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Facing Facts: It's Time to Talk About Men's Skin Health
Over the years we’ve had countless women shopping for the men in their lives (and even the occasional man) inquire about which of our regimens are best suited to male skin. It seems that men’s skin care options remain limited to chemical-laden products and higher-end products with questionable efficaciousness. Somewhere between a lack of products designed to fit into a man’s lifestyle and an absence of education around men’s skin health, most men either don’t know—or think they’re not supposed to care—about their skin.
Going Clear: Advanced Treatments for Adult Acne
Product Guide: How to Treat Acne + Aging Simultaneously
Acne isn’t only for teens anymore—in fact, it affects more and more adults (primarily women) at an alarming rate. 54% of women over 25 experience some form of acne, which means that around half of us are attempting to tackle issues related to acne and aging simultaneously.
Balance Your Skin’s Microbiome to Clear Acne
Nothing’s more exasperating than conspicuous breakouts. We all get them, and we all spend a lot of effort trying to avoid them. A daily diet of topical antibiotics and antimicrobials prescribed to combat acne may work for a time, but ultimately, they can disrupt the skin’s microbiome balance. It’s now common knowledge that prolonged use of antibiotics kills off beneficial bacteria found in the gut microbiome, tipping the balance in favor of over-colonization by disease-causing pathogens. Similar to the gut’s microbial disruption-disease cycle, skin microbial dysbiosis can lead to skin problems ranging from redness, irritation, rosacea, rashes, eczema, resurgence of acne and adult acne to photosensitization.
A Treatment Plan for Acne
Acne is usually a result of elevated testosterone levels increasing sebum production. The excess sebum and the bacteria that feed on it, as well as dead skin cells and assorted debris, collect in the pores. The resulting congestion can lead to inflammation, which culminates in a case of acne. Conventional treatments battle breakouts with topical cleansers, exfoliants, antimicrobials, antibiotics and, in serious cases of cystic acne, drugs like Accutane. Now new research suggests that certain vitamins, taken internally as well as applied topically, offer an effective alternative approach to treating acne—without the side effects. This story will explore your options.
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Synergistic Layering of Serums
Just as no two people are alike, every skin inhabited by an individual is unique to that person. Skins may share common conditions like acne and aging, but under that umbrella, every person presents a different set of symptoms. (Similarly, the microbe Propionibacterium acnes is a species that differs at the strain level—some strains causing acne while others don’t.)
For this reason, we have found that the most effective treatments come from serums formulated to address skin problems at the symptom level rather than the condition level. For example, our Treatment Serum regulates sebum production to ameliorate acne conditions, while our Lightening Serum inhibits tyrosinase to fade hyperpigmentation. At the serum level, we can target specific dysfunctions by supplying ingredients that help the skin self-regulate.
6 Tips for Treating Persistent Acne
All acne, whether adult acne or teenage acne (acne vulgaris), begins when excess sebum clogs pores. This means acne starts deep down in the follicle, below the reach of anti-acne cleansers, masks and lotions.
Since a pound of prevention is worth an ounce of cure, using oils rich in omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids is a very effective way to treat acne. Rather than stripping the skin of surface oils, omega-3 and -6 facilitate deep penetration to dissolve congestion and prevent the formation of comedos (blackheads). You can also head off comedo formation by supplementing with pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), by using salicylic acid washes and masks to unclog pores (as long as you aren’t allergic) and by using a topical retinol/retinoid product.
Retinol vs. Retinoid: How to Choose the Right Vitamin A Derivative
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the most effective weapons in the acne battle are vitamin A derivatives. And since vitamin A derivatives are proven to repair photodamage, they're also the go-to ingredients when it comes to tackling aging issues. Almost everyone can benefit from a topical vitamin A, but confusion reigns over what actually works, and facts can be drowned out by resounding marketing clamor. It’s enough to scare some people from using them altogether. Read on to learn about the difference between retinoids and retinols so that you can choose the right product for your skin.
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