Acne & Blemishes

Anyone who has dealt with acne knows that breakouts can be unpredictable and confusing. We answer six frequently-asked questions about acne—from the best products to how to get rid of acne at home—and their answers. Acne Q1: How Do I Get Rid of Acne at Home? To get rid of acne at home, you’ll want to combine a strong acne-fighting skin care routine with good skin habits. Cleanse & Tone When you’re dealing with acne, tailor your cleansing routine to target blemishes. You’ll want to strike the perfect balance with your cleansing routine; if you cleanse too infrequently, you risk dirt and grime building up in your pores, and if you cleanse too often, you risk irritating your skin and causing it to dry out. Toners are just as important to your skincare routine. The key to treating existing acne and preventing new blemishes from forming is to keep the skin’s surface as clean as possible. That means cleansing up to twice per day and following with a gentle toner to remove any lingering traces of dirt and makeup. Saturate a cotton pad with an alcohol-free, clarifying facial toner and sweep it over your entire face. Spot Treatment Whether you’re dealing with a full-fledged breakout or just a few stray pimples, a spot treatment such as pimple patches can help reduce the appearance and intensity of acne. Look for one that’s formulated with an acne-fighting ingredient like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or sulfur. Follow with an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Acne Q2: What Is the Best Cleanser for Acne? The best cleansers for acne are formulated with powerful acne-fighting ingredients, cleanse the skin gently yet effectively, and don’t cause irritation or excessive dryness. Be sure to do research to make sure that you have enough information about ingredients or products that help reduce acne when choosing your cleanser. Need a recommendation? Try the Clarisonic Pore & Blemish Gel Cleanser. It’s a 2 percent salicylic acid and lipo-hydroxy acid facial wash that can help clear existing breakouts and prevent new ones from forming, all without over-drying the skin or causing discomfort. Acne Q3: What Products Help Acne? There are spot cleansers, toners, serums, essences, moisturizers, masks, and more available formulated specifically to target breakouts. All of these products can help your fight against acne, but they’re not all created equal. It’s important to scan the labels beforehand to know exactly what is being put on your skin. Look for words like ‘non-comedogenic’ and ‘oil-free’ to help reduce the risk of clogged pores, and make sure the products are formulated with at least one acne-fighting Our dermatologist consultant, Dr. Anita Saluja of For Your Best Self in Melbourne, FD shares her favorites for acne. • Clarisonic Pore and Blemish Gel Cleanser • SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel • La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment • Clarisonic Acne Cleansing Brush Acne Q4: Are Facial Brushes Good for Acne? Yes. Incorporating a facial brush to your routine can help address “the root cause of acne which is abnormal skin shedding and inflammation within the hair follicle-oil gland unit,” says Dr. Melanie Palm at Art of Skin in San Diego, CA. When in the search for your facial brush, be sure to purchase a brush with an oscillating brush as opposed to a rotating brush. Spinning and rotating brushes can be abrasive as they twist and tug on delicate skin. Clarisonic Mia Smart is an oscillating brush that gently glides back and forth with water, creating a vacuum effect to remove first and oil and makeup from the skin’s surface and pores. Dr. Melanie Palm says “Clarisonic is a highly effective cleansing tool that assists in the process of skin renewal and normal turnover. Part of an effective acne treatment is consistent cleansing, and Clarisonic offers the most effective means of removing dirt, oil, skin cells, and even bacteria to provide cleaner, clearer, less inflamed skin.” Acne Q5: Can Facial Brushes Cause Breakouts? If you’re a first timer facial brush user, you may experience a temporary uptick in breakouts. “This reaction is called skin purging, and it isn’t a cause for concern. Skin purging, when the skin experiences more breakouts temporarily after a change in skincare routine, can occur with over-exfoliation or irritation,” Dr. Anita Saluja says. Dr. Saluja’s advice? “Start using your Clarisonic once every three days, then every other day,” she says. “Take your time to build up to regular daily use. Also, try a few brush heads to see which suits your skin best and keep your Clarisonic brush head clean.” Rinse your brush head after every use and replace it every three months. Acne Q6: How Can I Get Clear Skin Overnight? Great skin takes time to achieve, and there’s no such thing as short cuts. Breakouts take time to heal, and you shouldn’t try to rush the process since it could promote scarring. You probably won’t be able to get rid of your breakouts overnight, but you could help reduce their appearance by applying a spot treatment before bed.

