Acne + Bacteria
Hey guys! Time for another post. We’ve been hitting all the topics lately but with back to school just around the corner, one topic comes to mind… acne! We’ve talked about acne, what causes it etc. But with the back to school theme I decided to jump into Biology and talk about bacteria.
Acne is caused by many things but the main one being P. acne bacteria. P. acne bacteria is also known as Cutibacterium acnes are a bacterium that live on your skin. They are part of your skins microbiome. Before you are a teenager this type of bacteria is barely visible on your skin. It feeds on oils and things on your skin. They will also live in your pores and hair follicles where there is an abundance of that. These bacteria also trigger inflammation in the skin. So not only causing breakouts but also causing the redness that comes with acne.
Your skin’s microbiome is so important! It protects our skin from pathogens that can affect your skin of course, but it can also affect one’s health. When this ecosystem is balanced, it shows as a healthy skin. So how can we keep our skins microbiome nice and healthy? Well I always refer to skin care. Cleansing is important to keep your sebum balanced. Toners and moisturizers also help balance the pH of your skin. Also, look for ingredients that fight p. acne bacteria such as salicylic acid, alpha hydroxyl acids and tea tree oil.
Here are some other ways to keep your skin healthy:
Take a probiotic!
Not all bacteria are bad! Studies suggest that taking a probiotic or applying one topically can help with many skin concerns such as dryness, eczema and yes, acne. It can also help your skins structure by producing more collagen.
Take a prebiotic!
Probiotics need food too you know! A prebiotic are a fiber. They can be found in many foods but mostly fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Foods with the highest are garlic, onions, bananas, barley and oats!
For everything else there is Eccotique. Here are some of my fave products to use to combat that acne bacteria:
Dermalogica Active Clearing Clearing Skin Wash
Foaming cleanser helps clear skin and reduce visible skin aging. Salicylic Acid, a Beta Hydroxy Acid, stimulates natural exfoliation to help clear clogged follicles and smooth away dullness that contributes to visible skin aging. Menthol and Camphor help cool the skin. Contains extracts of Balm Mint, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree. Skin is left clean and prepped for optimal absorption of Active Clearing treatment ingredients.
Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum
This active two-in-one serum clears and helps prevent breakouts while reducing visible skin aging. Salicylic Acid reduces breakouts to clear skin. This highly-concentrated serum exfoliates to help prevent breakouts and accelerates cell turnover to reduce signs of skin aging
Dime Beauty Power Patch
Your new best friend. The power patch is a magic patch that you put on a blemish that helps reduce pimple size and draw out impurities from the breakout. It contains hydrocolloid, vitamin A, clove oil and salicylic acid.
When a blemish is oncoming, clean the affected area with a DIME facial cleanser. Dry to ensure skin is prepped for placement. Place the Power Patch directly on top of the affected area before bed. Allow to sit through the duration of the night. Apply as often as needed. If desired the Power Patch is designed to be worn under makeup throughout the day.
- Hydrocolloid protects your skin but also draws out excess fluids such as oil and pus out of your skin.
- Vitamin A protects against free radical damage and acne.
- Clove oil contains a compound called eugenol that helps in treating acne. It fights the acne bacteria and helps in reducing swelling and redness.
- Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxyl acid that exfoliates but specifically targets oil as well.
