The desire for perfect, blemish-free skin is one everyone in our modern society strives for. You see pictures of splendidly perfect skin everywhere on Instagram, Facebook, magazines.

But what’s that, you say? More acne? Scabs? Dry skin? It sees like no matter what you do, you are stuck with pimples and bumps.

Some may resort to picking. At least that way, you have control over something. At least that way, you can see a difference, feel a difference.

Picking at your acne can be a form of self-harm. The actual name for it is Dermatillomania and it affects many people with acne and even some without the acne.  There are two kinds of Dermatillomania, one of them is an addiction and the other is a compulsion.

A compulsion to pick stems from feeling a sensation in or on the skin that makes you want to pick at it to make the sensation go away. This sensation stems from factors usually inside the body like bad reactions to food, medication, stress, and lack of sleep. People with a compulsion sometimes don’t even realize they are doing it. They just go at it when they get an itchy feeling or some other trigger.

An addiction to picking comes from trying to manage stress in an unhealthy way, or simply because picking feels good. The desire to pick generally comes from wanting perfect skin, so the picker will use any means necessary to even out and flatten blemishes. They believe this will help their appearance when the opposite usually happens. People who are addicted to picking will feel a general sense of relief or a rush when they are finished picking. Think of it like a form of managing stress; they do it to escape their thoughts or problems for a little while and in process, damage their skin.

The need to have some sort of control over reality is often a big factor for people who pick at their skin. It is also a form of perfectionism, and sometimes it may be from other underlying factors like OCD, although that is not always the case.

Managing picking depends on whether you are addicted to picking or if it is a compulsion but the remedies can be very similar.

With an addiction, it’s best to focus more on reconditioning your mind and thoughts that lead up to the picking. Many of the ways to remedy this are similar to other addictions. Changing up your routine, avoiding people and places that make you want to pick, and even changing your diet can all help tremendously in managing the picking tendency.

To manage the compulsion to pick, there are usually a few environmental factors that need to be changed in order to stop. Adding consistency is a huge step. Sleeping and eating routines should be carefully looked at, as those can cause the “itch to pick.” Also considering what foods and medications may be triggering the desire is helpful so you can manage them better. Looking at what goes into your body will help you better understand any imbalances within that lead to compulsion.

Having a guide to help you work through these issues is important to not feel so alone when dealing with an addiction or a compulsion. Sometimes it can be hard to see that there is a problem and having someone else there to show you what the problem is and how to deal with it, is extremely important. But the most important factor of all is that YOU decide to quit. It’s not about anyone else until you make the decision to stop.

The only way to stop picking is to realize that you want to stop. But it doesn’t hurt to have some help along the way. Call us at 801-800-6602. We not only help with acne, but we offer support to those who want to quit picking and get clear skin in the process. We can help you manage the stress that comes from picking by making acne less of a problem. Whatever assistance we can offer for you to obtain clear skin, free of acne and picking scars, we are here to help.  Making an appointment is the first step!  UtahAcneClinic.com.

Perioral Dermatitis is a skin condition that look like a combination of acne and rosacea. It usually starts with a bumpy rash or dryness around the mouth area and may spread to the rest of the face and neck. In some severe cases it can even spread all the way down the back.

The exact cause is not known but generally it can be linked to steroid overuse and certain ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which exists in some toothpastes (here’s a list of best SLS-Free Toothpastes). Other triggers can be food related, stress, allergies, or hormones.

Many dermatologists recommend antibiotics to treat Perioral Dermatitis, but it can often be treated with topical products and a watchful diet. Often antibiotics take over a month to start working, so finding the right products to get started is important.

The most effective method for dealing with Perioral Dermatitis that we have found is the Exfoliating Serum Lite, which works great for sensitive skin, like that of most people who suffer from Perioral Dermatitis. It’s a mandelic acid that not only helps with this disorder, but also helps ease redness, irritation, and acne.

We also advocate certain diet changes, like eating fewer acidic foods like tomatoes and strawberries. Foods like these can trigger more breakouts in the long run. Avoiding foods high in processed sugar also helps.

Oftentimes, Perioral Dermatitis can show up out of nowhere, even sporadically overnight. It starts like a small rash and will generally develop bigger, dryer spots that are not helped  with just an over-the-counter moisturizer. For best results, stop any use of occlusive products and replace them with something like this Moisture Gel.

Topical corticosteroids (including hydrocortisone) appear to be one of the biggest risk factors when it comes to this condition and it is vital to discontinue use of them on the skin. If you have been prescribed them by a doctor, ask for a good alternative to use instead.

