What Do You Do When Blemishes Just Won’t Clear?

Whether you’re male, female, 16 years old or 60 years old, fluctuations in hormone production can lead to blemish breakouts. In fact, blemishes are considered a hormonal skin disorder. It’s ultimately hormones that control the glands in the skin that produce oil, and when those glands overproduce oil, it creates a breeding ground for blemish-causing bacteria.

Is there any real available treatment for a skin condition that’s so unrelenting? Yes. Exfoliating treatments for blemish that were once reserved for a doctor’s visit are making their way to beauty shelves. Here’s the top exfoliation treatments for blemish that yield results on all the stages of blemish, from maskne to hormonal/cyclical blemish.

Retinoids
Retinoids have long been synonymous with anti-ageing treatments, but they got their start as an FDA-approved prescription blemish treatment over 40 years ago. Retinoids have long-been the dermatologist’s choice for stubborn, persistent and chronic blemish conditions because they help resurface the skin. This helps accelerate cell turnover and sweep away dead surface cells that could clog pores (a known blemish-trigger). And, using retinoids with chemical exfoliants can provide even more skin-smoothing effects.

Chemical exfoliating treatments for blemishes
Chemical exfoliants can work individually or together to clear and prevent blemishes. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that removes dull surface cells to smooth and clarify. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that treats blemishes to promote clearer pores and minimise blackheads, whiteheads and spots.

What about skin purging?
Skin purging is when your skin cell turnover rate is accelerated by a product or ingredient, like retinoid. It is possible that your skin will go through a 5- to 10-day purging period as skin is under this accelerated turnover process. But this isn’t out of the ordinary. As frustrating as purging is, remember: once the purge passes, you’re positioned to begin the true treatment phase to keep skin clear, smooth, and refined.