Breakout Act

Many women’s instinctive reaction to zits is to deal with them like they would a pesky bug – seek and destroy. Out come the medicated treatment creams, along with the strong oil-control cleansers and toners, all designed to “kill”,

These methods may have been a speedy way to make the spots subside when you were a teenager, but they only aggravate the condition and create more problems when you are an adult. That’s because what causes the bulk of adult acne angst is dehydration – and dousing skin with drying products has more negative effects than positive.

Dr Adam Geyer, a dermatologist who works with US brand Kiehl’s on its Dermatologist Solutions products, says many people mistakenly think that if they get rid of all oil, then their acne will clear. “But there has to be a balance. When the skin is over-dried, it plays catch-up and can actually produce more oil, leading to worsening of acne.”

Balance is especially important when it comes to adult skin, which already tends to be drier and thinner compared to that of a teen. Skin needs water to function normally and stay healthy. Without an adequate supply, it’s unable to do everything else, like repair and renewal that help it resist environmental dryness, UV rays, hormonal changes and stress – all of which can irritate oil glands into producing more sebum. When this happens, the excess sebum blocks pores, encouraging bacterial growth and inflammation – pimples, blackheads and whiteheads (those irritating little bumps that appear overnight, never come to a head and disappear of their own accord).

That is why, in line with the needs of adult skin, more and more beauty companies are replacing the old-school shock-and-awe drying blitzes with gentler formulas that tackle breakouts with plenty of moisture and soothing ingredients.