Acne sufferers rejoice! All the years of suffering from unwanted spots and zits may finally pay off as your skin ages.
According to Dr Low Chai Ling, medical director of SW1 Clinic, there is evidence to support that acne sufferers appear to age more slowly than their clear skin counterparts.
A new study from London’s King’s College supports these findings. Patients suffering from acne tend to have more youthful looking skin than those who have never suffered from acne skin in their lifetime. The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reports that those typical signs of aging—think wrinkles and thinning skin—actually appear much later in anyone who suffered from acne.
The reason? Acne-prone skin seems to have longer protective caps on the ends of its telomeres (the chromosomes in white blood cells), which prevent the chromosomes from weakening. As an added bonus, this extra layer of protection also encompasses other typical age-related things, like dark spots and gray hair.
But a word of caution from Dr Low. While having acneic skin may confer these benefits, there are still good reasons to get your acne under control. While acne is a temporary affliction for most of us, acne scarring leaves a very permanent reminder on our skin. Controlling acne can help you enjoy the best of both worlds— having a clear, blemish-free complexion as well as enjoy the benefits of youthful skin in the future.
Here are some tips to combat acne and keep your complexion blemish-free.
#1 PREVENTIVE SKINCARE
Instead of focusing on spot treatments when the spots appear, it’s a good idea to consider ingredients that work to prevent the formation of pimples in the first place. Retinoids, adapalene are derivatives that promote healthy cellular turnover to reduce the formation of comedones and acne in the long run. The key to using these ingredients successfully is to use them in conjunction with a good skin moisturizer and sunscreen as they may cause some amount of peeling and redness when used alone.
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#2 I-CLEAR LIGHT
For those who want a simple, painless skin fix to combat acne, consider blue photobiomodulation lights such as I-Clear. I-Clear is in the perfect wavelength to reduce acne bacteria count on the skin. Patients lie under the panel of blue lights for 20 minutes, a few times a week and will find that their skin progressively clears up over time. When combined with LED Red photobiomodulation light, their skin clearing effect seems to be enhanced.
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#3 FOREVER CLEAR BBL
Forever Clear BBL is a painless light therapy that promotes clearer skinBroadband light therapy is the latest rage for treating acne. They are an upgraded version of IPL but tailored for acne and blemished skin as they do dual duty reducing pimples and clearing superficial marks. The upside of Forever Clear BBL is that treatment is only once a month, and it’s safe for most skin types including expecting mothers.
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#4 MEDICATIONS
Sufferers of severe acne conditions can seek oral interventions. Medications such as isotretinoin, antibiotics and oral contraceptive pills can help improve acne skin. Always speak to your doctor to see if you are a candidate for oral medications.
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#5 DIET
While there is no concrete link between food and acne, there are many anecdotal reports of acne sufferers getting increased outbreaks when they consume large quanities of processed food including sugar. Having a healthy well-balanced diet with minimal processed foods will eventually help your overall skin health. Pop a probiotics supplement to optimize your gut and skin health. Choose a probiotic supplement that can benefit both your gut as well as your skin. Studies have shown an improvement in skin conditions such as eczema and acne in patients who supplement with appropriate probiotic supplements.
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