For most people dealing with acne, the number one goal is to get rid of blemishes—and fast. However, oftentimes breakouts leave behind acne scars. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, an acne scar occurs when the breakout deeply penetrates the skin, damaging the skin and tissue beneath the surface. As the body tries to repair the damaged blemish, it can produce too much or too little collagen, leaving behind a scar. There are different types of acne scars—depressed acne scars (atrophic scars) and raised acne scars (hypertrophic scars)—and the treatment plan is specific to each one. Below, we’re explaining the differences between each type of acne scar and what causes them to form. What Causes Acne Scars? We’re told never to pick or squeeze our pimples because it can increase the risk of acne scar formation, and that’s good advice to follow. According to AAD, picking at the skin increases inflammation and in turn, heightens the risk of scarring. But that’s not the only cause of acne scars. Acne scar formation has a lot to do with collagen production, the fiber that gives the skin its support, bounce, and youthfulness. If the body produces too little collagen as the skin heals from a severe breakout, a depressed acne scar can form, including icepick, boxcar, and rolling scars. If the body produces too much collagen while healing, raised acne scars, like keloids, can form. Ice Pick Scars An icepick scar is a depressed acne scar, also known as an atrophic scar. Icepick scars look like narrow and deep pits as if an ice pick were repeatedly poked into the skin. Boxcar Scars A boxcar scar is also a depressed acne scar. According to a study published to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), boxcar scars are round or oval depressions in the skin with vertical edges. They have a wider surface than icepick scars and can be shallow or deep. Rolling Scars Rolling scars, also categorized as depressed acne scars, get their name from their appearance as tiny depressions that slope across the skin. According to the NCBI, rolling scars are usually wider than 4 to 5 mm. Keloid Scars A keloid scar is a raised acne scar or hypertrophic scar, which looks like a dark red or purple bump on the skin, often larger than the original size of the blemish. Because of their raised appearance and size, keloid scars are usually quite noticeable and harder to conceal with makeup. According to the NCBI, keloid scars are more common in dark-skinned individuals. Hyperpigmentation Sometimes when acne disappears, it leaves behind a dark spot or area of discoloration typically ranging in colors from pink to red or brown to black known as hyperpigmentation. It is caused by a post-inflammatory skin response. Hyperpigmentation is not exactly an acne scar (as it is not raised or pitted) but rather a reaction that causes the body to produce too much melanin which leaves behind a dark mark. In some cases, hyperpigmentation will clear on its own, but alpha hydroxy acids and other skin-brightening ingredients can help fade its appearance. How to Prevent Acne Scars There are several treatments available to help get rid of acne scars, including soft-tissue fillers and laser resurfacing, according to the Mayo Clinic. How well you take care of your active breakouts is often a good indicator of whether or not you can prevent acne scars. Here are some helpful steps to follow to prevent acne scars. 1. Be Gentle with Your Skin Care Routine Excessive rubbing and scrubbing is never a good idea for your skin, especially while you’re dealing with an active breakout. To help reduce the risk of acne scar formation, the AAD recommends gentle skin care practices. Instead of scrubbing your skin with a face scrub or other harsh exfoliator (which can worsen acne), cleanse your skin gently with a Clarisonic facial cleansing brush, like Mia Smart, paired with our Acne Cleansing Brush Head. Ideal for sensitive, acne-prone skin, the brush head gently removes pore-clogging debris from the skin, so it’s left feeling soft, smooth, and clean. 2. Avoid Squeezing Pimples There’s no benefit to squeezing pimples. It causes the skin around the blemish to swell and turn red, drawing more attention to pimples. What’s more, you can push dirt and debris deeper into your skin and any dirt or bacteria on your fingertips can enter the blemish and cause your acne to worsen. To give your acne the best chance of healing the right way, keep your hands off your face. 3. Treat Pimples Before They Scar Spot treat your pimples with spot treatment creams and pimple patches. Spot treatments can help speed along the pimple healing process with ingredients like salicylic acid. Furthermore, spot treatments like pimple patches can help mask your blemishes without clogging your pores.