It’s a good idea to get an appointment with a trusted esthetician or dermatologist as soon as the rash forms to mitigate the effects. The good news is it is not contagious and can be taken care of after a period of time.

Ever notice how sometimes your cheeks flare up bright red when you’re blushing or eating spicy food? Or maybe nothing even happened and your cheeks are still rosy as a ripe tomato. Maybe it’s really humid and your skin has decided to look hot and aggravated, even though you’ve been inside in a temperature controlled environment all day.

It can begin when you just blush or flush more easily than other people. The redness may spread from the cheeks and nose to other areas of the body such as the ears, chest, and back.
The sad truth is, these are all symptoms of Rosacea.  According to the American Academy of Dermatology there are four sub types of Rosacea

  1. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: Redness, flushing, visible blood vessels.
  2. Papulopustular rosacea: Redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts.
  3. Phymatous rosacea: Skin thickens and has a bumpy texture.
  4. Ocular rosacea: Eyes red and irritated, eyelids can be swollen, and person may have what looks like a sty.

Today we are going to talk about the most common type, which is simply referred to as Papulopustular Rosacea or Acne Rosacea.

On the skin, Rosacea may just look like rosy cheeks. Other times small pimple-like bumps can break out on the skin. Many times it will include broken blood vessels spread out across the cheeks and nose.

Rosacea can be exacerbated by environmental changes (moving from a hot area to a cool one and vice versa, too much exposure to sunlight, cold wind) to the foods you eat, particularly spicy food. Alcohol can also be a major trigger. Other drinks such as coffee and tea can also be triggers.

Here’s what we recommend:

There are a few ways we like to manage Acne Rosacea here at Skintherapy. The first thing we want to do is take a look at the skin and determine the severity of the condition.

The next thing we usually do is pick a cleanser to help with oiliness. The go-to in this situation would be our BPO Wash. Not only does it help combat oily skin but it also helps with the redness that accompanies Rosacea. This will help manage the inflammation and irritation.

Another excellent product we like to use in our clinic is our Exfoliating Serum #1 which assists in sloughing off dead skin cells and disinfecting skin. This serum also aids in the therapeutic reduction of redness.

For a toner, we love to use our Calming Toner or the Oily Skin Toner. Both of these help calm and and clarify irritated skin. Make your choice dependant on how oily or sensitive your skin is. Both of these are great products, but we can always help you choose which one is the best for your skin if you’d prefer some guidance.

We always recommend visiting us for a consultation before buying or ordering products, but if you are in a bind, at the end of your rope, the products listed above will be of great use to you. Never be afraid to reach out to us with any further questions or added assistance, or simply to book your appointment today.

If you do have Acne Rosacea, remember that you are not alone! Here’s a list of famous actors and actresses who also have Rosacea:

We look forward to helping you with your Acne and Acne Rosacea.

Folliculitis is a skin condition where hair follicles become inflamed and infected. It occurs most frequently in places that are shaved such as the beard area and legs. It can also appear on arms, back, and buttocks. Looking very similar to acne, it can sometimes turn into a worse and more serious skin condition such as a staph infection.

Possible long-term side effects of folliculitis are:

The causes of folliculitis may vary, much like the causes of acne (besides hereditary factors, acne can be caused by certain foods, products, and exercising without wiping sweat off.) Some of the most common causes for folliculitis include:

Symptoms of folliculitis can be similar to acne, which is why they are often treated in a similar manner. The symptoms include the following:

Prevention is your best weapon against folliculitis. With that being said, waiting too long to have this skin condition checked out can result in the more permanent side-effects like those mentioned above. Here is how to prevent folliculitis:

Once you know the causes of folliculitis, it can be simple to look out for and get the right remedies. Folliculitis does not have to be a lifelong problem for you. Especially if it is caught early on, your skin can be saved from itchy red bumps and pus-filled blisters. Use the information above to help your skin condition or simply give us a call at 801-800-6602 today.

One of the biggest complaints that we hear when clients come into our acne clinic are their bad experiences with past acne treatments.  Anything from a doctor pushing too hard for them to get on antibiotics or Accutane, or even telling them that everything they’d been doing up to that point that was actually working was wrong. Is it any wonder that many people leave these appointments feeling even more confused about how to treat their acne?
 
