Acne affects up to 50 million Americans annually, making it the most common skin condition in the United States, and studies have shown that 40-55% of adults aged 20 to 40 experience some form of acne. During the summer, it’s common for acne to become more pronounced, because heat and humidity cause increased sweat and oil production in the skin, leading to clogged pores and more frequent breakouts.
This is more than just an aesthetic issue. Recently, a study of nearly 500 patients with acne published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that even having mild acne can evoke feelings of low self-esteem—and no one wants to feel that way in the summertime. Here are the steps you can take to resolve summer acne for good and enjoy a fresh, clear complexion all year long.
What to Do to Stop Summer Acne
An increase in oil production and sweat during the summer causes clogged pores that need to be treated differently than how they would be during the cold, dry months. Taking a more seasonal approach to both your beauty and skin care routines by cleansing often, and staying hydrated are just a few of the ways to keep skin clear and radiant year-round. Here are a few things you can do to help your skin stay clear all summer long:
Change your skin care routine. Swap out your heavier lotions and creams for water-based ones while it’s hot out, and try using a foaming cleanser to deep-clean your pores of oil and dirt.
Find the right sunscreen. SPF is mandatory, but some sunscreens are more likely to make you break out. Since your skin is unique, you may have to do some trial and error before your find your perfect sun protection product.
Use a chemical exfoliant. Introducing a retinoid or acid to your skin care lineup can make a big difference when it comes to breakouts.
Hop in the shower more often. If you have acne on your chest, back, or elsewhere on your body, washing your skin after beach days or workouts is a must for keeping your skin clear.
Drink more water. Dehydrated skin produces more oil to combat dryness, and overproduction of sebum can lead to more breakouts. Upping your water intake is always a good thing for your skin.
Aesthetic Treatments to Resolve Acne and Acne Scarring
If you’re struggling with acne, a medical aesthetic treatment might be the answer you’ve been looking for. As opposed to the months-long wait that topical products and lifestyle changes require to kick in, acne treatments can clear your acne effectively in a few short sessions.
Acne Treatments With Venus Versa™
Venus Versa™ is powered by Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology to safely and effectively reduce acne and inflammation. The applicator uses Intense Pulsed Light to simultaneously address both the cause and visible symptoms of acne, by delivering energy to both the surface and deeper layers of skin. For the dual-light acne treatment, blue light targets the porphyrin produced by Propionibacterium Acnes bacteria, leading to destruction of the bacteria, while the longer wavelength of red light controls inflammation and promotes faster healing. During the treatments, a real-time cooling system monitors the temperature to ensure your safety and comfort. Unlike other acne treatments, Venus Versa™ has variable SmartPulse™ technology that makes this acne treatment safe for all shades of skin, with a reduced risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Skin Resurfacing With Venus Viva™ MD
Sometimes, acne can leave behind scarring, hyperpigmentation, and damaged skin. If this sounds all too familiar, don’t give up hope. Acne scarring is incredibly common, and skin resurfacing treatments can resolve it.
Venus Viva™ MD uses NanoFractional Radio Frequency (RF) with SmartScan™ technology to safely deliver skin resurfacing treatments that can be customized to your skin type, assuring optimal results with low discomfort and downtime. In a recent study, doctors reported that skin resurfacing with Venus Viva™ MD “produced a statistically significant improvement in acne scarring when assessed by independent evaluators. No serious adverse events resulted from treatment, and treatment pain was low and tolerable among subjects of all Fitzpatrick skin types. Subjects had high levels of satisfaction with the results.” (Click here to read the study in full, and to see before-and-after photos of the results.) Most importantly, the treatments result in clear, smooth skin and an overall improved complexion for people of all shades of skin.
Enjoy this summer acne-free with an acne treatment or skin resurfacing treatment. To find a provider near you, simply use the search field below.
