Why do I still get acne?
Breaking the Trouble Algorithm
The turn of the new year is a great time for us to take stock of our personal goals and to take action to achieve them. It’s especially after the leeway we give ourselves during the holiday season to party it up, sleep late, and skimp on our usual eight glasses of water that we might really see a reason to get everything back on track.
If you struggle with even the occasional flare up of acne or struggle with an uneven skin tone, you might be interested in learning more about the trouble algorithm that’s keeping your skin from reaching its full potential.
What is the trouble algorithm?
You’ve heard of the Instagram algorithm, the TikTok algorithm, and maybe even the Netflix algorithm - these are basically sets of instructions that determine output based on individual user input. If you’re enjoying reels about new restaurants in town, the algorithm will adapt to show you even more. If you’re looking at lots of posts about your next travel destination, you can bet your feed will be sending lots more gorgeous shots your way.
Skin troubles can work in a similar fashion. Your input determines the output: sensitized skin leads to slow skin cell turnover, which leads to dead skin cell buildup, which leads to excessive sebum production and the oxidation of sebum, which leads to clogged pores, which leads to acne, bumpy skin, and a patchy appearance. Even if you spot treat your skin troubles, your skin can remain sensitized and reactive, and as long as your input is “sensitized skin”, your output will likely remain “troubled skin”.
How do you break the trouble algorithm?
Input determines output so, logically, you’re going to have to make a change that disrupts the cycle. You have to tell the algorithm that you want to see something else.
Let’s nip sensitized skin in the bud.
The first thing you need to do is to rid yourself of known irritants. If a new skincare product is causing a reaction, stop its use immediately. Next, choose products with soothing properties to calm your skin. Products that contain niacinamide, centella asiatica, and aloe can help put your skin back into a state of relaxation.
Once your skin is back to normal, it’s time to gently exfoliate. Something gentle, whether it be a chemical exfoliant or a physical exfoliant, will help remove the buildup of dead skin cells and debris on your skin’s surface and get all the nasties out of your pores. This will help your skin to breathe again and set it back on the path of healthy skin cell turnover.
And as we speak of skin cell turnover, products containing retinols can also help with that! A good skin cell turnover cycle means that dead skin cells don’t have the opportunity to continue sitting on the surface of your skin, attracting dirt and dust, and blocking moisture.
Of course, the cycle wouldn’t be complete without good moisturization. Managing your skin’s oil water balance is a great way of keeping your moisture barrier strong and working well so that it is able to defend itself against that which may cause skin sensitivity.
No matter where you find yourself in the trouble algorithm, the best way out is to make a change. Frequent breakouts can be a sign that something is still missing.
Where can I start?
INNISFREE’s Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule has been a game-changer for when troubled skin rears its head. Its 95% pure retinol means it can help to exfoliate dead skin cells and firm enlarged pores and it’s Jeju Cica Liposomlogy™ helps to relieve skin from temporary irritation caused by external factors and soothe my skin. It also contains niacinamide which, over time, can help lessen the appearance of acne scars and old blemishes.
If you haven’t tried it before, it’s always a good idea to do a patch test to make sure your skin agrees with your choice.
New year, new you!
It’s time to leave the #TroubleAlgorithm behind.
x
Gi