Rosemary BarclayAcne specialist, Rosemary Barclay, shares specific products that can help clear your face for good.
There are many different types of acne, such as inflamed, cystic, non- inflamed acne, acne fulminans, and acne mechanical, each requiring a specific approach and treatment regimen. Each of these forms of acne is caused by different triggers which explain while treatment for all these diverse forms of acne using the same method will not bring success. Rosemary Barclay, owner and founder of Bonne Santé Wellness Center in Old Lyme, CT, explains how to treat specific types of acne.
The first step is to identify the type of acne you have before treating your skin. Rosemary Barclay recommends visiting an acne specialist who can identify your specific type of acne. Using the right products will speed up the healing time of acne while preventing new ones from forming.
Mild Inflamed acne can be reduced significantly by Incorporating a consistent cleansing routine and just as you treat a sports inflammatory condition, ice can help but remember not to apply ice directly to the skin. Rosemary Barclay suggests wrapping a piece of ice in a paper towel and running it over the inflamed areas. She recommends focusing on exfoliation and the use of natural anti-inflammatory products.
Unclogging pores is made possible through exfoliation, the process of removing a build up of dead skin cells and extra oil. Acne prone individuals shed skin at a faster rate than others. An anaerobic environment is created in clogged pores that receive little to no oxygen, the perfect playground for bacteria. Continually exfoliating will help you prevent this issue and get your clogged pores under control.
Natural anti-inflammatory products will reduce the pain and swelling that goes hand in hand with inflamed acne. For mild acne simply treating the skin with honey, manuka honey, in particular, relieves acne. Manuka honey contains a natural anti-bacterial and adding a few drops of tea tree oil to it can further alleviate inflammation.
Anti-bacterial products target special p. acne bacteria, which is responsible for inflammation. Again, Rosemary Barclay reminds acne prone individuals to take constant preventative measures, even when the skin starts to look better. Be on the lookout for acne-fighting ingredients like green tea, chamomile, lactic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and mandelic acid. Essential oils like sweet basil and holy basil also afford natural anti-inflammatory properties but these should never be used neat.
Using a consistent combination of all these product types has been shown to be very effective in treating inflamed acne. Beware of rubbing or scrubbing these products onto inflamed acne lesions, however, as this can cause larger breakouts and scars. Most of all remember not to over-treat the skin with harsh chemicals as this may, in turn, lead to dry skin and ultimately overproduction of sebum. If you deplete the skin of natural oils by over exfoliating it, the natural reaction will be to produce more oils! Limit exposure to the sun as the UV rays may cause hyperpigmentation of acne scars.
About Rosemary Barclay
Rosemary Barclay believes that nutrition is fundamental to good health, and affects many facets of well-being including the skin, energy, immunity, mood, and performance. The Bonne Santé Wellness Center in Old Lyme, CT, offers solutions to problematic skin without the use of antibiotics or harsh chemicals.
She earned a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in biochemistry in addition to becoming a board-certified nutrition specialist, certified esthetician, and acne specialist. Rosemary Barclay lives in Old Lyme, CT.