Anyone who’s ever suffered from acne knows the never-ending saga of trying to find the perfect products for your acne prone skin. As much as you try to remain optimistic, sometimes it can feel like all you’re left with is a vanity full of products that don’t work, an empty wallet, and acne that won’t budge. Everyone’s acne journey is unique, but people with acne-prone skin types can take solace in knowing that the options to treat acne are seemingly endless. If you’re still searching for the perfect products for your acne prone skin, allow us to suggest some of our favorites. Oil Cleansers Oily skin types are usually no strangers to breakouts. When excess oil pools on your skin’s surface, it can mix with dead cells and dirt and form a clogged pore which—with exposure to bacteria—can transform into a red, juicy pimple. So the idea of adding more oil onto the skin when washing acne-prone skin of all things may seem like a cruel joke, but it’s actually not. The proof is in the science: oil attracts oil. Instead of using water (which repels oil) to break down pore-clogging grease and makeup on the skin’s surface, you should use a lightweight oil cleanser instead. Once you’ve found the right oil cleanser for your skin, apply a few pumps into the palms of your hand and massage it into dry skin. Add water onto your skin and use a Clarisonic facial cleansing brush, like Mia Smart, to emulsify the oil cleanser for up to one minute and give your skin a deep clean up to six times better than your hands alone. Editor’s note: Unless the oil cleanser used is formulated with an acne-fighting ingredients, it likely won’t reduce the appearance of blemishes. But by helping to eliminate excess sebum before it has a chance to clog pores, you can help prevent new blemishes from forming. Furthermore, oil cleansers are often much gentler than their foaming counterparts, making them a great option for anyone with sensitive acne skin. Sulfur Products You’ve probably heard of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to treat mild to severe acne blemishes, but there’s another acne-fighting ingredient that fewer people have heard of: sulfur. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it can eliminate acne-causing bacteria on the skin’s surface and unclog pores. You can find sulfur formulated into a handful of targeted skin care products for acne, including face masks and spot treatments. Editor’s note: As with any skin care product, if you’re introducing a new ingredient into your skin care routine be sure to test it out on the upper part of your inner arm before applying it to your face. This will allow you to make sure your skin doesn’t have any adverse reactions before applying it to your face. Retinoid Creams You may have heard of retinoid creams to combat aging and pimples, but that’s not all you can use it for. Dermatologists often recommend retinoid creams to deal with acne. Retinoid is the term used to describe products formulated with retinol. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A that’s available over the counter and by prescription, can help unclog pores, according to the AAD, making it a useful ingredient in the fight against comedonal acne (whiteheads and blackheads). For more severe acne, retinol may be recommended in conjunction with other acne-fighting products. Editor’s note: Retinoids are incredibly powerful and should only be used as directed. Due to increased sun sensitivity, apply retinoid products at night only and wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on all exposed areas of skin during the daytime. If excess irritation or peeling occurs, discontinue use and consult your dermatologist.