The average dermatologist visit lasts anywhere from 10-20 minutes. You may go into fervent detail about what your symptoms are, what products you’ve been using, and how your skin reacts to certain ingredients. At which point, the doctor may or may not closely examine your skin for a moment or two….and then suggest you get on Accutane. Perhaps you’ve read about Accutane or you’ve tried it before, or maybe you only have mild acne to begin with. You may have health concerns or mental health issues that make you skeptical if such powerful drugs are the right choice for you. But this doctor doesn’t seem to have the time or the patience to listen to your concerns and go through all the details with you--they just want to treat you and move on.
 
Your next appointment with them will usually be three months later. At which point, perhaps things have improved, but usually they haven’t, simply due to the fact that the initial meeting was so pressed for time and so few questions have been answered. The dermatologist may tell you at this point (even more earnestly) that you must get on prescription drugs. Or they might even tell you that you are not washing your face enough (as if you haven’t heard that before.)
 
By the end of this even shorter meeting, you may feel that you are your wit’s end. Many people may even stop trying to treat their acne altogether at this point because of impatient doctors and pressure to start drug trials. They’re left with scars and redness for perhaps the rest of their lives. They may never get the care they needed for their acne.
 
We’ve heard this story so many times from clients who come to us as a last resort. “I was rushed at my appointment” is a big one when referring to a dermatologist.
 
Of course, not every dermatologist or doctor is like we described above, but we hear it so often, it seems like most of the time, they simply don’t have time to treat something as “non-life threatening” as acne. But acne affects a person’s life in so many important ways; self esteem, self worth,self confidence. These are all things that a person needs to live their best life. With acne, it just makes all the most important aspects about life seem more challenging than necessary.
 
You don’t want acne on grad night. You don’t want acne when you’re dating someone new. You don’t want acne on your wedding day. These are all real life events that are affected badly when one has acne, without even mentioning day to day life. The struggle is real.
 
Let us share with you a few things you should be looking for in a good acne clinic:
 

  1. How much time is allotted per client per visit

 
A consultation should take much longer than just 10 minutes, especially if it is the first time you are meeting with someone. You want to work with someone who really listens to what you’ve tried in the past, what’s working for you now, and then discerns how bad your acne really is. Without these things, you’re not going to make the progress you desire. You’re just another patient on a clipboard. What you really need is someone who talks to about options and processes that will be most effective for you.
 

  1. How often they schedule to see you

 
To truly get acne clear, you must be seeing a professional much more than once every three months. It takes work to get acne clear. Work that may include visiting the clinic every week or every other week at first. This ensures that your skin is reacting well to products and procedures. It should seem like whoever you are working with truly cares and wants to ensure your success.
 

  1. They closely examine and touch your skin

 
It’s safe to say that many skin problems begin below the surface. Without touching the problem areas, it can be hard to tell what’s actually going on underneath. A good acne clinic will study your skin carefully so as to issue the correct and specific course of action best suited for your skin. Practically never will they recommend getting on strong prescriptions or heavy antibiotics. Your skin can get clear without them and it just takes some time with a professional to figure out how.
 

  1. Considers other aspects that may be affecting your acne

 
Acne isn’t just about genetics or products, it’s also about lifestyle. A great skincare professional will consider what other aspects of your life may be contributing to your acne. Do you workout and sweat a lot without wiping the sweat and dirt from your face and body afterward? Are you wearing enough sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy or cold outside? Are you drinking lots of milk or eating foods with too many hormones?
 
All of these things should be examined closely and taken into consideration. You want someone to care about clearing your acne just as much as you do! And you also want to work with someone who truly enjoys the process. This is what makes the journey of clearing acne more fun and long lasting than just trying to taking the drugs prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist. This way, you are ensured a much higher degree of success and satisfaction.
 
Don’t just settle for a doctor who may not have the time and energy to really help you get results. Look for the best options, clinics that offer what we mention above and more. Not only will you be much happier with your progress, but you are also much more likely to achieve the results you deserve.
Come check out our Acne Clinic.  UtahAcneClinic.com.

Whether or not to take Accutane (or Isotretinoin) is no small decision, as it has some serious side effects that come along with taking it. Although countless personal and medical trials have been done on it since its release in the early 1980s, there are a lot of side effects that you should be aware of before starting on this drug. Here we will start with some of the short-term side effects.

Accutane’s most common side effect is dry lips, almost always described as “painful and persistent.” Can be treated with lip balms and products like Aquaphor, but these do not actually make the dryness go away, just abates it for a short while. Besides dry lips, there’s also extremely dry skin, which can last beyond the time the drugs are taken for some patients. This dry skin has been characterized as “½ inch chunks falling off at a time,” which was sometimes helped by moisturizers, but not all the time. All patients describe extreme caution when it comes to exposure to the sun, as Accutane causes skin fragility and thinness, therefore sunburns develop much more easily and severely. Hair loss is another common but not as serious side-effect. However, this particular reaction seems to be more prevalent in men than in women.

