Q & A about Acne Prone Skin

• Do Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin products help relieve seborrhoeic eczema?
• What do you do if you have combination skin?
• How do you care for your skin during pregnancy?
• Why and when should you use a scrub?
• How does acne develop?
• What’s the difference between whiteheads and blackheads?
• What triggers acne?
• Which type of skin care products are appropriate for acne prone skin?
• Is it advisable to pop acne?
• What’s the difference between inflamed and non-inflamed acne?
• Is acne triggered by the weather?
• Is there a link between diet and acne?
• What skin type is more prone to acne and what can be said about over-cleansing?
• What are some of the common active ingredients that are contained in the acne medication?

Do Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin products help relieve seborrhoeic eczema?

Seborrhoeic eczema occurs in various forms in infants and adults. We do not really know what causes this condition, but in many cases, sebaceous glands produce an excess of sebum (oil). Since it´s easily confused with psoriasis, you may want to get the opinion of more than one dermatologist.

Make sure to cleanse skin regularly to help remove excess sebum. Use oil-free products (you want to eliminate oil, not add more). You do want to use a daily moisturizer especially if you are on medications which dry you out, such as isotretinoin. We suggest cleansing with Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin Sebum Reducing Cleansing Gel followed by Clarifying Facial Tonic. Follow with Skin Regulating Cream-Gel as your oil-free daily moisturizer.

What do you do if you have combination skin?

Having dry skin (for example, on your cheeks) and oily skin in the T-zone is actually quite common. You probably thought oily skin, blemishes and acne would go away once you headed into adulthood. Unfortunately, that´s often not the case. Hormone fluctuations induced by puberty and stress change the way the sebaceous glands react to testosterone. As a result, the glands produce more sebum (oil). This oil plugs the skin follicles, bacteria begin to grow and the area becomes inflamed. The combination of these (excess oil, irregular removal of dead skin cells and bacteria) leads to blemishes and acne, symptoms of which include pimples, blackheads, dilated pores, shiny or irritated areas.

Consistently following a daily skincare regimen can help balance both the dry and oily areas. We suggest cleansing with Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin Sebum Reducing Cleansing Gel. This gentle cleanser removes the excess oil from the skin, while effectively fighting bacteria without leaving your skin feeling tight or dry. Follow with Clarifying Tonic which contains Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin´s key ingredient: Lactic Acid. Known to fight bacteria and exfoliate skin, Lactic Acid is also one of skin´s own natural moisturizing factors (NMF´s). Apply Skin Regulating Cream-Gel as your oil-free daily moisturizer.

If your skin remains very dry in certain areas (such as your cheeks), you can use an additional moisturizing cream after applying the Cream-Gel. We suggest Eucerin Sensitive Facial Skin Hydrobalance or Dry Skin Relief Face Cream with 5% Urea.

How do you care for your skin during pregnancy?

Since puberty you have only had a few blemishes. Now you´re pregnant and your complexion looks like a teenager´s again. You need something to improve your skin, but you certainly don´t want to use anything which would harm your baby.

You can safely use Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin products during pregnancy and while nursing. Eucerin® places high demands on its formulas. We test all products for safety and skin compatibility prior to putting them on the market. We select only high quality ingredients and use them in safe concentrations for cosmetic products.

The Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin range contains Lactic Acid, skin´s own natural moisturizing factor (NMF) found in its top layers. It does not penetrate into the deeper skin layers, so it´s safe to use during pregnancy. Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin Sebum Reducing Cleansing Gel does contain salicylic acid in a very low concentration (considerably lower than 1%). It is used in this product exclusively as a preservative. You should not use concentrations of salicylic acid greater than 1% during pregnancy. Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin Sebum Reducing Cleansing Gel does not reach this limit and is safe to use.

Why and when should you use a scrub?

A mechanical peeling with coarse-grained, sharp edged particles could obviously damage the outer layer of the skin and impair its protective function. When we developed Eucerin® Acne Prone Skin Daily Scrub, we definitely took this into consideration. We purposely selected mild peeling particles and tensides to make the scrub appropriate for daily use. Its key ingredient, Lactic Acid, also supports exfoliation, not in a mechanical way, but chemically. It´s the skin´s own alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) responsible for mild exfoliation. The Lactic Acid, found in the beads of the Daily Scrub, releases into the formula as you cleanse. We recommend using Clarifying Facial Tonic after Daily Scrub followed by Skin Regulating Cream-Gel as your oil-free daily moisturizer.

