How To Treat And Prevent Fall Breakouts — As Seen On KEYE’s “We Are Austin”

Can you guess during which season acne flare-ups are most prevalent? Bet you thought summer, huh? Well, believe it or not, breakouts are most common in the fall. Why? Well, as we make our way into the autumn months, that increased oil flow from the summer months persists, but the air outside is cooler which, in turn, can dry out surface skin cells. Once those dead skin cells start piling up on the skin’s surface, you wind up with layers of dry and dull-looking skin. To complicate matters, excess oil and bacteria lurk right underneath, so that they’re tapped below these dead surface skin cells, and that leads to blemishes.

To help women keep pimples, blackheads, and congested pores at bay, I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” to chat about some great products and tools designed to keep our complexions clear and blemish-free.

EDIBLE BEAUTY AUSTRALIA ACNE AWAY SET

Edible Beauty Australia developed its Acne Away Set (now $93.84; available at EdibleBeautyAustralia.com) as a holistic approach to eradicate blemishes, addressing both the internal and external factors that lead to troubled skin.

In terms of internal factors, our liver plays a big role in our skin’s health. When the liver is congested and too many toxins are present, it can lead to clogged pores, blackheads, and pimples. To flush out your system, you can sip the No. 1 Green Goddess Detox Tea, which contains herbs like milk thistle, schizandra, and dandelion root that promote liver health. 

Another internal factor that leads to breakouts is hormonal changes — whether they’re due to stress, your cycle, or growth hormones lurking in your food. To address that issue, the set includes the No. 4 Golden Glow Tea, which has red clover and licorice to balance testosterone and estrogen levels and promote hormonal balance.

Moving on to external factors, the set includes the No.1 Belle Frais Cleansing Milk, a gentle, non-foaming, coconut-milk based cleanser that’s ideal for inflamed skin and which contains coconut oil, which is known to help regulate sebum production. Oftentimes, women use very harsh, alcohol-packed cleansers to zap away their pimples, but that only exacerbates the problem, leading to increased redness and sensitivity, so it’s important to use a mild cleanser. To treat and heal stressed skin, meanwhile, the set includes the & Heal Me Soothing Balm, which contains chamomile, echinacea and calendula extracts to reduce redness and inflammation, while also helping the skin’s restoration process and providing microbial support to fend off future flare-ups.

SHEAMOISTURE AFRICAN BLACK SOAP CLARIFYING MUD MASK

Twenty-six years ago, SheaMoisture introduced the US to the wonders of African black soap, which is known to draw dirt and impurities from deep inside pores, clear blemishes, and diminish the appearance of acne spots.

African black soap is created from the ash of materials like plantain skins, palm tree leaves, cocoa pods, and shea tree bark. Typically, the leaves and bark are sun-dried, then roasted in a kettle or pot and infused with different skin-loving oils. Because of the production process, African black soap is naturally black in color. SheaMoisture has its very own recipe, and it creates its African Black Soap in a culturally authentic way, so you can rest assured that it’s not just manufactured in a lab.

The latest addition to the brand’s collection is the African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask ($14.99; available at Walgreens stores and Walgreens.com), which is great for unclogging pores and treating existing blemishes. The mask also features tamarind seed extract and tea tree oil to clarify the skin, and certified organic shea butter, ethically sourced from 15 women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana.

ACZONE GEL, 7.5%

Acne isn’t just a teen issue — it’s a chronic condition that affects up to 50 million people in the U.S alone. Recent research shows that more adult women are getting pimples than ever before, with 45% of women ages 21 to 30 and 26% of women ages 31 to 40 struggling with clinical acne. Most women spend years of their lives buying over-the-counter products without seeing any change in their complexions — in fact, on average, a woman will try 10 over-the-counter treatments before visiting a dermatologist.

If you have recurrent acne and over-the-counter treatments have provided little relief, stop the madness! It’s best to visit the dermatologist and find a prescription medication that’s right for you. Dermatologists love the Aczone Gel, 7.5% because it contains topical dapsone to help clear up acne in just 12 weeks. Dapsone is considered much milder than other acne medications — among them benzoyl peroxide, which can be very drying.

This prescription gel treats four different types of acne, it’s suitable for people ages 12 and above, and it’s incredibly convenient in that you only need to apply it once daily.

TROPHY SKIN BLUEMD LIGHT THERAPY FOR ACNE

Light therapy is used to treat everything from visible aging signs to acne, but treatments at dermatologists’ office can become quite costly.  Luckily, brands like Trophy Skin are devising new gadgets that utilize the same technology employed in in-office treatments, but these powerful devices can be used from the comfort of one’s home, eliminating the hassle of constant trips to the dermatologist and minimizing the cost associated with light therapy.

The Trophy Skin BlueMD Light Therapy For Acne (now $124.50 from its original $249 price; available at TrophySkin.com or Amazon.com) is a hands-free device that can be used while sitting up or laying down and it features a 120-bulb LED panel combining blue, red, and infrared lights.

Blue light penetrates the skin’s pores and hair follicles and effectively kills any acne-causing bacteria, preventing breakouts before they happen. And to reduce inflammation, it also emits skin-calming red and infrared light.

You can use it 3 times a week for mild acne and up to twice a day for severe cases.

YOUCAM MAKEUP “SKIN DIARY” FEATURE

YouCam Makeup (which you can download for free on the App Store and Google Play) is the world’s most downloaded beauty app, allowing users to virtually test-drive new makeup looks and discover new products. The app’s real-time virtual trials enable users to try on different products and shades, plus an in-app purchasing system makes it easy to scoop up any products that pique the user’s interest.

They recently introduced a new AR Skin Diagnostic Tool called the Skin Diary. This tool uses facial recognition technology and artificial intelligence to evaluate the skin’s condition and analyze it for four signs of skin health: wrinkles, spots, texture, and dark circles. You simply snap a selfie, press the “Analyze My Skin” button, and wait for the results, which will include the user’s skin age and relative skin scores.

If you have a blemish, you can use the Skin Diary to assess whether the products you’re using are delivering tangible results. Ideally, you want to snap a selfie every morning at the same time, in the same place, with a clean, makeup-free face. Once you incorporate the Skin Diary into your daily routine, you can gauge the efficacy of your skincare regimen and make any necessary adjustments.