Treating Breakouts With Dermalogica

Breakout experts at Dermalogica Clear Start have talked us through why young skins break out and what you can do to minimize spots and the pigmented marks they leave behind.

But, why do younger skins tend to be more oilier and breakout more frequently? One word, hormones! When we reach our teens and early 20's elevated sex and growth hormones drive skin to produce more oil and skin cells, making skin become more greasy and leads to clogged pores.

Younger skins easily become more congested and without a consistent daily regime, breakouts will develop. We often find people with oily, breakout prone skin can make the problem worse by either not moisturising, over stripping the skin with astringent formulas, or not effectively cleansing the skin daily.

What products should I use daily to keep my skin clear and healthy?

Dermalogica formulated Clear Start, designed especially for younger, breakout-prone skin. Clear Start combines potent, breakout-fighting ingredients with gentle, soothing botanicals to leave skin clear and comfortable. We have put together a simple 3 step regime to help clear breakouts and achieve a healthy-looking glow.

Step 1 – CLEANSE

Deep cleanse and purify skin with Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash - clears away trapped and excess oil, dulling dead skin cells and unblocks pores preventing any further breakouts and leaves skin looking brighter and free from blemishes.

Step 2 – TREAT

Target active, inflamed breakouts with Breakout Clearing Booster - contains salicylic acid to help kill breakout causing bacteria for rapid skin clearing, and niacinamide that reinforces skins defensive barrier and helps even skin tone.

Step 3 – MOISTURISE

Hydrate your skin but control oil with Cooling Aqua Jelly - a water gel texture that is refreshing to the skin, providing immediate hydration. Pores are reduced in size and texture refined.

Is it true that oily skins or those with teen acne don’t need to moisturise?

Many people think moisturising will make them breakout or just add unwanted grease and shine. However, the skin produces more oil to compensate for the lack of moisture and we enter a viscous cycle. We notice dehydration on a lot of younger skins due to harsh, drying products that claim to get rid of breakouts, but at the same time they strip the skin of essential moisture. A hydrated skin functions much more effectively, in fact the natural shedding of dead skin can’t happen when skin is dehydrated and holding onto dead skin is a key contributor to congestion and breakouts.

How and why do spots develop and why do we get a dark mark afterwards?

Breakouts develop when a pore becomes congested. Dead skin cells and excess oil quickly form a plug in the pores cutting off the oxygen supply to the base of the pore. This is where spot causing bacteria starts to thrive and grow. As the pore becomes engorged with bacteria growth, the skins immunity kicks in to deal with the infection. This is where we see and feel the redness and swelling in a newly formed spot. As the infection is dealt with, we see puss at the head of the spot and if we can resist squeezing it, eventually the spot will recede and heal. Due to the inflammatory process during a breakout, skin pigment is produced leaving behind a mark. This is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH.

Why is it not ok to squeeze spots?

Any professional skin therapist will tell you not to squeeze and for good reason. As we discussed with spot formation, there is infection and inflammation happening in the skin. When we come in with our fingers and pop the spot, we are causing more trauma and it runs the risk of spreading the infection. You may notice after squeezing a spot that another develops close by. By squeezing you are also extending the healing time, as the skin now has to repair the damage to the pore from squeezing it. Constant picking and squeezing means a higher risk for scarring due to the damage caused and the likelihood is you’ll see more PIH, which will take longer to fade.

clear start. clear conscience. clear skin. cleaner planet.

recycled plastic + forest-certified paper

In 2020, we began incorporating recycled plastic into our Clear Start packaging materials. All our cartons use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper and several of our products are sold without cartons to reduce waste.

cruelty-free + certified vegan

We are recognized as cruelty free by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and Leaping Bunny. Plus, all of the Clear Start products are certified as vegan.

no artificial colours or fragrances

Dermalogica has been clean since 1986. Our formulas are free of artificial colours and fragrances, mineral oil, lanolin, S.D. alcohol, parabens and microplastics.