulthood as opposed to adolescence also possess a different underlying cause.

For further information, consult with a medical professional or your cosmetic nurse.

When Should I Turn to Cosmetic Treatments?

If you’re experiencing mild to moderate acne, it’s useful to consider professional treatments. At Results Laser Clinic, we offer a range of tailored facial treatment options.

These are designed to address skin concerns for a range of skin types and severities.

See some of our flexible skin treatments below:

• Chemical skin peels
• Microdermabrasion
• LED light therapy

For personalised advice and treatments, consult our cosmetic nurses.

Get in touch with us today!

FAQS

Why are my cheeks breaking out all of a sudden?

Where you’re experiencing breakouts can correlate to what’s causing it.

Here are some potential causes:

• Dirty phone
• Not changing the pillow case regularly
• Not washing your hair frequently enough
• Constant touching of the cheeks

Why am I suddenly breaking out even though my routine hasn’t changed?

Even if your routine hasn’t changed, stress or hormonal changes could still make you break out. Also, your skin might need different care now than before.

What does skin needling do? Put your best face forward

Bring your skin out of hibernation with Skin Needling. Skin Needling is a non-invasive treatment that uses the MediPro Dermapen technology to gently penetrate the skin, creating tiny micro wounds. This triggers cellular renewal, collagen production and reduces uneven skin texture as well as offering overall skin rejuvenation. With prolonged exposure to the Sun and environmental pollutants, the skin is prone to signs of premature ageing  such as wrinkles and loss of elasticity due to the decrease in collagen production.

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However, the controlled trauma created by skin needling reconditions the first layer of the skin by enhancing the body’s natural ability to produce collagen.

 

What is collagen and why is it important?

Collagen, alongside with hyaluronic acid and elastin is responsible for the resiliency of the skin tissue. This natural capability to repair and generate new skin cells becomes compromised when exposed to environmental and lifestyle factors over time. Whilst the factors that are responsible for collagen loss are often hard to avoid, by promoting its production levels, regular cellular repair and renewal is ensured, strengthening your skin’s defense against signs of premature ageing. By enhancing the skin’s natural ability to rejuvenate, skin needling treats a wide range of  priorities such as

• Improving fine lines and wrinkles
• Reducing the depth of indented acne scars
• Lightening pigmentation and evening out uneven texture