Beating Breakouts with Beauty By Tifini
Let’s face it, we all battle with breakouts to some degree. Especially in 2021. Thanks for nothing, Maskne. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even as an esthetician with access to the best products and treatments, I’ve still been dealing with some pretty tough breakouts the last few months. So, trust me when I tell you that estheticians are not exempt from breakouts wreaking absolute havoc on their skin.
With pimple popularity on the rise, I felt it was finally time to shed some light on all the pesky pimple problems we’ve all been dealing with lately. Without further ado, here is the Beauty By Tifini guide to Beating Breakouts.
Types of Pimples
First things first, let’s talk proper pimple identification. Before you can begin properly treating and preventing breakouts, you first have to understand the types of pimples that are appearing on your skin. Each type of pimple has different causes and thus requires different forms of treatment.
There are 7 different types of acne pimples that occur on the skin:
1. Whiteheads – These are one of the most common types of pimples and appear as a white or flesh-colored bump on the skin. Whiteheads are usually caused by hair follicles getting clogged with oil, bacteria or dead skin cells.
2. Blackheads – Like whiteheads, blackheads are also caused by clogged hair follicles, only the cause of the block is soil, bacteria or dead skin cells that hasn’t had a layer of skin close over it. This causes the pore to be exposed to oxygen, causing the blemish to turn black.
3. Papule – Appear in the form of small, hard, red or pink bumps on the skin that sometimes form in clusters and feel rough to the touch. Papule is a form of moderate-to-severe acne that creates inflamed and infected lesions caused by oil, bacteria and dead skin cells building below the surface of the skin.
4. Pustule – The type of pimples that you must resist the urge to pop. Pustules are pimples that are filled with a yellowish fluid, or pus. When not properly treated, or picked at, these are the types of pimples that can lead to worsening breakouts and even acne scarring.
5. Maskne – The latest pimple type appearing on the surface of the skin. This type of whitehead or pustule is caused by wearing a mask and usually appears where your mask contacts your skin.
6. Nodules – Appear in the form of hard, red or flesh covered lumps. This is a form of severe acne that forms deep under the skin due to irritation and infection from clogged pores.
7. Cysts – Large, painful, pus-filled lumps that usually stem from severely infected material caused inside the lesion. Cystic acne can be triggered by hormones and poses a high scar risk.
Acne Triggers
Did you notice some commonalities in the causes of the different types of acne mentioned above? It’s no secret that one of the biggest culprits of acne is dirt, oil and bacteria that clogs pores and prevents the natural detoxing process. When this dirt and oil gets trapped it causes an infection that appears in the form of acne.
Some Causes of Clogged Pores Include:
Sleeping on a Dirty Pillowcase
Makeup
Using a Dirty Phone
Free Radicals (Dirt, Debris, Pollutants in the Air)
Excess Oil
Dead Skin
Over-Cleansing or Over-Exfoliating
Touching Your Face
But that’s not all. There are several other factors that can lead to breakouts. For instance, a diet high in sugar, dairy and processed food causes inflammation internally that then appears externally in the form of acne. Hormonal imbalances and increased stress have also been known triggers for causing acne. And while some believe that increased sun exposure can help minimize breakouts, it’s actually been known to make them worse.
How to Treat Breakouts
Now that you know the types of acne and the triggers that cause it, it’s time to talk treatment options! Before we dive in, I want to point out the importance of following a customized skincare routine and treatment plan that addresses your specific skin concerns and types of acne.
The 3 main things to start treating breakouts:
1. Assessing Your Diet – increasing water intake and assessing diet to improve overall gut health. This usually means minimizing or eliminating the consumption of sugar, dairy and gluten
2. Investing in In-Home Skincare - building a customized in-home skincare routine that directly targets and addresses your specific skin concerns
3. Committing to a Professional Treatment Plan – mapping out a series of treatments that will help to clear the skin.
While these are a few of my most successful ways of treating acne, the combination of products and the number of treatments varies from individual to individual. Here are a few of my favorite products and treatments for properly fighting, minimizing and even preventing breakouts:
A Series of VI Peel Precision Plus Treatments – VI Peels are one of the best treatments you can invest in when you are investing in your skin. The most comprehensive peel for acne and acne scarring. This advanced solution works to combat active acne systems while repairing acne scarring and pigmentation. This peel is so powerful that most clients see results after just one treatment. However, for best results, a series of 3 treatments is recommended.
Adding a Retinol to your PM Skin Routine – I am a firm believer in the power of a good retinol. Specifically, DMK Revitosin and VI Derm Retinol Age-Defying Moisturizer are my two favorite retinols. I have been using VI Derm’s Retinol since it launched and have seen major results on both myself and my clients. Both products contain a powerhouse formula that helps to resurface the skin, drive cellular turnover and encourage healthy cell production all while soothing the skin to prevent irritation that is usually found in other retinoid products.
Treating with DMK Acu Masque Weekly – A BBT fan favorite! This small but mighty mask is ideal for oily skin that’s prone to blemishes. This mask is formulated to fight acne-causing bacteria, purify the skin, soothe and reduce redness and inflammation. It also purifies pores which are plugged by dead cells and sebum and prevents pimple eruptions while acting as an astringent on enlarged pores.
Weekly DMK Foamy Lift Kit Treatments – Maskne’s worst enemy. The power of a DMK Enzyme treatment at home. This treatment has been a lifesaver during COVID. This treatment helps to remove dead skin build up and impurities, hydrate and brighten your complexion, fight free radical and anti-aging damage and restores skin to its peak condition. Honestly, a great treatment for all skin concerns, but one that will work wonders on acne prone skin.
Get Help with Acne in Huntington Beach
Here at Beauty by Tifini, we specialize in skin transformations. We will work with you to create a customized treatment plan and daily skincare routine that targets your main skin concerns while also providing you with insight on the triggers that may be causing recurring breakouts. It’s never too late or too early to start loving your skin.
Get started with a virtual skin consultation with master esthetician Tifini Hartman today!