Never heard of Skinxiety? It concerns the paranoia, from lockdown, towards the skin of the face. An aesthetic obsession at the sight of even a tiny defect that could be noticed, for example, in a videoconference on Zoom. In everyday life then, thanks to the mask, not only one pimple leads to another, but many people find themselves suffering from maskne. And here it is, both in the case of acne vulgaris – or the appearance of a single pimple, classified as an obstruction of the sebaceous glands – both of more important outlets, 2021 saw a spike in the purchase of anti-spot products.
Many even use them just to treat a trivial localized imperfection. Right or wrong remedy? L’acne, let us remember, it is a skin pathology that develops not only during adolescence but also in adulthood, and for which a dermatological consultation is always recommended, especially to find the right cure. To make sure you are using the right products (and in the correct quantities) especially for temporary outbreaks, we asked the expert for clarification.
«Acne occurs with the appearance of imperfections, in subjects with oily skin and with an increase in the production of sebum. With prolonged use of the mask this phenomenon has become more frequent, mainly on the cheek and chin areas – explains Pietro Viggiano, national skincare talent Sephora – The causes are the mechanical action of the mask on the face, the increase in temperature and humidity with consequent proliferation of bacteria. The main solution is a skincare routine with specific products to deal with this imperfection. In particular, the use of antispots, based on salicylic acid, and soothing products with anti-redness and calming ingredients, with centella asiatica ».
WHO ARE THEY SPECIFIC FOR
Attention, those with combination skin and too sensitive do not overdo it. Because it could get worse instead of better, for example, in dryness. In the case of generalized acne all over the face, however, it is good to use specific cleansing products first. What the expert says: «For example, Ole Henriksen’s Find Your Balance Cleanser is worth, followed by a sebum-regulating tonic such as Pixi’s new Clarity Tonic. However, it is important to properly moisturize the skin with a good face cream with a mat effect. All these products tend to be suitable for a type of oily and sebofluent skin, while they are not suitable for dry or particularly sensitive skin. For the cases of masks, on the other hand, it is preferable to use more localized anti-spot products. For example, the Super Spot Remover from Origins or the Drying Lotion by Mario Badescu, are perfect for this imperfection. Then apply a soothing moisturizer ».
LET’S CLEAR
Anti-spot products, regulating lotions, balance cleansers and exfoliating pads… how many of us have used them, maybe even on the whole face? The question that many are asking, especially those with very delicate and reactive skin, is when these products linked to the name acne should really be used. What the expert says: «The anti-spots must be used specifically when the imperfection is actually present. It often happens that you get carried away, even when you don’t need it, and this could trigger the opposite effect, making the skin even more shiny. I always recommend following a complete skincare routine in the right order: cleanser, toner, serum and face cream, according to the needs of your skin. When you have acne or mask, exfoliating products are absolutely not recommended, as they would irritate, or even worse, stimulate a greater proliferation of bacteria ».
ARE THERE PRODUCTS THAT CAN ALSO BE USED ONLY TO TREAT SPOTS?
Returning to the Skinxiety discourse, there are many people who make a pimple a drama, thinking that soon the whole face could be filled with imperfections. But do they really know how to use them? What the expert says: «The use of these products to treat outbreaks is welcome, the important thing is to use them correctly. It is always important to wash your hands well before applying, avoiding cotton pads that could irritate the affected area even more. As for the products for local use, I recommend tapping them with a cotton swab, mainly in the evening, so that they can work all night. To make the treatments more effective in less time, there are purifying face masks with a frequency of 2 or 3 times a week ».
THESE FORMULATIONS WITH WHAT SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED IN COMBO?
There are ingredients that emphasize the effect of another ingredient, and real enemies that instead could cause spots to appear or make the skin’s texture dull. What the expert says: «In general, all products that contain salicylic acid (sebum regulator) or gotu kola (calming) have no particular problems when used in combo with other active ingredients. Vitamin C can be very useful especially for those people who tend to have post-acne blemishes. I do not recommend using products with strong exfoliating properties, with AHA and BHA, as they would sensitize the skin too much ».
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