Other frequent side effects include extreme fatigue, headaches, and brain fog.

The longer-term side effects of Accutane can be more subtle but other times far more serious. Many users of this drug report having continual dry eyes after they stop taking it. Some describe this as painful at worst and annoying at best. The more serious side effects include damage to the intestinal lining, leading to Irritable Bowel Syndrome or even Crohn's Disease. Besides the possibility of an inflamed intestinal disease, there are other factors like joint and body aches, which can vary from mild discomfort to being nearly in constant pain.

Among the more serious side effects of taking Accutane, mental health is often affected. Patients have often reported some sort of depression, anxiety, or wild mood swings related to Accutane and a smaller percentage even report more serious mental health issues. It is always recommended that you talk to your doctor or healthcare professional if these symptoms occur with you.

A lot of people turn to Accutane when they think they don’t have any other choice. Unfortunately, many dermatologists are all too happy to prescribe it so patients will receive quick results. But oftentimes, these results come at a cost. We talk about many of the side effects here in this blog, but have barely mentioned all of them, some of which include long term fertility issues and horrible problems with pregnancy if it occurs while taking the drug. Most often, doctors will prescribe termination as becoming pregnant on this drug causes huge problems for the fetus.

Accutane is a serious solution to a dire problem, but it is NOT the only solution. In fact, it is one that we most often recommend is not even necessary.

You may have tried everything you can think of; chemical exfoliation, drugstore acne remedies, facials, you name it. And nothing worked. That doesn’t mean that you simply have to turn to drugs like Accutane. It is a not the easy way out.

Far more beneficial to your well being would be to find a skin care professional who deals with mostly acne. Dermatologists can see acne as a frivolous problem that can be treated easily with drugs, but that is not the case! You want to be more than a chart in a doctor’s long list of patients. Find someone who has time to actually take a deep look at your skin and find a viable solution without drugs. Not only is it possible, but it is much better for your long term health than seeing someone who immediately tries to put you on drugs.

Believe it or not, acne can be treated topically, with products on the skin. We know this because that’s exactly what we do everyday. In the same amount of time it would take to get clear with Accutane, we can also get your skin clear, but without any of the nasty side effects of serious drugs (perhaps some dry skin, but that’s it, and easily fixable!)

Acne affects so many aspects of our daily lives. If you have acne, chances are your self-esteem is down the drain and you just want to stay inside, sometimes not even wanting to spend time with friends and family because it is so bad. That is not good! It makes life harder when it shouldn’t be.

That’s why our main goal here at Skintherapy to help people with acne get better. The best way to do that is to let us guide you with the right products and routine so that your skin gets clear and STAYS clear.

That’s our promise to you.
Look into booking an appointment here today and you won’t be disappointed.

The experience most people have with acne is this; calling a dermatologist and scheduling an appointment, at that appointment, the doctor spends 5-10 minutes looking at your skin and then suggests you take some sort of antibiotic, contraceptive, or other medication. These medications often have uncomfortable short and longterm side effects, so most people end up not taking all of them, or only taking them for a short time before giving up. If you have experienced this yourself, you are definitely not alone.

The short answer to the question of whether or not you need medication to treat acne is a simple no. But the real answer is infinitely more revealing.

The bold statement we make here at Skintherapy is that acne can be treated at the root without medications. How, you ask? With a regimen of the proper products and lifestyle changes.

If you grew up with acne or even got acne later in life as an adult, you know the struggle of dealing with it every day can get tiresome. The question of whether or not you should get on medication is unfortunately a common one, but that doesn’t have to be the answer for you. You can accomplish the beautiful, clear skin you want without ever taking a single pill or antibiotic.

We are confident in the fact that we can help get your skin clear with the proper commitment and process. That is why we are here. As experts, we have a unique outlook on acne and how to care for it. That’s because the issue isn’t just “skin deep.” There is a lot going on underneath the skin and you need someone who knows what to look for so they can minister the correct products and services for you.

This goes beyond a simple “Let me have a look at you.” Here we take pride in getting to the root of the issue causing your acne specifically, whether that be food, makeup, cleansing routine, products, or even the laundry detergent you use. Everything has the ability to help or hinder your skin clearing progress. You want clear skin, you want to be able to take a look at everything in your life and decide whether it’s getting you closer to that goal, or further away from it.

