4 tips from Dr. Sylvie Peres for treating acne

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of blemishes and red pimples on the face, chest, or back. Oily and combination skin types are the most affected.

Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous follicle, a small pocket that passes through the various layers of the skin and contains at its center a hair germ and sebaceous glands. These glands produce sebum, an oily substance that serves to protect the skin from cold, sun, and pollution, and which flows out through a canal to the surface of the skin. When your skin is acne-prone, the sebaceous glands go into overdrive and start producing too much sebum, making the skin oilier and shinier. Furthermore, the canal becomes blocked and the sebum then remains trapped, forming an open comedone (blackhead) or a closed comedone (whitehead). Finally, we also observe the appearance of numerous red pimples which are the result of inflammation due to the proliferation of microbial agents.

You should be aware that the causes of acne are diverse: hereditary predispositions, hormonal changes, but also tobacco, pollution, processed food, sugar, the pill, emotional stress, sun exposure, or a hectic lifestyle…

Advice from Dr. Sylvie Peres:

To treat your acne, it is essential to adopt a gentle routine using organic cosmetic products recommended by dermatologists. Indeed, industrial cosmetics can often worsen acne problems because they do not respect the skin's natural barrier, are too aggressive, and prevent the skin from breathing naturally.

1 - Adopt double cleansing

Step 1: Cleansing oil

This first phase of double cleansing removes makeup, impurities, and pollution. As a reminder, impurities are fatty substances. Since like attracts like, cleansing oil is the most effective way to remove them.

Step 2: Mango & Avocado Soap

This second step using the soap cleanses the skin deeply so that it is cleared of all impurities. Once the skin is free of makeup and/or mineral filters from sunscreens, it is important to cleanse and rebalance the flora using the cold-saponified Mango & Avocado Soap.

Double cleansing is essential for healthy skin because it thoroughly removes impurities, makeup, and pollution. It is necessary to go to bed with skin that is well cleansed and makeup-free. Avoid touching pimples so as not to spread bacteria on the surface of the skin.

How to properly perform double cleansing?

The double cleansing ritual

2 - Hydrate

Combination skin as well as oily skin also needs to be nourished. However, you must be careful to choose facial treatments adapted to your skin type, that is, choosing an organic moisturizing cream for combination skin or non-greasy vegetable oils like non-comedogenic jojoba oil.

How to choose the right moisturizer?

Finally, other natural treatments will allow you to fight against excess sebum. Applying an exfoliating treatment (natural peeling or scrub) 2 to 3 times a week helps prevent the appearance of blemishes and remove impurities while restoring radiance to the skin.

Ingredients to avoid:

It is essential to eliminate ingredients that promote the appearance of comedones.
In conventional cosmetics, most formulas contain silicones, mineral oils, and waxes to give the illusion of hydration. In reality, these synthetic or petrochemical-derived ingredients form an occlusive film that clogs pores. We therefore advise you to check the list of ingredients in your cosmetic products to avoid these comedogenic ingredients (ending in –one or –ane for silicones; mineral oil, cera microcristalina, synthetic wax, paraffin petrolatum, ceresin, or ozokerite for mineral oils).

3 - Reduce inflammation

As acne has a strong psychological impact, it was important to us at Alaena to have a product capable of treating this pathology by combining medical expertise with powerful natural active ingredients.

We have created the Anti-Blemish Solution, a complex of fruit acids and flower acids to fight against hyper-keratinization (Hyper-keratinization: Excessive multiplication of the cells of the follicular canal wall leads to the formation of a literal plug, which prevents sebum from draining normally.)

Its formula:

Hibiscus flower acids: this ingredient is obtained from the calyxes of the white hibiscus flower, which is naturally highly concentrated in pyruvic acid. This acid strongly stimulates cell renewal and collagen synthesis. It has properties that complement alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). This results in a gentle, natural peeling for skin that is smooth, clear, and luminous. This acid is even suitable for sensitive skin.

Licorice to act on inflammation: Soothing and healing, licorice acts on inflamed pimples and reduces redness. Thanks to its calming properties, it very quickly relieves irritated skin with its anti-inflammatory power.

Saw palmetto fruit extract to regulate sebum: it inhibits the activity of androgens and reduces sebum secretion. Juniper berry extract acts against the causes of blemishes: hyper-secretion of sebum, comedones, dilated pores, dysbiosis, and redness.

Zinc to promote healing: It has the ability to reduce sebum secretion and promotes healing. Celandine has been known since antiquity for its healing properties.

Regulate the microbiota thanks to alkaloids like berberine, it acts on dysbiosis (imbalance in the biodiversity of our intestinal flora). Harungana extract reduces pore diameter and eliminates blemishes. Soothing and antioxidant, it balances the microbiota and protects against the harmful effects of the bacterial secretome (the set of organic and inorganic molecules secreted by bacteria and responsible for inflammation).

Probiotic derived from the fermentation of radish root by kimchi, which provides a peptide that fights dysbiosis while maintaining good hydration.

4 - Treat acne from the inside

The body naturally gets rid of its toxins via the liver, kidneys, and intestine. But if the liver is congested, and it receives too many toxins and cannot eliminate them through conventional channels, it will eliminate them via the skin - involving stimulation of the sebaceous glands, and therefore blemishes appear.

Acne is therefore a sign of a congested liver, and it is necessary to carry out a detoxification to regain inner balance and thus reduce skin inflammation.

The Anti-Blemish Food Supplement will therefore act on all stages of this liver detoxification to restore healthy skin in the long term.

Usage:

2 capsules in the morning with a glass of water, preferably on an empty stomach. If this is unpleasant for you, you can take it during breakfast.

1 bottle = 60 capsules = 1 month of treatment

We recommend a treatment of 3 months minimum to see all the effects. The benefits on the radiance of the complexion arrive quickly, as well as the improvement of skin texture and digestive comfort. However, you may notice a "cleansing" period where an acne breakout is possible. This can last several weeks before observing a lasting cure of your acne.

An adapted diet will allow you to reduce your acne

Dairy products are too often overconsumed, yet they cause acne! Indeed, milk is naturally rich in hormones like dihydrotestosterone, the acne hormone that gives a direct order to our skin to produce sebum. There is no need to say more for you to reduce your consumption of dairy products!
Switch to plant-based milks: between almond, soy, or rice milk, you will find what you like and you can vary the pleasures.

Finally, our experts advise you to avoid industrial foods that are too fatty (palm oil), too salty, alcohol, and refined sugars. It is essential to eat a balanced diet to have beautiful skin.

Furthermore, as we have seen, tobacco, stress, and pollution worsen acne.

To support you in curing your acne, we have written an acne guide with the help of Dr. Sylvie Peres, dermatologist and co-founder of Alaena. If your acne persists, discuss it with your dermatologist or general practitioner to opt for a treatment adapted to your skin.

discover the acne ritual