What is Acne?
An inflammatory skin condition characterised by pimples and caused by a build-up of oil and dead skin cells in your pores. This build-up results in visibly swollen lumps on the skin that can be painful.

Acne is most common among teenagers, but it can affect anyone at any age. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing how long acne will last. It can be pretty persistent, sticking around for months and even years at a time if left to its own devices.

You’re most likely to get acne near your mouth, chin, forehead, other parts of your face, chest, upper back and shoulders because these parts of the body have the most sebaceous (oil) glands.

What Causes Acne?
Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells all the time. Some of these exits through pores, but sometimes they get stuck. Your pores are connected to your sebaceous glands, which produce oil in your skin. These cells mix with the oil and clog your pores.

While we know this process is what causes acne, it’s harder to pinpoint why it happens to some people over others.

It’s thought that hormonal changes and having parents who have acne puts you at higher risk.

Other factors that could make your acne worse include:

• Stress
• Medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS),
• Certain medications,
• Diet, and
• Friction on your skin

Types of Acne & Symptoms
There are 2 different types of acne: non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne.

1. Non-inflammatory
Blackheads look like tiny black dots where your pores used to be. They’re open clogged pores, and what you see is a mix of dead skin cells and oil exposed to the air.

Whiteheads are basically the same thing, except the skin has closed over the top resulting in a small white bump.

2. Inflammatory
Papules are more commonly known as pimples. This is where bacteria are present and pore walls break down from the infection, leaving a red lump on your skin.

Pustules are pimples/ papules with the addition of pus (sorry, no nice way to say it), giving them a milky white appearance under the skin.

Nodules develop deeper in the skin than pustules and papules. They feel like more irritated and larger lumps under the skin.

Cysts are large painful pus-filled lumps caused by deeper clogging. They occur further below the surface than nodules and are the most likely of all acne types to leave a scar.

Are Acne Scars Permanent?
Will my acne scars go away? is the burning question many people ask after acne has cleared.

Both scars and pigmentation can be successfully minimised and even eradicated with skincare treatments. However, the best course of action is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. It’s critical to manage your acne when it appears while resisting the temptation to squeeze or pick at your pimples and take steps to maintain a smooth, healthy-looking glow long after it’s gone.

Acne Management Tips
There are some things you can do to help manage your acne, regain control of your skin, and feel more confident.

• Hand Hygiene
Don’t touch your face unless it’s necessary, and when you do (to apply skincare, for example), make sure you wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms.

• Clean Your Glasses & Phones
Keep your glasses and phone squeaky clean and hold your phone away from your face.

• Wash Oily Hair Regularly
Keep your hair clean and avoid using oily hair products if you’re prone to breakouts on your forehead. Rethink that fringe and keep your hair swept up off your face.

• Stay Cool
Avoiding sweating helps keep those pores clear. The sun can also cause the skin to produce more oil resulting in more outbreaks. Active ingredients that improve your skin’s appearance, such as retinoids, often require you to stay out of the sun too.

• Remove Makeup
As tempting as it is to collapse into bed at the end of the day, always cleanse your face every evening and sleep with nothing more than a suitable moisturiser.

• Avoid Scrubbing or Squeezing
Scrubbing or squeezing pimples can push the infection further down. Pat on and off your skincare or water after cleansing. Popping pimples also increases the chance of scarring.

• Shave Lightly
Before shaving, moisten hair for a few moments to soften it and use a sharp razor to minimise friction. Lightly run your shaver over your skin, trying not to disturb your acne.

• Adopt a Twice-Daily Skincare Routine
The products you use on your face have the power to zap pimples and the embarrassment they cause for a long-lasting glow.

• Change pillow case regularly
Pillow cases should be regularly changed as they stay all night in contact with the face.

Acne-busting Actives
These active ingredients help moisturise your skin, keep pores spotless, and ward off bacteria.

Salicylic Acid is a powerful beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that unclogs pores.

Lactic Acid is a gentle AHA that unclogs pores. This acid is more suitable for individuals with sensitive skin and for mild acne.

Liquorice Root, Cannavive Extract and, Rosemary Extract are natural ingredients that can reduce oil production, inflammation and acne.

Niacinamide is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of acne, increase moisture in the skin, and improve the look of ageing skin and uneven tone.

Retinoids minimise your pores and act as an exfoliant keeping your pores clear.

Step-by-step Skincare Routine for Acne

Cleanse (AM and PM)
You don’t want a cleanser that dries out your skin, as this can result in overcompensation of oil production and more acne. Look for cleansers or face washes that contain Decyl Glucoside as a surfactant like all of Apella Skin's cleansing products. This is one of the very few surfactants out there that is gentle and doesn't strip your skin of it's natural oils.

Physical Exfoliation
Use a face scrub at least twice a week to help draws out impurities and shed dead skin cells.

Serum
Use a targeted acne serum. These mainly include, but is not limited to, an AHA or BHA. If your skin is sensitive, use an AHA or BHA at night followed by a Niacinamide Serum during the day.

Moisturise
It might seem counterintuitive to moisturise a face prone to acne, but it’s a crucial step!

Cover and Protect (AM)
Apply sunscreen. 

Skin is amazing, and it can change for the better. Don’t give up! The first step is understanding what acne is by definition, the different types of acne, what causes acne, and finally, being consistent in the steps you take to get rid of your acne.