When it comes to skincare advice, dermatologists are chock-full of helpful tips and tricks. Dermatologists have the intel you need to address your concerns and achieve your skincare goals. Naturally, we asked the brain of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anita Saluja of For Your Best Self on all things acne. Here, she shares five of the best skincare tips to both prevent and treat acne. Grab a notebook and prepare to take notes! Acne Tip 1: Acne-Fighting Products Are Key There is no one-size-fits-all skincare routine for people with acne prone skin. What works for you may not work for your best friend. If you’re not sure where to start, consider investing in a Clarisonic Mia Smart or Mia Prima to cleanse the skin. If you have products you already love, the Mia Smart or Mia Prima can help them cleanse your skin more effectively. The devices also pair excellently with our Pore & Blemish Gel Cleanser. If you’re looking for more recommendation for products formulated with the top ingredients for acne, check out some of Dr. Saluja’s favorites: Serum: “SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel is great for helping to calm inflamed acne after cleansing,” she says. Sunscreen: All skin types need to protect their skin against UV damage. Since some sunscreens can cause breakouts, you’ll want to find one feels lightweight and silky and dries to a comfortable finish. “SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 is one of my favorite sunscreens for acne-prone skin,” Dr. Saluja says. Spot Treatment: No acne skincare routine is complete without a spot treatment. Reach for one that’s formulated with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or sulfur. Dr. Saluja is particularly fond of La Roche Posay’s fan-favorite spot treatment Effaclar Duo. Acne Tip 2: Be Picky with Your Cleanser If you’re invested in targeting your acne, you should take your cleansing routine seriously, and part of that includes using the best cleanser for acne. “Look for a skin cleanser with salicylic acid, a tried and true ingredient, that improves abnormal shedding of skin cells and helps unclog pores,” Dr. Saluja says. “In turn, this action helps prevent new acne from forming.” Since preventing acne is equally as important as treating it, this is great advice to follow. In addition to salicylic acid, Dr. Saluja recommends scanning cleanser labels for lipohydroxy acid (LHA). “LHA is also quite tolerable, so it's less likely to irritate sensitive skin,” she says. The Clarisonic Pore & Blemish Gel Cleanser is formulated with 2 percent salicylic acid and an exclusive micro-exfoliating LHA to help clear and prevent acne breakouts without over-drying the skin. With continued use, expect to see skin that looks clearer and feels more comfortable, as well as a reduced appearance of pores. Acne Tip 3: Cleanse With a Clarisonic Cleansing your skin is one of the most important parts of any skincare routine, but it’s particularly important for people with acne prone skin. Acne feeds on bacteria and clogged pores and maintaining a regular cleansing schedule can help to keep those irritants at bay. “A Clarisonic has patented technology to work gently to clean the skin more effectively than anything else, including your hands,” she says. “By removing makeup, dirt, environmental pollutants, and whatever else that is trapped in pores, your skin looks smoother and feels softer. I see this in my patients.” While a Clarisonic can help you achieve clearer, brighter skin, you may not want to use it every time you cleanse your skin. Dr. Saluja urges everyone to use their best judgment. Overall, everyone can benefit from cleansing with a Clarisonic if they customize their own routine with the right brush head(s) and frequency. “Most people do best with daily Clarisonic cleansing, but some might do better with using it three times a week,” Dr. Saluja says. “As with all routines, experiment and practice until you find what works best for you.” Acne Tip 4: Curb Poor Lifestyle Habits Your acne-fighting cleansing routine may be next to perfect, but that’s only one part of the journey towards clearer-looking skin. Your lifestyle habits matter too, and if they’re not up to snuff you risk ruining all of hard work and dedication. So, in addition to following a self-care routine that works for you, eat a healthy diet of fresh vegetables and fruits. “Avoid processed or sugary foods,” Dr. Saluja recommends. Exercise regularly to get your blood pumping, even if it’s a brisk walk for 30 minutes each day. “And, don't forget to get your beauty sleep,” Dr. Saluja says. “Resting for 7 to 8 hours a night helps our bodies and our skin reset.” Acne Tip 5: Don’t Let Skin Purging Ruin Your Momentum Introducing a new product to your skincare routine can sometimes be frustrating if you have acne prone skin. For example, using a new device like a Clarisonic, for the first time is definitely exciting—if you experience positive results, that is. But if on your quest to eliminate breakouts you experience more of them as a result of introducing a Clarisonic in your routine, you may be tempted to give up on the tool altogether. This reaction is called skin purging, and it isn’t a cause for concern. “Skin purging, when the skin experiences more breakouts temporarily after a change in a skincare routine, can occur with over-exfoliation or irritation,” Dr. Saluja says. Since Clarisonic facial cleansing brushes are so efficient at deep cleaning the skin, the stimulating effect can in some cases make the skin look worse before it starts to look better. Dr. Saluja’s advice? Stick with your Clarisonic cleansing routine, but be gentle until your skin settles down. “Start using your Clarisonic once every three days, then every other day,” she says. “Take your time to build up to regular daily use. Also, try a few brush heads to see which suits your skin best and keep your Clarisonic brush head clean.” Rinse your brush head after every use and replace it every three months. Skin purging is a small hurdle on the way towards the best skin of your life!

