Being dirty isn’t cool, but it’s also not causing your pimples
Listen up, fam: did you know microscopic bugs are crawling around on your face RN? Don’t freak out, though! They are called demodex and are totally meant to be there. In fact, you can’t get rid of them and, in any case, they make up part of our body’s vibrant ecosystem. You might as well make friends with them!
Apart from these mites, plenty of other
living bacterial organisms live on our
skin and generally cause us no
harm. Washing your face twice
a day with a cleanser designed
with your skin type in mind
helps to keep them in check
and prevent the bacteria from
wreaking havoc. By not having
a day and night skincare routine,
you run the risk of developing
bacteria-related spots. Gross!
Many people who are consistent in their cleansing, however, still struggle with breakouts. This leads some of them to think that washing their face more regularly throughout the day to ensure squeaky-clean skin at all times is the path to a clear complexion. This, however, is a lie – and one that can have the opposite of the desired effect! When you overwash your skin, you can strip it of the natural oil, or sebum, necessary for optimal skin barrier function. And if this protective
barrier becomes disrupted, things can get a whole lot worse! Not only can this actually kick your skin’s sebum production into overdrive and make oiliness and shine worse, but we’re talking about a range of other not-fun issues, including a compromised skin
barrier (which can allow bacteria into the skin and
lead to infection), sensitivity, redness, itchiness
and flaking. True story.
What can you do to keep your skin clean, clear and pimple-free?
It’s crucial to establish a routine
that you perform every morning
and evening that should include
a moisturiser with ingredients
that suit your skin type and
target your concerns. By not
moisturising, you run the risk of
experiencing excess sebum
production and, as a result, more
breakouts. You should also go easy
on scrubs, as these can break open spots, causing them to: a) spread; and b) become aggravated. And know this, anything that comes into contact with your skin, such as your towels and bed linen, as well as your makeup tools, brushes and sponges, can harbour nasty spot-causing bacteria so it’s crucial you change and wash these things regularly. Your skin will love you for it!
Words: Helen Wallace
Being dirty isn’t cool, but it’s also not causing your pimples
Listen up, fam: did you know microscopic bugs are crawling around on your face RN? Don’t freak out, though! They are called demodex and are totally meant to be there. In fact, you can’t get rid of them and, in any case, they make up part of our body’s vibrant ecosystem. You might as well make friends with them!
Apart from these mites, plenty of other living bacterial organisms live on our skin and generally cause us no harm. Washing your face twice a day with a cleanser designed with your skin type in mind helps to keep them in check and prevent the bacteria from wreaking havoc. By not having a day and night skincare routine, you run the risk of developing bacteria-related spots. Gross!
Many people who are consistent in their cleansing, however, still struggle with breakouts. This leads some of them to think that washing their face more regularly throughout the day to ensure squeaky-clean skin at all times is the path to a clear complexion. This, however, is a lie – and one that can have the opposite of the desired effect! When you overwash your skin, you can strip it of the natural oil, or sebum, necessary for optimal skin barrier function. And if this protective barrier becomes disrupted, things can get a whole lot worse! Not only can this actually kick your skin’s sebum production into overdrive and make oiliness and shine worse, but we’re talking about a range of other not-fun issues, including a compromised skin barrier (which can allow bacteria into the skin and lead to infection), sensitivity, redness, itchiness and flaking. True story.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR SKIN CLEAN, CLEAR AND PIMPLE-FREE?
It’s crucial to establish a routine that you perform every morning and evening that should include a moisturiser with ingredients that suit your skin type and target your concerns. By not moisturising, you
run the risk of experiencing excess sebum production and, as a result, more breakouts. You should also go easy on scrubs, as these can break open spots, causing them to: a) spread; and b) become aggravated. And know this, anything that comes into contact with your skin, such as your towels and bed linen, as well as your makeup tools, brushes and sponges, can harbour nasty spot-causing bacteria so it’s crucial you change and wash these things regularly. Your skin will love you for it!
Words: Helen Wallace
Basking in the sun might feel amazing, but it’s not going to cure your breakouts
One of the things that the sun is good at – aside from making people happy – is drying things out, whether it’s your swimming costume or your load of laundry. This is probably why, for a long time, people have thought that the heat of the sun would dry out ready-to-pop pimples as well as have a drying effect on oily skin. Well, this myth is not only 100% false, but also doing this can actually damage your complexion.