After working with hundreds of people, helping them get their skin clear and seeing the drastic change it makes in their everyday lives, that’s how we know it works and that it is worth it.

You may not know where to start when it comes to your acne. You may be scared. Lots of people are when they’re just starting out. There is so much information out there on the subject. It can be hard to know where to begin.

There is a lot to caring for acne, but you don’t have to do it alone. We have the tools you need and they don’t require you to take medications with ill side effects or any other pill or medicine. Your skin can get clear without all that. All it really takes is an initial appointment for you to see the effectiveness of working with a true Acne Expert.
To book your consultation, click here.

Triggers for acne come in a variety of different forms, as you have probably experienced in your lifetime. Sometimes it seems like these triggers are random and incoherent, whereas other times you generally know when you expect a breakout and about how long it will last. The most frustrating part about having acne is a lot of times, breakouts totally catch you by surprise.

 

In this post, we want to help you recognize triggers before they cause a breakout so that you can avoid acne and have as clear skin as possible.

 

1. Too much sun exposure

 

Summer is now here and we can’t stress enough the importance of sunscreen. Sunscreen should be applied liberally and often. Not only does it help breakouts, but it also helps acne scars become less red and inflamed. Make sure the sunscreen you use doesn’t have any comedogenic ingredients, but besides that, just make sure to use it every time you are outside, especially if it is hot and sunny, but also if it cloudy. (The sun’s UV rays can penetrate cloud cover!) Protecting yourself from the sun isn’t just important to protect your acne-prone skin, but also to protect aging skin. Nobody wants leathery looking skin caused by sun damage.

 

2 .Food with lots of hormones (androgens, soy, milk)

 

Hormonal acne (usually characterized by breakouts on the chin and jawline) is one of the most common types of acne. It can be greatly exacerbated by eating foods that also have lots of of hormones, which trigger an imbalance in the body and cause more overproduction of sebum on the skin, which equals breakouts. Foods like soy and milk are densely laden with hormones and should be avoided at all cost. Androgens, another hormone, are present in mostly meat, but especially present in organ meats.

 

3. Salon facials

 

You may be at a salon getting a mani-pedi when the cosmetologist offers a relaxing facial to complete the package. Without ever having one before, you are not sure what to expect, but you agree because it sounds nice. When she gets to the facial, you are asked to sit back and rest your head on the back of your chair. Lotions and oils are rubbed into your face. As the oily  perfumed lotions are massaged into your skin, you may to relax a bit. Finally at the conclusion of the facial, your cosmetologist comments “Oh and if you breakout later, that is just the facial bringing toxins to the surface of the skin to get them out of your pores.” Which could be true for some people, but for someone with acne, this has more to do with the fact that lots of oil and lotion on the skin clogs pores and causes acne flares. Breakouts are caused when skin overproduces dead skin cells and sebum. Add massaging oils to the mix and you might experience an unpleasant flare-up. Our best advice would be to just avoid the facials at your next nail/eyebrow/hair appointment.

 

4. Foods high Glycemic on the Index

 

Acne often starts on the inside out, so to truly beat it, you want to be conscious of decisions you make when choosing what to consume. You probably have heard about the evils of carbs and sugars, but did you know they are also linked to acne? Research has shown that in individuals that have acne, when they eat foods high in sugar and carbohydrates, it spikes insulin. This usually only happens  people who have diabetes, but for some reason, those with acne are also affected. The difference is, for acne-sufferers, the symptoms are not those of a diabetes, but rather a worsening of acne symptoms.

 

5. Heavy drugs

 

When we say heavy drugs, we are mostly talking about those prescribed for acne specifically, but this can also mean narcotics as well. So called “acne drugs” like Accutane only work as long as they are being taken and the tolls of their use have been documented to be unhealthy at best and dangerous at worst. Some dermatologists recommend antibiotics to “fight the bacteria on the skin” but long-term use of these drugs also causes health problems.

 

The best thing you can do for your skin is find a process that works on the skin (topical) and a lifestyle that helps you make healthy skin choices, including those mentioned in this article.

 

For more information on how to clear your acne, talk to someone who has true experience in helping people accomplish their dream of clear skin and book a consultation with the acne experts at Skintherapy today.

 


In today’s day and age, people and teenagers alike tend to gravitate toward quick fixes and easy cures. The only problem with that is acne can’t be cured with a pill or antibiotic. Those solutions are usually only temporary and can cause health problems if used long-term.
 
