June is Acne Awareness month, so this month we will be shedding some light on those breakouts and giving you some tips on how to prevent and treat.

First, it’s important to understand the different kinds of acne there are.

Comedonal acne usually arises from excess oil in the skin that mixes with our dead skin cells. These are blackheads. Whiteheads are the same, but with skin growing over the opening. Most of the time, comedonal acne is caused by makeup and hair products, excessive sweating, and humidity.

With this type of acne, it is extremely important to wash your face every night (makeup or no makeup!) and exfoliate! It is still possible to have extremely dry skin and acne at the same time, so it is important to choose your cleansers and exfoliants based on your skin type. Products that contain salicylic acid, clay masks, pore strips, and even blotting sheets are all key products to treating this type of acne.

Papular acne are those painful, inflamed pink bumps that pop up every so often. These are caused by clogged pores getting infected by bacteria. They are most often caused by hormonal changes, stress, and humidity. As stated above, the best treatment is washing your face daily. Continue with your usual skin care routine, and just let it heal. If you use any salicylic acid, follow up with SPF, because it will make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

The last type of acne is cystic. This is acne at its worst, and these can easily leave scars. The worst part about cystic acne is it is typically genetic and due to overactive oil glands. There is not much you can do to prevent this kind of acne if you do have it, but there is definitely treatment. Talking to a dermatologist is the best course of action.

Thankfully the world of skin care has your back. There are many different products and techniques available on the market. We recommend to always have the following products in your regimen to fight breakouts: a good exfoliator, a cleansing wash with salicylic acid, toner, a replenishing serum, a moisturizer, and an SPF!

Kerstin Florian has a great 4-step system to improve the look of your skin and control the breakouts. The Balanced & Bright Kit (valued at $60) contains their Oil-Control Cleanser and Toner, their Clarifying Exfoliating Scrub, and their Daily Hydrator. Another great option is Intraceuticals’ Clarity treatment line which includes a cleanser, a powerful acne fighting treatment gel, and a wand for spot treatment.

Acne plagues everyone, but it doesn’t have to get you down. Find a skin care regimen that suits you, try not to touch your face throughout the day (and keep that phone of yours clean!), and above all else, don’t blame yourself.

Stop by Skincare Butik for a complementary skin consultation and give your skin a jump start with our special Clear Complexion Summer Facial, $99

By: Maddi McDonel

Credit: MichellePhan