Face Reality Acne Clinic Blog

I’ve been hearing a lot about people on the west coast buying up and taking potassium iodide tablets.  This is in response to the nuclear reactor crisis going on in Japan right now - if there’s enough iodides in the body, the radiation will “uptake” that first before attacking the thyroid.  From what I’ve been reading, it sounds like people are really scared; but the risk of getting radiation poisoning is actually very low.

BUT, their chance of having a horrible acne breakout is very high! Iodides irritate the follicle walls and increase the chance of inflamed breakouts.

I have first-hand experience of this lovely phenomenon …. I mistakenly took kelp tablets (VERY high in iodides) while my acne was still active (but under control with products) at the advice of an herbalist.  She felt that it would help with thyroid issues that she perceived me as having; and since thyroid issues run in my family, I complied.  This was before I was an esthetician; and even though I had been told about iodides, it was a fact that slipped my mind.  Well, in very short order, my skin blew up with inflamed lesions - lesson learned.

I had a client who had been very clear for quite a while - she came in for an appointment with a number of inflamed lesions.  I started going down my list of questions that I ask when people start breaking out again.  When I asked her if she was eating a lot of seafood and/or seaweed, she informed me that she had been sprinkling kelp on all of her food.   We got her off of the kelp and cleared her up again.

I think there’s gonna be alot of acne breakouts on the west coast this month……

If you are experiencing breakouts (whether from iodides or not), get help from us - Face Reality Acne Clinic

©2011 Face Reality Acne Clinic

Last night, I had a client who we’ve seen in our clinic for a long time. She was complaining to me about breaking out still (not nearly what she used to have….).  Check out her before and after pictures on a separate blog post.

Before and After

When someone is still breaking out, I become the acne detective. I start asking them about things that could contribute to their acne. Even though we make a BIG deal about pore-clogging ingredients in makeup when they have their consultation with us, inevitably they will start using makeup without consulting their list of comedogenic ingredients that we give to them, (also available on our website).

So, at the end of the session, she gave me her liquid foundation and I was able to get a list of ingredients off the internet. Here’s the list:

Ingredients: Water, Titanium Dioxide, Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Bentonite, Isopropyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Kaolin, Octyl Methoxy Cinnamate, Benzophenone, T.E.A., Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Isoproyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Monostearate, Aloe Vera Gel, Sodium Caboxymethyl Cellulose, Methylparaben, May Contain:, Iron Oxides. Fragrance Free. Hypoallergenic Not Tested On Animals.

So you can see, there are THREE major comedogenic ingredients in this formulation. Ayiiyiiiiyiiii.  No wonder she is chronically breaking out! According to Dr. Fulton, it can take up to six months for comedogenic ingredients to show up as acne.

To say the least, I was very upset with her….. but, it reminded me that you always have to check in with your acne clients to make sure they aren’t making their situation worse.

For a list of pore-clogging ingredients, go to Face Reality Acne Clinic - List of Comedogenic Ingredients

©2011 Face Reality Acne Clinic

I see these ads every day and I have to laugh. The old adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” And in this case, it is also true. One cannot possibly get their skin clear in just 3 days (or overnight) because of one little-known fact.

Acne takes up to 30 to 90 days to form. A pimple that you see today probably started as a microcomedone up to three months ago.

This is why it takes about three to four months to see your skin clear up. Three months worth of acne is going to surface, even when you are using the perfect acne regimen. That regimen is keeping the NEW micromedones from forming, so you won’t see them surface 3 months from now. So, just because you are seeing some breakouts doesn’t mean that your regimen (if you are on the right set of products) isn’t working. These are lesions that got a “foothold” in the pore as a microcomedone before you started using products.

Another issue that arises in acne home-care protocol is that you need to take into account the skin’s ability to adapt to product. You cannot start out with a regimen (albeit perfect for your acne type/skin) and just keep it the same. Your skin will adapt and start to form acne lesions again. This is why you need someone who can coach you through the process of getting clear. Knowing when to bump your regimen up a notch and when not to should be left in the hands of an experienced acne specialist.

So, don’t waste your money on the false promises out there (and they are EVERYwhere!). Go to a tried-and-true acne clinic that will give you all the facts and support you need to get your acne under control. And know that your acne will not be under control the next day…..

For more information, go to Face Reality Acne Clinic

©2010 Face Reality Acne Clinic

Here’s an article that I found interesting for those suffering from ezcema.

Less Eczema