Many doctors and dermatologists prescribe drugs like Lymecycline and Doxycycline, which work temporarily, but once the last round of drugs have been consumed, acne comes back. It’s not advisable to consistently take drugs like these for long periods of time as they can cause antibiotic resistance and other health issues. These antibiotics kill excess bacteria on the skin, but they do not reach the underlying cause of acne. They also cause uncomfortable side effects like upset stomach, dizziness, and can increase sun sensitivity. And yet, this is the solution that some people choose simply because they don’t see another way.
 
The root cause of acne is that acne sufferer’s skin cells shed far more than the average person’s, especially when it comes to excessively oily skin like that of a teenager’s. Someone who does not have acne sheds skins cells typically once per day. A person with acne will shed skin cells up to 7 times per day. And the cause of this shedding? It stems from hereditary factors. If you have acne, it comes from your genes and as you can imagine, those are hard to alter. Drugs like Accutane, antibiotics, and even birth control are only short-term solutions. Solutions whose side-effects can be dangerous in the long-term, not work efficiently for the entire duration of their consumption, and if they do work, only work for short periods of time.
 
What most people don’t realize is that their acne can be cleared using methods of lifestyle change and consistently applying the correct products in the right amounts with the best ingredients.
 
Acne is embarrassing and can cause lack of confidence and motivation. Not only does it impact daily life, but it is also painful to deal with. The scars it can leave behind seem like a permanent reminder of not being good enough. But acne is no one’s fault. If you are reading this, you have found a new way to deal with it and a way to achieve clear skin you never thought was possible.
 
Our acne experts are knowledgeable in the actual source of acne and the processes that work for clearing it. We start with a one on one consultation where we look at your skin and advise lifestyle changes that could be affecting the skin like foods, hair products, and makeup. Then we offer product recommendations that will work best to clear the skin. We prepare a detailed routine for each individual that we see so that you know exactly what to do and how to use the products the most effectively. Once your daily routine is established, we are able to help the process with bi-weekly appointments to review your skin’s progress and help it along with chemical peels and other therapies to ensure your success and stop the advancement of blackheads and whiteheads before they have the chance to start.
 
This process was designed and perfected by Skincare Specialist and Master Esthetician Jil Goorman over the last eight years. The difference between seeing a doctor for your acne and visiting our clinic is that we have the time to spend with clients to truly understand their skin and what it takes to improve it.
 
Each case is different and yours is no exception. Drugs are not the only answer when it comes to treating acne. No one has to suffer this condition alone, futilely attempting to treat the mystery that acne can seem like at times. Skintherapy is here to help clear your skin and keep it that way, no matter what age you are. Check out our website for more info at http://utahacneclinic.com.

What Most People Don’t Realize

Most over-the-counter acne medications contain pore-clogging ingredients that actually make acne worse instead of better. If you take the time like we did and read the ingredient lists on the back of common acne products, you would realize that many of them contain pore-cloggers.

In this post, we’ll be reviewing some of the most popular over-the-counter acne products and detailing exactly why they don’t work. The truth is, many big corporate acne product companies want consumers to believe that they will solve a problem for acne sufferers, when in reality, they only make them worse.

The True Causes of Acne

You may have heard that acne is caused by bacteria. Germs and microbes infect the pores and that is what causes acne. Or that acne is caused by not keeping the area clean enough.

The reality is, acne is not the simple. If acne were as simple as a bacterial infection, everyone could just take antibiotics, keep the area dry and sterile, and their skin would clear up eventually. If acne were caused by not cleansing the skin enough, then all anyone would have to do would be buy more aggressive cleansers and use then more than twice a day. The problem is that acne is far more complex than that.

Acne is hereditary and hormonal. It can’t be made to go away just by using strong disinfectants, medications, or aggressive cleansers. These solutions to acne usually just end up giving the acne sufferer painfully dry skin, or worse.

The acne-causing genes make it so pores overproduce oil, dead skin cells, and sebum. These genes are also especially susceptible to androgens and hormones, which create a high turnover rate of these cells. When cells are overproducing and there’s a high turnover rate, the pores become so clogged that breakouts are inevitable.

When you realize that the cause of acne is pores that are just too clogged, it makes perfect sense that products that contain pore-cloggers simply won’t do the job. Acne is caused by pores becoming congested and inflamed with oil and dead skin cells. Adding more oil and pore clogging ingredients in a recipe for disaster and further acne problems.

Popular Products that Cause Breakouts

Not every product line or acne treatment available believes that pore-cloggers are an issue. Many OTC or mail order products don’t buy into the theory that acne is caused by clogged pores, therefore, they contain ingredients that clog pores and cause more inflamed acne.