This is Africa and our sun burns hot.
Because of our awesome climate, many of us spend a lot of time outdoors, especially during the summer months. While this might be good for our souls, for our skin? Not so much. And basking in it for hours to dry and diminish your zits? Even worse! In SA, over 20,000 people – a number that is on the increase – are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, many of whom succumb to this mostly preventable type of cancer. The last thing you want is to become another statistic.
Some of the other side effects of sun exposure might be less dangerous but are still pretty bleak. The sun plays a major role in one of the top five biggest skin concerns in the country: hyperpigmentation. It is when your skin produces more dark pigment, called melanin, as a form of UV protection. This can result in patchy areas on the face, and freckles can also become darker.
If you are someone who struggles with breakouts regularly, there’s another type of skin discolouration you need to be worried about: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is when a blemish goes away but leaves behind a dark spot or patch that can stick around for ages, or even forever! As if that wasn’t annoying enough, the affected area can become darker and more pronounced
with prolonged exposure to UV rays – something that is hard to avoid when we live in the balmy Southern Hemisphere.
Need more reasons why staying sun-safe and limiting direct exposure is a good idea? Too much of those warm rays can also lead to premature signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles. The reason for this is that UV rays promote the production of free radicals in the skin, which contribute to the breakdown of the elastin that keeps our skin plump and youthful. So while we might need the sun to get our mandatory dose of vitamin D, too much of it – like many of the best things in life – is not good for you. Sorry!
Is there anything you can do to prevent damage and enjoy your
time outdoors?
Why, yes! First, and most crucial, is that you apply sunscreen daily – even in winter (because UV rays can still penetrate through clouds). Not only that, but reapplying it every few hours or after being outdoors is important for all-day protection. Also, invest in a trendy wide-brimmed hat to keep your face shaded. And no more trying to dry out your spots in the sun – because when you know better, you DO better!
Words: Helen Wallace; Statistic references: cansa.org.za/melanoma/
One of the things that the sun is good at – aside from making people happy – is drying things out, whether it’s your swimming costume or your load of laundry. This is probably why, for a long time, people have thought that the heat of the sun would dry out ready-to-pop pimples as well as have a drying effect on oily skin. Well, this myth is not only 100% false, but also doing this can actually damage your complexion.
This is Africa and our sun burns hot.
Because of our awesome climate, many of us spend a lot of time outdoors, especially during the summer months. While this might be good for our souls, for our skin? Not so much. And basking in it for hours to dry and diminish your zits? Even worse! In SA, over 20,000 people – a number that is on the increase – are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, many of whom succumb to this mostly preventable type of cancer. The last thing you want is to become another statistic.
Some of the other side effects of sun exposure might be less dangerous but are still pretty bleak. The sun plays a major role in one of the top five biggest skin concerns in the country: hyperpigmentation. It is when your skin produces more dark pigment, called melanin, as a form of UV protection. This can result in patchy areas on the face, and freckles can also become darker.
If you are someone who struggles with breakouts regularly, there’s another type of skin discolouration you need to be worried about: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is when a blemish goes away but leaves behind a dark spot or patch that can stick around for ages, or even forever! As if that wasn’t annoying enough, the affected area can become darker and more pronounced with prolonged exposure to UV rays – something that is hard to avoid when we live in the balmy Southern Hemisphere.
Need more reasons why staying sun-safe and limiting direct exposure is a good idea? Too much of those warm rays can also lead to premature signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles. The reason for this is that UV rays promote the production of free radicals in the skin, which contribute to the breakdown of the elastin that keeps our skin plump and youthful. So while we might need the sun to get our mandatory dose of vitamin D, too much of it – like many of the best things in life – is not good for you. Sorry!
Is there anything you can do to prevent damage and enjoy your
time outdoors?
Why, yes! First, and most crucial, is that you apply sunscreen daily – even in winter (because UV rays can still penetrate through clouds). Not only that, but reapplying it every few hours or after being outdoors is important for all-day protection. Also, invest in a trendy wide-brimmed hat to keep your face shaded. And no more trying to dry out your spots in the sun – because when you know better, you DO better!
Words: Helen Wallace; Statistic references: cansa.org.za/melanoma/
