Having problems with your skin is an issue that is true for everyone at every age. There’s nothing worse than battling acne in your teenage years, only to hit your 20s and 30s and suddenly be blessed with a whole slew of new skin concerns. From those tiny white spots to cystic pimples, red blotches and persistent dry patches – adult skin concerns can be the absolute pits. Not only can they affect you physically, but your self-esteem can take a real hit, too.
The good news? There are a lot of effective treatments that can help treat and resolve these issues. At different ages, you will need skincare that addresses specific skin issues. But some skin concerns are common throughout. Our skincare experts have curated a list of some of the most common skin concerns, and offer the best advice on understanding, preventing, and treating them.
Read below to find out more!
White spots
What are they?
While those tiny white bumps sitting underneath your skin can be easily mistaken for whiteheads, they’re actually called milia. Milia are small, white, dome-shaped superficial keratin cysts with no visible opening that commonly occur on the face, especially around the eye area.
###How can I fix them? If you’re lucky they’ll usually clear up by themselves. But depending on your skin type, milia in adults can be quite stubborn and you’ll often find that they hang for weeks or even months.
The reason they stick around for so long is because milia have no opening on the surface and cannot be extracted like a blackhead. They can be removed with a surgical blade or laser ablation. Milia should only be treated by a professional and never squeezed at home. Squeezing these white spots not only creates inflammation that can lead to red marks and indents, but it can also lead to scarring. So, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.
Incorporating exfoliating actives into your skincare routine can also help. Products with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) and vitamin A can assist in cell turnover and the removal of dead skin cells. If you’re looking for something with these ingredients, try Skin Virtue Super Clear Essential Cream.
Dark patches
What are they?
Dark patches, often known as hyperpigmentation, is a common skin concern where patches of skin appear darker than the surrounding skin. These patches are caused by excess melanin production in the skin, usually as a result of UV exposure, ageing, or hormonal changes.How can I fix them?
When it comes to prevention, our experts say that the best way to avoid hyperpigmentation is to use SPF every single day, even on days when it’s not sunny out. It’s best to treat inflammatory skin concerns (such as acne) as soon as they occur, in order to avoid developing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or marks and scarring from breakouts.
As for treatment of existing hyperpigmentation, there’s a few key ingredients you should look out for. The best way to treat dark patches is to incorporate brightening active ingredients that can lighten pigmentation and reduce melanin production.
Vitamin C is another expert-approved ingredient for tackling skin concerns like dark patches. It protects skin cells from oxidative stress which would otherwise trigger the tyrosinase enzyme, which catalyses the production of melatonin.
Another powerhouse ingredient? Niacinamide. This guy is a fantastic ingredient that offers a whole heap of benefits when it comes to improving the tone and texture of the skin. It also improves redness and has a brightening effect. What’s more, niacinamide helps to reduce breakouts, meaning it will help reduce the chance of developing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Paired together, vitamin C and niacinamide are a powerful combination. They have different mechanisms of action and work in different ways, but together they tackle pigmentation superbly. A good skin brightening cream will include this combination and target hyperpigmentation. If you’re looking for where to start, we recommend trying Skin Virtue Future Advanced Skin Brightening Cream.
Finally, surface exfoliation with glycolic acid also helps with cell renewal, wrinkle filling, turnover and subsequently has a brightening effect.
Red blotches
What are they?
Red blotches, or flushing, is a skin concern that can be caused by a range of conditions such as rosacea, sensitive skin, allergies or inflammation.The health of our skin is dependent on the health of our skin barrier and its ability to repair itself. So, if you have an impaired skin barrier function, you may be more sensitive to irritation and prone to dryness. Our skin barrier is our first line of defence against irritants and if it is weakened our skin becomes more permeable, allowing for easier access to irritants. This can lead to allergic, inflamed, sensitised, and irritated skin that can make your skin red and blotchy,” she said.
How can I fix them?
To start, you’re going to want to look for ingredients that are good for sensitive skin and will help soothe, nourish and protect your skin. It is important to use products with ingredients that fortify the skin barrier function and optimise the skin’s ability to guard against irritants. If red blotches and flushing last longer than six weeks or persistently recurring, then you need to see a dermatologist.