Over-the-counter treatments are popular because, while some of them do contain acne fighting elements such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, unfortunately, these do little to prevent pores becoming clogged deep down under the skin.

Here are some popular acne products that contain pore cloggers:

Cetaphil
Includes sodium laureth sulfate in its formula, which causes breakouts.

Clearasil
Myristic acid and lauric acid are also pore cloggers and will do more harm than good when it comes to clearing skin.

ProActiv
Contains ethylhexyl palmitate is a pore clogger.

Clean and Clear
Has algae extract, which is a pore clogging ingredient. According to reviews voted “most helpful” on their online retail store, the product did nothing for customers but break them out even more.

Best Practice

Before using any acne product, it is always a good idea to consult the ingredient list (actives and inactives) to find out if there are any pore cloggers. Don’t buy into the idea that just because a product seems popular means that it is effective. Oftentimes, it is the opposite

The best method for clearing acne is realizing that it’s a journey that takes time and patience. Having someone guide you through the struggle is what we suggest because treating acne is not easy. But clearing acne is possible, with the right products and the right system.

Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to start with blind trial and error. If you are reading this, you are on the right path.

Click here to read more and find out why Skintherapy is the best solution for clearing acne

Think about all the new experiences that happen in your teens; driving, dating, college, friends, jobs. Teens teeter on the line of independence and discipline essentially until the day they move out on their own. It can be a tumultuous time for teenagers. And on top of that all that, there’s frequently another struggle.

Acne is primarily caused by genes and hormones. Once those teen hormones start kicking in, the skin doesn’t stand a chance. Breakouts, zits, and blackheads affect as much as 80% of people between the ages of 11 to 30 and can take even longer to clear up. What can you do to help your teen?

Food can be a big trigger for unwanted breakouts, so we’ll go over some of the most common triggers here:

1. Milk
Milk is chock full of calcium, minerals, lactose, and hormones and growth factors. It’s those last two ingredients that really mess with a person’s own hormones and that can lead to acne.

2. Peanuts and Peanut Butter
Peanuts are high in androgens, which are another type of hormone that affects acne in a bad way.

3. Soy (tofu, soy milk, edamame)
As delicious and seemingly healthy as these items are, they wreak havoc on acne-prone skin due the many of the same reasons listed above. The estrogen hormones in soy cause skin to freak out and break out.

4. Whey, protein shakes, or protein bars
These products typically contain iodides, biotin, or a combination of both. Both of these ingredients have been proven to make acne worse and it is best to avoid them as much as possible.

5. Iodides such as Iodized Salt
While some iodized salt is good for your thyroid, too much can cause skin inflammation. For this reason, don’t remove it from the diet completely, just be aware that too much may lead to a breakout.

The reason these foods made the top of the list is due to their potency in the hormone department. Teens are so susceptible to breakouts because of wildly fluctuating hormones. Adding more hormones to their system via food is just a recipe for disaster.

Also keep in mind that we’re not necessarily saying teens can never eat these foods ever, just that it is best to have them in moderate portions so as not to increase the likelihood of skin flare-ups. Patience and moderation are key when it comes to making the lifestyle changes necessary to have a positive effect on acne, so bear in mind that these changes don’t happen overnight. But as with anything good in life, with a little persistence and daily effort, change can be made for the better. Remember this if you are just starting out your journey to healing acne, or if you know someone who is. Skincare is a journey, not just a destination. And we’re here to help you along the way.
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What your teenager tells you:
“Yes, I have been washing my face.”
“Yes, I am trying not to pick.”
“No, I don’t want to go to the school dance. Dances are lame.”

What your teenager doesn’t tell you:

“I’ve been washing my face more aggressively than ever but I don’t know why I’m still breaking out.”
“I can’t help but pick my whiteheads! They’re so ugly!”
“Asking someone out, going out together, taking pictures! Sounds like a nightmare. Count me out.”

Parents, when your child was born, or maybe even before that, you heard to watch out for those “teen years.” For everyone, it seems, the years of teenagedom are the hardest. Particularly for parents, or so they tell you.

The truth is, kids are going through a lot at that age; trying to find their independence without being old to enough to actually exercise much, dealing with schoolwork and classmates, family and friends, and namely, navigating raging hormones that just don’t seem to quit. And if you haven’t heard a teenager tell you, “You just don’t understand me!” then be forewarned, when you hear it, it may make you want to laugh out loud. Because you have been there. You have “done that,” so to speak.

