THREE KEY ROUTES TO CLEAR SKIN

Breakouts shake our confidence, especially as they have a tendency to pop up before a special event or when you are feeling most vulnerable. As a holistic skin clinic we recognise that blemishes are caused by a myriad of circumstances, this is why they can be difficult to manage without professional guidance. The dermal treatment of breakouts, supported by internal treatment, employs three key routes on the road to clear skin - below we explain how each plays an integral part in rebalancing skin health.

Targeted exfoliation is a key step in the fight against breakouts - dead skin cells can become trapped in pores, stopping the natural flow of sebum; these blockages are a precursor to all types of blemishes. AHAs and BHAs work by dissolving the ‘glue’ that binds dead skin cells to the surface of the skin, allowing dead skin to shed naturally. AHAs like glycolic acid are water soluble, meaning they work predominantly on the surface of the skin to melt away dead skin cells. For home treatment, you can find a glycolic booster in Medik8's Balance Moisturiser™ . BHAs like salicylic acid are oil-soluble. This means they can penetrate the pore and dissolve deep-seated sebum and impurities. This allows salicylic acid to minimize existing blemishes while preventing new ones. For this reason, salicylic acid is the key ingredient across the entire Medik8 Blemish Skincare Range and is found in our Medi Peels. 

The surface of the skin is home to a delicate ecosystem of billions of living microorganisms. Made up of a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria, this natural microbiome (also known as the acid mantle) acts as our first line of defence against environmental aggressors and other harmful pathogens. In clear healthy skin, the balance is usually tipped in favour of the good bacteria. This is because friendly bacteria will often overpower blemish-causing bacteria (P. acnes). Probiotics and prebiotics can be used, both dermally and internally, to boost good bacteria within the microbiome. When applied topically, pre and probiotics mix with your natural flora to create the perfect environment for good bacteria to flourish. Prebiotics feed the bacteria on our skin (including topically applied probiotics) to make them stronger and therefore are essential for microbiome health. Both prebiotics and probiotics can be found in Balance Moisturiser, a lightweight mattifying moisturiser that delivers all-day hydration and shine control while promoting clear, healthy skin.

It is common knowledge that free radicals are responsible for skin ageing. In fact, these damaging molecules are the main culprits behind a number of other skin issues – including breakouts. When environmental free radicals come into contact with our sebum, they trigger a process known as lipid peroxidation. This alters the molecular structure of sebum so that it becomes a suitable environment for blemish-causing bacteria (P. acnes) to thrive, leading to breakouts. For home use, Medik8 Breakout Defence + Age Repair™ uses the antioxidant copper PCA to protect the skin from free radical damage. This helps to reduce levels of P. acnes on the skin, while shielding collagen from environmental damage. The result is a clear, balanced and stronger skin!