Have an oily face?
This should be addressed early on, because if left untreated, oiliness can lead to acne breakouts, followed by blemishes and other skin problems.
Some people tend to use mild formulations, thinking they won’t do any harm, but a dermatologist cautioned, "Mild might not work."
At a Watsons event, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press had the chance to ask Dr. Charlene Ang-Tiu about dealing with acne.
Here are a few key takeaways.
pH Balance
The dermatologist said: "You have a lot of oiliness, seborrhea, and you have to remove that oil.
"Check the pH balance. It should not be too acidic and not too alkaline."
The pH scale, which ranges from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline), measures acidity and alkalinity. A pH of 7 is considered neutral; values below 7 are acidic, while those above 7 are alkaline (or basic).
Why is it important to the skin?
According to Healthline website, it can help "combat harmful microbes and damage free radicals" that can cause premature aging and other skin issues.
Dr. Charlene continued: "Although when you're oily, you need a bit more of an acidic cleanser to remove the oil.
"But we don't want, my motto is everything in moderation. You don't want too acidic because it will destroy your skin-care barrier which can also lead to breakouts.
"So, a lot of patients that use a lot of products at the same time, we don't want a lot of active ingredients working at the same time because it will destroy the barrier which will not treat the problem."
What are the indications when the skin barrier is destroyed?
"Puwedeng it's itchy. mahapdi, stinging, and persistent na feeling siya.
"Redness or irritable. So those are signs that either maybe you put too much or you're not compatible with the product.
anti-comedogenic products
Fighting acne requires reducing bacteria and inflammation by looking for non-comedogenic products, which are formulated to not block or clog pores.
For washing and cleaning the face, most beauty websites recommend cleansers with salicylic acid or Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA), like glycolic acid, to address the clogged pores.
The dermatologist added: “In acne, there’s a lot of topical products that we can use, but if it’s severe, you need to consult your dermatologist because there are oral medications that will help you ,and we want to prevent acne scars that are permanent.
"Acnes are temporary, we can treat them. But the scars, we can still treat them, but they're more hard and expensive to treat."
DOES EXFOLIATION help?
Exfoliation, often part of beauty routines, helps remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface.
But Dr. Charlene said: "Actually, we don't need. It's not a need. It's not a must.
"But I understand a lot of people want to feel more smooth or cleaner with exfoliation.
"If ever you decide to do that, maybe once a week or twice a week at the most.
"But it's not really necessary to maintain a healthy skin because our skin exfoliates by itself every 28 days."