Over the next few months, our article topics will feature real life questions that we have been asked either in the clinic or from one of our free online skin consultations, and this question about adult acne comes from one of our regular online shoppers, Lorraine and her question is: ‘Help!! I suddenly have adult acne’…
Lorraine is 58 and has never really suffered acne, not since an occasional breakout in her teens. She has been using Aspect Dr for the last few years, and prior to that she was using chemist brands. She has been super happy with her skin since using Aspect Dr, and uses the Deep Clean, Active C, Exfol A and Resveratrol moisturiser. A pretty good routine!
Considering issues that can cause acne…
I asked Lorraine if there have been any life changing events, perhaps stress, a recent health diagnosis, a food allergy or intolerance, but it was a no for all of those questions. Perhaps she has changed makeup brands, SPF? No, she doesn’t really wear makeup and she is a naughty girl and doesn’t use SPF. So we look at the weather – has it been windy where she lives? Sometimes, pollen from further afield can blow in and cause allergies that present as bumps on the skin that may seem like acne. It had been windy, but these were not just bumps, these were yellow, pus filled pimples that could be squeezed. So then it was time to ask a more sensitive topic – menopause.
Hormonal changes, in women especially, can be the root cause for so many skin conditions, from acne to rosacea to dryness to pigmentation. Lorraine went through menopause over three years ago, which was the time she found us online and started using Aspect Dr. She has not had any other menopausal symptoms, so that ruled out that! I asked Lorraine if she has started having hair removal, and BINGO!! Yes, she has. About six weeks ago, Lorraine began laser treatment for unwanted facial hair, especially around the lip and chin and jaw area, where she is getting the breakouts. She has had two treatments so far.
Discovering this was so helpful, because now we can work with Lorraine to heal her acne, without compromising her desire to continue with laser treatments, which she was really reluctant to do as she has had a lot of success with the laser on the unwanted hair.
Firstly, let’s discuss why laser hair removal can cause acne;
- Skin Irritation – Laser treatment can irritate the skin, leading to inflammation and redness. This irritation can sometimes trigger acne-like breakouts, especially in individuals with sensitive skin.
- Folliculitis – Laser hair removal can cause a condition known as folliculitis, which is the inflammation of hair follicles. This can appear as small red bumps or pimples and can be mistaken for acne. Folliculitis, left untreated, can then become infected and present as acne.
- Heat and Sweat – The heat generated by the laser can cause the skin to sweat more than usual, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
- Reaction to Products – Post-treatment skincare products or makeup used on the treated area can sometimes clog pores or irritate the skin, leading to breakouts.
- Hormonal Changes – The stress of the treatment can sometimes trigger hormonal changes that might cause breakouts, especially if the individual is already prone to hormonal acne.
- Improper Aftercare – Not following proper aftercare instructions, such as avoiding sun exposure, refraining from using active skincare products, or not keeping the area clean, can contribute to post-treatment breakouts.
There are a couple of points here that I think have caused Lorraine’s breakouts. Using the Exfol A retinol serum and the Active C serum too soon after the laser treatment has most likely caused irritation, leading to acne.
After any laser treatment, active ingredients (other than hyaluronic acid) should be avoided for a few days.
How to heal acne after laser treatments?
Lorraine can continue to use her cleanser and moisturiser, and she can slowly reintroduce her Aspect Dr serums once her acne clears up. It is important to note that the Exfol A and the Active C are not causing the acne on their own, it’s the combination of using them too soon after treatments, together with the above mentioned reasons.
Osmosis Rescue is a serum that I recommended to Lorraine. It is an epidermal repairing serum, and it is extraordinary for acne. It soothes inflammation, repairs the skin and strengthens the epidermal barrier. Not only for acne, this serum will elevate anyone’s skin care routine, especially when treating issues such as redness, pigmentation and sensitivities. This is the perfect serum for Lorraine to use to not only treat her current acne, but to prevent the folliculitis and inflammation that comes with laser treatments.
I recommend using this serum straight after cleansing, morning and night, followed by her moisturiser.
What products to use after laser treatments going forward?
Gentle products 3 to 5 days after any laser treatment is imperative. The inflammation caused by laser will only exacerbate with the use of active ingredients, such as retinol. This is not to say that you can’t continue retinol, just ease back into it after a few days, and start with using it every second night. Same goes for vitamin C serums, just in the morning.
There are a few changes I recommended to Lorraine moving forward so that she can continue with her laser treatments acne free:
Post Laser Skin Care
- Lorraine’s Aspect Dr Deep Clean is fine, but when she runs out, I recommend that she switch to Aspect Dr Mild Clean. An effective cleanser containing Canadian Willowherb, a powerful calming ingredient that will minimise inflammation.
- Osmosis Rescue as above. This is a gamechanger and will give fast results.
- Aspect Dr Soothing Balm. Perfect for post laser treatments, this balm contains aloe vera to soothe and hydrate the skin. This can be used in place of her Resveratrol moisturiser.
- Ease back into A and C serums.
Lorraine’s Feedback:
As with all customer concerns, we always follow up to see how they are going and if our recommendations where successful and this is the email I received from Lorraine:
Hi Meg. Thank you so much for your detailed answer and recommendations. I love that your clinic always goes above and beyond to care for customers. I can report that the rescue was, as you said it would be, a lifesaver. The acne cleared almost immediately and my skin went from feeling dry and tight to almost normal. It is very expensive but I am so impressed that it is now a staple in my daily routine. I have just popped online and purchased the soothing balm and I will use this after my next laser treatment. Thanks again Meg, Lorraine.
We just love helping our customers achieve their best skin, so if you have a question or concern, you can drop us an email at info@theskincareclinic.com.au
Love Meg xox
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