The best skincare routine for acne, explained by experts


Acne is an inflammatory skin condition, with blackheads, whiteheads and pus-filled spots found most often on the face, chest and back.

According to Dr Justine Kluk of British Association of Dermatologists, as many as 95 per cent of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by acne at some point in their lives, and for many, it continues well into adulthood.

“It is also a condition which can have an enormous psychological impact on people. A recent survey found that 54 per cent of British adults who have had acne feel that it has had a negative impact on their self-confidence,” she says.

Dr Kluk also adds: "If you have acne-prone skin, seek to use non-oily products and look for products that are labelled non-comedogenic, which means that it is less likely to cause acne."

Non-comedogenic is a term used to describe skincare and make-up products that won't clog pores that often lead to further breakouts.

While acne typically presents during puberty due to the sudden increase in hormones, there are other triggers in adulthood too as, Dr Justine Hextall, a consultant dermatologist, explains.

“It is common to see acne suddenly in women in their thirties who have stopped a long term contraceptive pill or implant in order to become pregnant.”

She adds: “Sometimes work stress or moving to a new city with more pollution or different water can exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions. A great routine, medical treatment and getting to the root of the problem can go a long way to treating acne.”

While there’s no cure for acne, these are steps you can take to fine-tune your skincare regimen to reduce breakouts and manage them when they occur. To equip you with the best tools, this is the expert-approved routine to follow.

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