Anyone who knows anything about skincare knows that exfoliating is an essential part of any skincare routine. It can eliminate a rough skin texture, help even the skin’s tone, improve clarity, and also reduce the risk of clogged pores and breakouts. As crucial as exfoliating is, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information out there for the people who need it most: people with acne prone skin. If you’ve been searching high and low for information on exfoliating acne prone skin, your search ends here. Exfoliation involves removing the topmost layer of skin to reveal the softer, smoother, brighter cells underneath. There are two types of exfoliation, physical—which involves manually scrubbing away dead cells—and chemical—which involves dissolving dead cells with a skin care acid—to choose from and there’s been much debate over which one is better. That answer won’t be the same for everyone, and will largely depend on your skin type and tolerance levels. Whether physical or chemical, choosing an exfoliator is not a decision you want to make in haste. Above all else, consider your skin type to ensure you don’t cause unnecessary damage or irritation with your exfoliation routine. Can You Exfoliate on Acne-Prone Skin? The answer is yes, you can exfoliate on acne-prone skin. In fact, regular exfoliation on acne-prone skin can help reduce the likelihood of breakouts! But wait, there’s a catch. You want to make sure you follow the proper exfoliation routine for acne-prone skin, especially if you are dealing with an active breakout. How to Exfoliate Acne Prone Skin If you’re looking to exfoliate on acne-prone skin, follow these tips to help ensure the best results. Tip 1: Be Gentle The key to successful exfoliation, regardless of your skin type, is being gentle. Many exfoliators already have chemical exfoliants, tiny beads, or sonic technology that already does the action for you. Scrubbing rigorously or forcefully won’t help you achieve better results; in fact, it could set your progress back tremendously. If you are exfoliating with the Clarisonic Sonic Exfoliator, let the exfoliating brush glide over your facial contours with ease. Don’t add any extra pressure. If you have an acne breakout that is sensitive to the touch, it is okay to skip that sensitive area. Once the inflammation has calmed, exfoliate the area to help boost cell turnover. Tip 2: Read Your Labels Chemical exfoliants can sometimes be harsh on the skin and if you’re already using acne-fighting products with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in them, applying more chemicals to your face may wreak havoc on your skin. If you decide to use a chemical exfoliant, be sure to read the ingredients to ensure they won’t adversely react to the products you are already using on your face. Tip 3: Choose Your Exfoliation Tool Wisely Instead of using a harsh scrub which can aggravate acne, exfoliate your acne-prone skin with the Sonic Exfoliator, our gentle exfoliating brush. It can act as a 60-second scrub replacement to help you achieve soft, smooth, and radiant-looking skin without damage. Pair it with our glycolic acid peel cleanser, Skin Renewing Peel Treatment, for results comparable to a professional glycolic acid peel, including decongested pores, improved skin clarity, polished skin, a boost in cell turnover, and better absorption of subsequent skin care products. It’s gentle enough for all skin types to use, including sensitive and acne-prone! Tip 4: Don’t Overdo It How often one should exfoliate is an ongoing debate amongst industry professionals. Some experts agree that once per week is sufficient for most skin types, while others recommend a more frequent routine of 2-3 times per week. Follow an exfoliation routine that works with your skin’s tolerance levels to avoid over-exfoliation, which manifests as uncomfortable, dry, and irritated skin. Tip 5: Moisturize Afterwards All skin types must moisturize after exfoliating. As long as you don’t over-exfoliate, exfoliating shouldn’t make your face feel dry. But because you must wash your face before exfoliating, you should always complete your skincare routine with a moisturizer. For acne-prone skin, we recommend a lightweight, oil-free, non-comedogenic face cream to reintroduce any lost moisture. Bonus points if it’s formulated with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to target existing blemishes.