HE.. What Causes Acne

How to treat it:
• AHAs or BHAs: Sloughing off the dead skin can help you avoid clogging the pores in the first place. Salicylic acid is an ideal option for oily skin (it is oil-soluble allowing it to penetrate into the pores), while AHAs like lactic acid are typically more hydrating and more suitable for those with drier or sensitive skin types.
• Retinol: Retinol and retinoids enhance the skin’s normal turnover process to prevent dead skin cells from accumulating in the pore. Osmosis Skincare offers a range of exceptional Retinal Serums utilizing pharmaceutical grade liposomal retinaldehyde and proprietary nutrients beyond the surface to feed and remodel the skin.
• Get regular peels: There may be a genetic component to nodular acne; that said, if you have a family history, regular, in-office chemical peels can help remove excess dead skin and trigger cell turnover—which, in turn, can help prevent clogged pores and nodules with time.
• Pore-clearing masks: Ingredients like activated charcoal and clay are popular in pore-clearing masks, as these draw out excess oil and gunk from the pores, thus preventing blemishes from forming.

Blackheads

Blackheads form the same way whiteheads do (when the pore becomes blocked with gunk and oil) with one difference: they’re considered open comedones. An open comedone, or blackhead, occurs when the debris is exposed to the air, whereas a closed comedone, or whitehead, occurs when the debris is just under the surface of the skin and not exposed to the air. That oxygen exposure is what makes them turn dark in color.

How to treat it.
Blackheads and whiteheads are cut from the same cloth (aside from the oxidation of the plug), so you can treat them pretty similarly:

• AHAs, BHAs & clays: Cleansers with salicylic acid, clay masks, and chemical exfoliants with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids can all help to exfoliate the skin and make your skin less prone to developing blackheads. An excellent option here is Osmosis Skincare’s Deep, a detoxifying cleanser that works to remove deep impurities and promotes an invigorating clean.
• Blackhead removers: You can find a slew of market products dedicated to this very issue, from daily toners to blackhead masks to treatment gels (you won’t find any pore strips—as those do not actually unclog the plug at its source).
• DIY masks: Plenty of natural ingredients can gently dissolve dead skin cells and lift debris from the pores, including Cranberry Enzyme, a key ingredient in Osmosis Skincare’s Cranberry Enzyme Mask.

Subclinical acne
While subclinical acne is not a term used in dermatology, it’s used enough in skin care conversations to earn a spot on our list. Essentially, it’s a fancy way of saying “congested skin,” and it’s synonymous with whiteheads.

These flesh-colored bumps never seem to come to a “head,” but they can progress into pimples or pustules if they become inflamed—which can happen if they’re left untreated. They are non-painful and usually do not lead to scarring or skin discoloration.

How to treat it:
• Salicylic acid: BHAs are superb for comedonal acne, as the ingredient can penetrate deep into the pores and help break up the pore-clogging material.
• Retinol: Again, retinol is A+ for preventing comedones as well. Topical retinoids have a comedolytic effect, meaning that they help to prevent and treat clogged pores. This is the result of their ability to increase the turnover of skin cells and reduce the tendency of cells and keratin debris to clump together.
• Benzoyl peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide can kill acne-causing bacteria and help break up pore-clogging agents, like dead skin cells (which can lead to subclinical acne). If you do use retinols, stick to a benzoyl peroxide face wash in the morning, so you can apply retinol at night as when benzoyl peroxide and retinoids (or retinols) are used in combination, they interact causing both to be less effective.
• Get regular peels: There may be a genetic component to nodular acne; that said, if you have a family history, regular, in-office chemical peels can help remove excess dead skin and trigger cell turnover—which, in turn, can help prevent clogged pores and nodules with time.

Papules