You should not use a scrub or peeling before you go to a tanning studio. From a dermatological point of view, you should not visit tanning studios because of the intense UV exposure, which can lead to serious skin damage. A peeling would additionally reduce the effectiveness of the skin´s outer layer to protect from light and would further intensify UV exposure.

How does acne develop?

Acne is a condition that affects the pilo sebaceous unit, which is also known as our oil gland that produces sebum, keeping our skin moisturize and hydrated. Acne normally starts with the occlusion of this unit at the pores where the glands get obstructed and oil gets clogged up, causing a small lesion or bump on the surface. These lesions are called micro comedones, or more commonly known as whiteheads and blackheads.

What's the difference between whiteheads and blackheads?

Whiteheads are also known as closed comedones, where the pores are closed/tight with the occluded sebum kept within the gland. There'll also be a small papule or lesion appearing from the surface of the skin.
Blackheads are commonly referred to as open comedones, where the pores are partially open, allowing sebum to seep through which causes the sebum to become oxidized.

What triggers acne?

Genetics and stress are the most common causes of acne development, as this can be inherited and set off by all types of stress. This does not only include work stress, but also physical stress that is caused by activities such as irregular sleeping patterns and lack of sleep.
Besides that, hormonal changes also play a role in generating acne. The increase in hormones called Androgens (male sex hormones) in both boys and girls during puberty causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting and stopping of birth control pills can also cause acne.

Which type of skin care products are appropriate for acne prone skin?

As a rule of thumb, all oil-based products (both skin care and cosmetics) should be avoided as this will trigger breakouts on your skin which is already oily by nature. The best move is to choose appropriate skin care products that actually balance your skin in such a way that the oil levels are regulated.

Is it advisable to pop acne?

Whatever you do, never pop your pimples and zits, as this will increase the risk of scarring and flare-ups. These should pop naturally by itself, when it is ready to be discharged. In the meantime, you can soothe it by applying suitable over-the-counter products such as drying agents and cover creams.

What's the difference between inflamed and non-inflamed acne?

While non-inflamed acne comprises of whiteheads and blackheads, inflamed acne comprise of the following:
a. Papules: Inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch.
b. Pustules: Papules topped by white or yellow pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base.
c. Nodules: Large, painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin.
d. Cysts: Deep, painful, pus-filled lesions that can cause scarring.

Is acne triggered by the weather?

Acne breakouts can occur when a person is exposed to a hot and humid climate, as this triggers the oil gland activity. In the instance that a person has the tendency to have a lot of body heat or sweat profusely, causing the body to be sweaty and sticky, body acne can occur as well, on top of facial acne.

Is there a link between diet and acne?

Up till now, there has been no conclusive link or evidence between diet and acne, except for seafood. Seafood contains high levels of iodine, which can make existing acne worse but would probably not cause an acne outbreak.

As for other variations of food (e.g. chocolates, herbs, etc.), these are mainly based on an individual basis because different people react differently to various types of food. So, if one finds that certain types of food aggravates acne then the sensible thing to do is to avoid it.

What skin type is more prone to acne and what can be said about over-cleansing?

Oily skin is the most susceptible to developing acne as this skin type produces more oil compared to dry skin. As for over-cleansing, we are strongly advised against over-scrubbing our face as an effort to make it cleaner. As a matter of fact, this strips off the keratin layer (top skin layer) of our skin and can cause scaling of the skin.

What are some of the common active ingredients that are contained in the acne medication?

a. Zinc Peroxide: Acts as a drying agent.
b. Benzoyl Peroxide: Helps reduce oil production.
c. Resorcinol & Salicylic Aced: Breaks down blackheads and whiteheads.
d. Antibiotics (Retromixin): Helps to stop or slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Please note that these ingredients should be taken on a case-by-case basis, as different people react differently. Should your acne condition get too severe, you are strongly advised to seek medical attention at your nearest clinic immediately.