For teens, it seems there are few things that are actually in their control. They must go to school, they must attend granny’s 66th birthday party, they must get good grades and do chores. The list seems never ending. But then there’s one other thing on top of that keeps popping up in their young lives. Yet another thing outside of their control.

Acne.

The curse of acne begins rather young for most people unfortunate enough to have it. The average acne sufferer is 12 years old when they start getting pimples. Coincidentally, 12 years old is the typical age where kids hit puberty. You see, for most people, these two events are inextricably linked. That sharp rise in hormones equals not only a cranky teen, but also a teen with acne. Sadly, it’s lose-lose.

The way that hormones, genetics, and acne are connected, when a youngster experiences a sudden increase in hormone production during puberty, this causes the skin to produce too much oil and dead skin cells begin to build up in the pores. This excess of oil and dead skin cells is a recipe for, you guessed it, breakouts.

As a parent, you may notice when your teen has started breaking out and you wonder how to be sensitive to their feelings. You notice they no longer want to participate in events they used to love. You notice they’re more withdrawn and seem less happy. You may also notice that they’re wearing more makeup, trying to cover up the blemishes. These are all signs that a good conversation is in order.

You will want to take this opportunity to connect with your teen and help them find a solution to the problem plaguing their lives right now. You don’t want them to have a harder time than necessary. Helping them deal with their acne is one step to helping them feel better and more confident. You will want to take this conversation slowly and really hear them out so you can work on a solution together.

When your teen is ready, you may suggest that in order to find something that works, you’ll need to work together to find some much needed professional guidance. Perhaps neither of you have ever had to deal with acne before. Or maybe you have had acne when you were a kid and didn’t get as much help dealing with is as you may have liked. Whatever the situation may be, you and your teenager will want to work with someone who deals with acne regularly.

To get the most out of this conversation and provide the best possible solution, this is a perfect time to mention Skintherapy. We deal with teen acne nearly every day. We know the best treatment paths to overcome it. We know how frustrating acne is and we deliver astounding results. You can tell them that in a mere 3-6 months, their skin will look and feel clearer after working with us. No reason not to give it a shot, right?

We are confident that we can help your teen feel more confident in their skin. That is our goal for anyone struggling with acne. All it takes is one appointment to begin the journey from struggling with acne to overcoming acne.

As a teen with acne, your dreams are made up of days where you no longer suffer from embarrassing breakouts. Adulthood is the ticket out of Zitville, at least you hope anyway.  Adult acne is classified as having acne over the age of 25. At that point, your teen years are behind you and you thought you were done with this acne stuff. But think again.

Some acne sufferers start having breakouts in their young tender years while others don’t start breaking out until much later in life. Why is it that some people’s acne clears up as time goes on while others are surprised with breakouts long after their teen years?

The truth about acne is, nobody really knows why it starts young for some people and later for others. It could be hormones. It could be a change in products you are using. Or it could be how often and how aggressively you are cleansing your skin. Anything from diet to stress can trigger a breakout no matter what age you are.

So let’s examine some of the ways that acne can be helped, no matter what age you are.

By now you are probably aware that products are a huge part of helping or hindering your acne. With every new product you pick up at the store or online, there is the plea in the back of your mind, “I hope this doesn’t make me break out.”

So many people have been there and the constant game of roulette is not fun. If you’re looking for products that are guaranteed not to break you out and in fact, will only help your acne get better, try these on for size:

This toner helps calm redness as it hydrates and removes sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells from your pores.

This face wash is gentle and effective in cleansing the skin without being too drying. Perfect for any skin type.

This sunscreen is not only soothing while it prevents sunburns, but also has natural ingredients that keep your pores from becoming clogged.

With these products, you are likely to experience some improvements right away because they are not drying or over exfoliating. That is another big problem among acne sufferers: cleansing too much. With the Gentle Face Wash mentioned above, using it once or twice a day won’t make you dry out, but will effectively cleanse the skin of irritants. When looking for products to help acne, it is usually best to err on the side of gentle at first. This way, you can gauge how aggressive you need to go with products to get the results you want.

The reality is, when you are dealing with something as complicated as acne, you want to make sure you are getting the best treatment advice from the most knowledgeable source.

Dermatologists, as helpful as they might be, may not have the time or the patience to deal with your specific case of acne as you see fit.

Let our team at Skintherapy be the ones to help you get your skin back on track. Whether it be adult acne or teen acne, we are here to help.

Reach out to us here on our website or check out our social media pages (@utahacneclinic on Insta) to get more info and start your journey to clear skin.

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