Acne explained: Which type do you suffer from and how to best treat it

Got a breakout? Suffer from acne but nothing seems to be improving it? The professionals at BC are here to help!

First port of call is understanding acne, as mistreating the type you suffer from can actually have an adverse effect on the health of your skin. Sound familiar?

Acne is one of the most common and frustrating beauty concerns and unfortunately there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treating it.  The skin condition comes in many forms and is triggered by a variety of causes – from oily skin types, to hormone imbalance, bad diet, to simple genetics (thanks parents!) As a result each acne breakout has its own symptoms and therefore needs to be treated in a specific way. By arming yourself with the correct product for your particular breakout, will enable you to not only combat the problem head on, but prevent future breakouts too!

Now read on for our guide to the six most common types of acne and how to best treat them.

Blackheads

Blackheads – technically called ‘open comedones’ – are small bumps that appear on your skin due to clogged hair follicles. They are one of the more mild types of acne and are often experienced by those with oily skin.

Treatment

Using a clay purifying mask once or twice a week will help draw out impurities in the skin. We highly recommend the Phytomer Citylife Radiance Reviving Mask, it instantly draws out impurities, unclogging pores while countering the effects of pollution (dehydration, signs of fatigue, dark spots and dull complexion.)

“I used to suffer from annoying blackheads on my nose and forehead until this became my go-to product. I LOVE it. It reduces the size of my pores (I have oily skin with large pores), eliminates my blackheads and skin looks soo much healthier and glowy after application.” Siobhan

Whiteheads

Similarly to blackheads, whiteheads (also known as ‘closed comedones’) occur when pores on the skin become clogged with dead skin cells, oil and bacteria, however the two forms of acne produce different skin reactions. While blocked pores that stay open form blackheads, a whitehead is a blocked pore that closes, meaning they should be treated quite differently.

Treatment

The most effective ingredient used to treat whiteheads is salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that works to open up your pores.

We LOVE the Pevonia Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. Formulated with Salicylic Acid, Jojoba Seed Extract and Grapefruit oil, it provides gentle but effective exfoliating action to open and clear pores, combatting acne-causing bacteria.

“BEST CLEANSER EVER! I’ve tried so many cleansers with salicylic acid, glycolic acid or a mix of both to help my blemished skin but they are all too drying. This cleanser is by far the best I have ever found. It thoroughly cleans my skin of all makeup and impurities and my skin feels so smooth afterwards. This is a winner!” Shelley

Papules

A papule is technically a small, raised bump on the skin, red in colour and swollen with inflammation. Like most forms of acne, papules are the result of an increase in oil and bacteria trapped inside the pore by dead skin cells. However papules occur when the clogging causes a hair follicle to become inflamed.

Treatment

You can effectively treat papules with drying lotions or spot treatments. They respond specifically well to the ingredient Benzoyl Peroxide. Our customers rave about the Pevonia Spot Treatment rich in Glycolic Acid, Aloe Vera and Benzoyl Peroxide. The Fast-acting and healing treatment combats blemish-causing bacteria and clears pores keeping breakouts at bay.

“This product works WONDERS! It is a dry-it-up product that will zap up those lumpy, red pimples overnight – I have never seen anything remove a pimple so fast. Can’t get enough of it!” Stella

Pustules

If a pore becomes extremely clogged, the skin begins to swell and a pustule is formed. Pustules are essentially infected pores which appear as a white dot surrounded by inflamed, red skin that swells into a bump.

Treatment

Not dissimilar to other forms of less severe acne, pustules are best treated with key ingredients Salicylic Acid and Panthenol. The Phytomer Oligopur Blemish Target Gel is formulated with both key ingredients and effectively reduces existing blemishes while preventing new ones from forming. It also soothes the redness and inflammation to promote a more even complexion.

“This product works almost overnight! It cleared up the tough break outs I had along my jawline that nothing else would.” Anna

Cysts

One of the more extreme forms of acne, cystic breakouts (or cysts) lie deep within the layers of the skin and occur when the pores become blocked and severely infected. They appear as swollen (often painful) lumps under the skin, filled with pus that has nowhere to go. Because they are deep-rooted in the skin tissue they don’t always come to a head and can reappear in the same place and often leave scars.

Treatment

Cystic breakouts call for the big guns! A powerhouse of ingredients to work deep within the skin. We couldn’t recommend the Medicalia Spot Treatment more highly. This potent professional-grade targeted treatment formulated with Mucor Meihei, Phytic Acid, and Sea Whip, diminishes follicular accumulation of keratin, controls bacteria, and reduces inflammation with noticeable improvement in skin healing.  Comedolytic and Keratolytic, this product decreases the risk of scarring and prevents post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

“At the first sign of a breakout, I dab on the treatment and the blemish goes away before it comes to an ugly outcome. I have recommended this to all my friends who are in need. Would recommend it to everyone!!!!” Rose  

Nodules

Like cysts, nodular pimples (nodules) are one of the most severe forms of acne.

They’re slightly different to cysts in that they never form a head, instead just a hard bump under the skin’s surface which tends to be very painful.

Treatment

Nodular acne usually needs pretty intensive treatment so visiting your local salon or spa will be your best bet to finding a solution, however ingredients such as zinc and sulfur can definitely reduce the size of the nodules. Our top pick is the Pevonia SpaTeen Blemish-B-Gone, an alcohol-free targeted treatment which helps to heal all types of blemishes through a Micro-Matrix advanced time-release delivery system with Sulfur, Organic Benzoyl Peroxide and Organic Salicylic Acid.

“I am not a teen but this product works great for my blemishes! It reduces the size of the spots in only one application. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from acne, even the big lumps!” Sarah