Maskne Stressing Your Skin Out? These Products Will Take Care Of Your Different Needs
Finding the right diagnosis and treatment can be tricky, but dermatologist-recommended brand La Roche-Posay is here to simplify matters
Talk about a sign of the times. Since mask-wearing started becoming a part of our daily lives, maskne - or acne mechanica, the breakout of the skin from the wearing of face masks - has also become a part of our vernacular. Throw hot and humid Singapore weather into the mix and even normally clear complexions are prone to flaring up, much less existing skin issues.
According to dermatologist Dr Cheong Lai Leng, consultant dermatologist at LL Cheong Skin & Laser Clinic, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, aside from avoiding makeup under your mask and harsh products like peels, exfoliants and retinols, it is also important to a find an effective skincare routine that will take care of all of your skin care woes.
She shares: “Cleanse and moisturize your face daily. Gentle skin care can prevent skin problems. When washing your face, use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. You want to apply moisturiser immediately after washing your face.”
After all, acne is more than just a cosmetic ailment - it’s also the cause of much psychological trauma, no matter your age. Here what you need to know about taking care of it once and for all.
First of all, make sure that you’re not suffering from one of these skin conditions that are commonly mistaken for acne: rosacea (small red or pus-filled bumps on the skin and the appearance of persistent redness across the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin); keratosis pilaris (dry rough bumps on the outer sides of the upper arms, face, thighs and buttocks); or sebaceous hyperplasias (flesh-coloured small bumps that can develop on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin).
Finding out the type of skin issues that you are suffering from is the crucial next step. Here is a quick list of possible issues:
Pimples is a broad term that can refer to “acne”-like issues such as whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules, etc.
Whiteheads are skin colored bumps with no/minimal surrounding redness
Papules are raised skin tissues that can be caused by oil and bacteria trapped inside a pore (also known as comedones)
Nodules are similar to papules though much larger
Pustules are small bumps in the skin that contain pus, they look similar to pimples but can grow quite big
Acne cysts refer to large collections of pus but the yellow pus is not usually visible as the inflammation is deep in the skin unlike pustules which are superficial
The hero product of this range is the Effaclar Duo (+), a complete care moisturiser with reinforced anti-imperfection efficacy, to help rapidly clear existing spots, prevent their reappearance and limit the risk of marks.
This is made possible thanks to a reworked formula, which helps rebalance the skin microbiome (an ecosystem of bacteria that guards against pathogens that could affect your skin), stimulate your skin’s innate immunity and modulate inflammation. The result: in just four weeks, skin is visibly clearer. After eight weeks, there’s a reduction in overall imperfections by up to 56 per ccent. Over time, it is also effective in preventing acne flare-ups. Apply and/or evening after cleansing your face; it even doubles up as a makeup base.
The Effaclar K+ is an ultra-fresh, non-oily lightweight lotion that helps to unclog pores and reduce shine - great for irregular skin textures. In addition to Carnosine and Vitamin E, it also contains LHA and salicylic acid to micro-exfoliate without irritating skin. In a clinical study, subjects saw a -33% blackheads in 8 weeks,
This oil-control moisturiser combats shine and reduces pore size in skin that’s persistently oily, so that you look fresh - and not oily - even at the end of the day. Sebulyse helps to mattify the skin and tighten pores, while micro-spheres & perlite to absorb humidity and excess sebum for instant mattifying effect. Non-comedogenic and suitable even for sensitive skin. 76% Pores are less visible.
Pair these star products with your favourite Effaclar cleanser and toner, adopt good habits like skipping makeup underneath the mask, and watch your complexion visibly improve - and stay that way - over time.