Understanding Acne 101

In honor of the launch of Vasseur’s brand new Clear Skin Acne Clinic, I wanted to write a post laying out some basic facts about acne that most people don’t know. Despite the fact that nearly 75% of teens and 40% adults are afflicted with some form of acne, surprisingly few people actually know what acne is and how to effectively treat it.

What is Acne?

First, let’s talk about what acne is – acne is, for most people, an inherited disorder. If you have acne, your pores shed dead skin cells at a much faster rate than normal pores. Normal pores shed about one layer of skin cells inside the pore per day and acne-prone pores sheds up to five layers per day. The body just can’t keep up with this so a plug forms – those “plugs” all over your face are what constitute acne. If the acne gets inflamed, which is also an inherited propensity, then you have inflamed acne, which can be particularly severe. Skin care products that treat acne work by actually going down inside the pore and keep this buildup from happening.

Facts About Acne

But clearing acne is typically not as simple as just using acne products – which you know if you’ve tired products that haven’t cleared your skin – here’s why:

• Many acne treatment products on the market actually contain pore-clogging ingredients that can make the skin worse. In fact, Retin A Cream, commonly prescribed by dermatologists, contains isopropyl myristate – one of the most pore clogging ingredients on the market! (At Vasseur, we are about religious about ensuring every single ingredient in our products are safe, effective and fresh).

• Diet can also contribute to acne flare-ups, so you also need to actively watch what you eat. In particular, you need to avoid the top acne triggers: iodine (salt), refined sugar and dairy.

• The acne on your face is actually 30-90 days old. Topical acne products work to prevent new blemishes from forming, but can do little to treat the acne that is already there. To get rid of existing acne, you need to compliment your skin care with professional extractions, chemical peels and deep pore cleansing facials.

• Your skin can adapt to your products, which can reduce their effectiveness over time. It is important you talk to an acne expert to tweak your product regime to ensure your products continue to work effectively for you over many years. You can call the experts at Vasseur any time for recommendations.

The reasons above are why so many people fail to treat their acne by using skin care or going to the dermatologist; there are other factors at play that need to be addressed. This was my basis for creating the Vasseur Clear Skin Acne Clinic – I wanted to address these treatment gaps and succeed where other methods fall short. I’ve cleared thousands of people’s skin over the years and nothing in the world makes me feel as good as seeing someone walk out of my office with clear skin and a renewed self of confidence: it is why I do what I do.

Below see the before and after of Chelsea, one of my clients who just months ago felt too embarrassed to be seen outside of the house. Now her skin is radiant and clear.

To Learn More Visit the Acne Clinic Website

For those with acne living in the San Diego area, we can help you in person. For those outside of the San Diego area, we can help you over the phone. If don’t have acne but know someone that does, please let them know about us.