Girls’ Life – July 2019

BEAUTY

GL AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2019 37

I.D. YOUR ACNE

COMEDONAL INFLAMMATORY CYSTIC

Here’s *exactly* how to break down your breakouts—because identifying your zit is the first step to treating it.

WHITEHEADS PAPULES CYSTS & NODULES

PUSTULES

BLACKHEADS

THE ZIT: Tiny white dots

THE CAUSE: The *closed* pore gets

clogged with sebum and skin cells.

YOUR MOVE: Stay clean (but you knew

that, right?) and exfoliate regularly. These

clogged hair follicles are eradicated most

easily through chemical exfoliation, which

you can achieve by working salicylic acid

into your regimen (try a cleanser or toner).

“Comedones [clogged pores] also respond

very well to retinol treatment,” says Dr.

Shari Sperling of Sperling Dermatology.

“I suggest Differin, which is available OTC

and uses adapalene, an active retinoid,

to balance skin cell production and

reduce inflammation.”

THE ZIT: An inflamed, irritated red bump

THE CAUSE: Swollen, slightly painful

pimples are also the result of bacteria

trapped in clogged pores. Your bod’s

immune system is sending cells to fight

the infection—ouch.

YOUR MOVE: “Inflamma-

tory cysts respond best to

benzoyl peroxide, which

penetrates into the pore

to kill the bacteria,” says

Dr. Sperling. Smooth on

a spot treatment in the

a.m. and p.m.

THE ZIT: Deep-rooted pimples that sit

beneath the skin’s surface • Cysts are

filled with pus, while nodules are not

THE CAUSE: Hormones! (Which is why

they’re so much trickier to treat.)

YOUR MOVE: Do. Not. Try. To. Pop. These.

(K? Thanks!) If you’re dealing with

extreme acne, seek out a doc—they’ll

likely recommend a regimen or RX antibi-

otic. “For scarring acne or resistant acne,

discuss options like Accutane with your

dermatologist,” says Dr. Sperling. (Just be

sure to ask about any risks or side effects

of any treatment plan you consider.)

THE ZIT: A pus-filled bump just *begging*

to be popped

THE CAUSE: See above: It’s basically

a mini infection in your face.

YOUR MOVE: You can pop it...but proceed

with caution. Use a warm compress to

draw all the gross stuff to the surface,

clean the area (and your fingers) with a

swipe of salicylic acid and then gently

squeeze. It should burst open easily—and

if it doesn’t, stop immediately or

risk scarring.

THE ZIT: Tiny black dots

THE CAUSE: The *open* pore gets clogged

with sebum, dead skin and bacteria, then

reacts with oxygen to turn black.

YOUR MOVE: Follow the whitehead

regimen above, but also call in a bit more

backup—like a clay mask to suck out oil or

a pore strip that targets trouble areas.

Versed Find Clarity Purify-

ing Mask, $10, Target

Differin Gel, $13, drugstores

AcneFree Terminator 10,

$5, acnefree.com

C&C by Clean &

Clear Over Zit

Spot Patches,

$16, Ulta

CRUCIAL

REMINDER

PLEASE. WEAR.

YOUR. SPF.

Think you can say bye to the

’block just because beach season

is over? When you’re treating

acne—and using chemical actives

like salicylic acid and benzoyl

peroxide on your face—it’s espe-

cially important to use SPF 30

on the daily. Slather on, sister.

Supergoop!

Superscreen Daily

Moisturizer, $38,

supergoop.com

HI-TECH

SKIN

HACKS

Harness SONIC POWER

For serious exfoliation, this 60-second

device accelerates your skin’s surface

cell renewal by powerfully polishing

away the dead stuff.

Clarisonic Sonic Exfoliator (attaches to any

Clarisonic device), $39, clarisonic.com

Enlist LIGHT THERAPY

“A combined red and blue LED face mask kills

acne-causing bacteria on the skin surface and

in the pores,” says L.A.-based dermatologist Dr.

Tsippora Shainhouse. “The light also calms red-

ness and inflammation caused by breakouts.”

Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask, $40, drugstores