To boost the protective abilities of the skin barrier and help reduce redness and rosacea, we suggest reaching for ultra-moisturizing products that will help replenish the skin’s barrier, like Skin Virtue’s Pure Nourish Moisturising Cream.
Cystic pimples
What are they?
Acne is not just a teenage concern. It’s actually really common to suffer from some form of acne in your adult years. A whopping 80 percent of people will experience acne between the onset of puberty and 30 years of age.Cystic inflammatory acne (the pimples that sit deep below your skin) is one of the more common types of adult acne, and it can be a tricky concern to treat. While adult acne can be caused by several different factors, fluctuations in hormone levels are one of the main causes. These shifts in hormone levels – particularly when testosterone spikes - can stimulate the production of sebum and acne-causing bacteria, which can cause clogged pores and breakouts. These hormonal-related breakouts usually pop up on the chin, jawline, and cheeks.
But it’s not just your hormones you have to worry about. Things like stress can also make acne worse. What fun! When you’re stressed, your body releases high levels of cortisol – a hormone that triggers your oil glands to produce more oil, which then results in acne flare-ups.
How can I fix them?
The good news is that treatment options for acne have come a long way, so there are a bunch of different at-home and in-clinic options that help you get your skin back on track.
Alright, your options. In terms of skincare, it’s best to avoid going too hard on active ingredients - because you could end up doing your skin more harm than good. While we tend to reach for deep pore cleansing foaming cleaners, drying lotions, and spot treatments to calm down our breakouts, harsher products can often make things a lot worse on the acne front.
We recommend incorporating soothing and anti-inflammatory products into your routine – those that incorporate ingredients such as niacinamide, green tea, marine active laminaria saccharina or botanical edelweiss extract. Ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, (AHAs) beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) and vitamin A are all great for reducing dead skin cell build-up and removing dead skin from your pores, but as we said before – these kinds of actives are powerful and can turn on you if you’re not careful.
If you’re looking for where to find products that will help decongest your skin without the irritation, check out Skin Virtue’s Super Clear Collection. The products in this range are safe for allergic, reactive and sensitive skin, and will help remove impurities and regulate oil production without stripping and upsetting the skin.
Finally, in-clinic treatments like microdermabrasion, facial peels, and light therapy are some of the most popular treatments for tackling acne. If over-the-counter treatments don’t seem to be settling your breakouts, it’s best to check in with a dermatologist to discuss your options.
Oh, and one more thing – if you suffer from breakouts on the regular, you should always look for non-comedogenic formulations when it comes to skincare and makeup. This means the products won’t close your pores.
It’s important to remember that acne is not a one-size-fits all kind of thing – so you’re always best checking in with a dermatologist or skin expert to find out the correct treatment program and skincare routine for your skin.
Dry patches
What are they?
Whether it’s due to environmental conditions, allergies or sensitivity, skin can often become uncomfortable or itchy due to dehydration. And while it’s a very common skin concern, it’s often not treated like one.Dehydration coincides with a compromised skin barrier. As a result, the skin is unable to hold on to moisture and experiences transepidermal water loss (TEWL). While it’s a normal thing that happens to everyone, it can be exacerbated by environmental changes, damage to the skin, and harsh skincare products.
How can I fix them?
To combat this, our experts recommend incorporating a series of moisture-boosting skincare products into your daily routine. Moisture should be introduced into the skin with serums such as Future Advanced Radiance Serum or with Future Advanced Serumist ® and locked in with lipid-rich formulations such as Pure Nourish Moisturising Cream.Everyone aspires to have healthy skin and a bright complexion. Years of research support the approach to skincare that we adopt at Skin Virtue. Because of this, our products combine the highest-quality ingredients to address the needs of your skin. Use our skincare routine builder to build yourself a tailored skincare routine. All of our collections are made ethically. To learn more about our range, contact us.
Do you suffer from any of the above skin concerns, if you do, please contact us at skincare@skinvirtue.com so we can help you?