Breakouts; we all get them. But the question remains: how the hell do we rid our skin of those pesky spots?? We’re here to help! Acne is broken up into 4 grades, divided into 2 categories. When you (or your favorite esthetician!) can identify and understand your breakouts, coming up with a treatment plan for your skin is much easier, and is much more effective in producing beautiful, LASTING results.
After reading about the grades of acne, check out the at home tips at the end of this post!
Acne basics
Let’s start with the basics: what is acne? Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder of the sebaceous glands, causing blemishes such as blackheads, whiteheads, inflamed areas, and sometimes nodules or cysts. This skin disorder is very common, and typically affects the face, neck, chest, and upper back. Genetics, clogged follicles and bacteria are the main causes of acne. Triggers can include hormones, stress, and products such as skincare and makeup can be the cause of acne.
Grades 1 & 2
The first category is the home of Acne Grades 1 and 2. These two types of acne are the most common. The biggest causes of these two forms of acne are misuse of products, dry/dehydrated skin, environmental influence (such as smoking, dry weather, or humidity), and overall high oil production.
Grade 1 is the mildest form of acne, mainly showing up as moderate blackheads and whiteheads.
Grade 2 acne manifests as a larger amount of whiteheads and blackheads, as well as occasional hard, inflamed spots with no head, or inflamed, raised areas filled with fluid.
Grades 3 & 4
Acne grades 3 and 4 make up to second category. These 2 types of acne are more severe, and often painful. Hormones, medical conditions/medications, overstimulation and bacteria are usually the culprits of these two grades of acne.
Grade 3 causes the skin to frequently produce blackheads and whiteheads, and well as a steady stream of hard inflammation and large fluid filled blemishes.
Grade 4 is the most severe form of acne, with a larger mixture of the same breakouts as Grade 3, but also frequently includes nodules or cysts and very serious inflammation.
What can you do?
Once you identify the breakouts, the next step is coming up with a plan to kick them to the curb. I always suggest a good, thorough consultation, preferably with a facial to help reset the skin and get some of the surface breakouts out of the way. This gives you some time with an educated pro who can really dive in and check out skin type, oil production, identify your breakouts, and help put a plan together for your best skin. The best skin defense in any case is a good skincare regimen, consistent bedding changes, environment, and some sort of adjustment to your diet. If you suffer from either grades 3 or 4, it is extremely important to also take a deeper look at medical issues, diet and environment.
With any grade of acne, one of the MOST underrated solutions is regular studio care. Your favorite esthetician has a burning passion (not to mention high powered ingredients, machines and therapies) to uncover that beautiful, acne free glow! But what if you can’t make studio care fit into your busy schedule or budget? Check out some of the at-home tips and tricks below to help lessen the severity of your breakouts.
JADE FACIAL ROLLERS! If you’re like most people (including me at one time!) you may look at a jade roller and wonder what the hell am I supposed to do with this?? These simple little tools are incredibly underrated. Jade rollers stimulate the lymphatic system to carry impurities away from skin cells, increases blood circulation to bring oxygen and nutrients to the skin, reduces inflammation and swelling (I love to keep mine in the freezer!), pushes acne fighting products like Dermaki Acne Mist and Acne Spot deeper into your skin for increased benefit, and you get a mini facial massage to help relieve some of the stress we all hold in our facial muscles.
Cleansing your face before bed is sometimes the LAST thing you want to do after a long day, but it is one of the most beneficial steps to incorporate into your skincare routine. Cleansing away the oil, bacteria, and environmental influences of the day is so important! You definitely don’t want to be sleeping in that! Which brings me to my next tip…
Changing your pillowcases and bedding frequently makes a HUGE difference in your skin’s health. I usually suggest changing pillowcases once or twice a week in an effort to minimize the amount of bacteria that builds up and multiplies over time.
Another hiding spot for that nasty bacteria is in your makeup brushes or skin tools. Clean and sanitize them frequently to prevent bacteria, oil, and clogging ingredients from revisiting your skin.
We all know that diet plays a part in the health of your skin. Some foods to avoid are sugar, dairy, potatoes...the usual. But there are also foods that are very beneficial to your skin, and can really help make those breakouts more manageable. Check them out below!
