Let’s talk about acne and chemical peels
What causes acne?
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions worldwide, affecting people of all ages. There’s no single answer to what causes acne; there are a lot of key factors that can trigger or worsen breakouts. Understanding the root causes is the first step to managing acne & skin health.
1. Excess Oil Production
Your skin naturally produces sebum (oil) to keep itself protected and hydrated. It can also overproduce oil, which mixes with your dead skin cells and clogs pores. Overproduction can also happen when our skin is over-exfoliated for a continuous amount of time, if you strip away too much of the natural oils and damage its protective barrier – this forces your skin to go into repair mode. One of the skin’s defenses is to produce more oil to compensate for the loss. To avoid this, we recommend exfoliation 1-2x a week.
2. Clogged Pores
When pores become blocked with a mixture of oil, dead skin, and sometimes bacteria, they will turn into blackheads, whiteheads or pustules. Poor exfoliation, not washing your face after sweating or wearing heavy makeup can contribute to clogged pores. For all of our sunscreen and makeup users, it’s best to do a double cleanse in the evening to remove all dirt and debris from the skin!
3. Bacteria
Bacteria are one of the main culprits behind inflammatory acne, specifically Cutibacterium Acnes. This lives in hair follicles and is naturally found on the skin inside pores and follicles. It feeds on sebum, especially when we overproduce oil, which causes inflammation, redness, and pus.
4. Hormones
Fluctuations, especially increased androgen levels, can stimulate oil production. Often why acne worsens during puberty when there’s a surge in androgens, during the menstrual cycle when estrogen and progesterone fluctuate before your period, often triggering breakouts. Pregnancy can go other ways; for some, the hormonal shifts can make acne better or worse. In individuals with PCOS, elevated levels of androgens cause persistent acne (sometimes cystic). Drops in estrogen during menopause can disrupt the balance of the skin and increase oiliness.
5. Diet & Lifestyle
While not the sole cause of acne, certain habits and foods can trigger or worsen breakouts. Sugar, gluten, dairy, and greasy fast food may aggravate acne in some individuals. Lack of sleep, dehydration, stress and an unbalanced diet can also impact your skin’s balance.
6. Genetics
If your parents struggled with acne, there’s a higher chance you might too. Genetics can influence your skin’s oil production, inflammatory response, and healing time. All of which play a crucial role in the development of acne.
How medical grade skincare can help treat acne: Why SkinCeuticals & ZO Stand out
If you’ve tried countless over-the-counter products and your acne still won’t clear up, it might be time to make the switch to medical-grade skincare. Brands like SkinCeuticals & ZO Skin Health go beyond drugstore solutions to target the root causes of acne with clinically proven ingredients and higher concentrations.
Medical Grade means stronger, smarter formulas
Oil Control & Exfoliation
Products like ZO’s Exfoliating Cleanser and Complexion Renewal Pads help remove excess sebum, unclog pores and slough off dead skin cells. The exfoliation Accelerator uses glycolic and lactic acids to help keep the skin smooth and prevent blockages
The LHA Cleanser Gel and LHA Toner from SkinCeuticals contain lipo-hydroxy acid (a derivative of Salicylic Acid) that gently exfoliates and clears pores.
Retinol Therapies
ZO’s Retinol Skin Brightener or Wrinkle & Texture Repair helps normalize cell turnover and reduce pore congestion. In addition to improving skin texture and treating post-acne pigmentation.
Discoloration defense and Phloretin CF (antioxidant serum) by SkinCeuticals help fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation marks and protect against environmental damage.
Targeted Acne Treatments
The ZO Acne Control (10% benzoyl peroxide) penetrates pores to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation.
SkinCeuticals Blemish & Age Defense combines salicylic acid, dioic acid and glycolic acid to reduce oil, acne and visible pores, all while addressing discoloration. This product is ideal for adults with acne and aging skin prone to breakouts.
Hydration & Redness Control
Products like ZO Daily Power Defense restore the skin barrier while calming irritation, which is key for sensitive acne acne-prone skin.
Non-comedogenic options, such as Daily Moisture from SkinCeuticals, hydrate without clogging pores.
How chemical peels can help
The AlumierMD Glow Peel is a medical-grade chemical peel designed to target various skin concerns, including acne, post-acne scarring, and congestion.
It combines a blend of Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid and Resorcinol, which work together to exfoliate the skin, unclog pores, kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce post-acne discoloration.
Salicylic Acid penetrates deep into the pores, dissolving sebum and dead skin buildup that causes blackheads and breakouts. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help kill the bacteria linked to acne.
Resorcinol promotes the shedding of dead skin cells, which speeds up the healing of active breakouts and helps fade pigmentation.
Lactic Acid hydrates while gently resurfacing the skin, improving texture and reducing redness or scarring left by past breakouts.
What to expect after a Glow Peel
- Mild redness, dryness and or peeling may occur 2-5 days post-treatment
- Visible improvement in acne, texture, can be seen in 1-2 weeks
- Best results typically come from a series of treatments booked 4-6 weeks apart, combined with at-home skin care
The AlumierMD BHA 20 Peel is a professional in-clinic Beta-Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid) peel designed to target acne, oily skin types and congestion. It’s one of the most effective acne chemical peels due to its ability to deeply penetrate and clear pores.
20% Salicylic Acid is great for all things acne: it deep-pore cleanses, entering the follicle to prevent the formation of blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules. Anti-inflammatory action reduces redness and swelling associated with active breakouts as well as calms irritated skin.
Antibacterial properties help reduce the proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes (bacteria responsible for acne). Accelerates cell turnover, exfoliates the top layers of skin, removing dead skin cells and stimulating the growth of fresh new skin. Along with helping fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation caused by acne. Reduces excessive oiliness over time, creating a less acne-prone environment.
Combining medical-grade skin care with professional chemical peels creates a powerful, long-term strategy for treating acne. Treating acne is never a one-and-done approach, while chemical peels and medical-grade skincare work incredibly well together to clear breakouts to improve skin health, consistency is key. Peels jumpstart cell turnover and clear congestion, but without ongoing home care, results fade.
Daily use of targeted professional products keeps pores clean, calms inflammation, and maintains the progress achieved in the clinic. Clear skin takes time and commitment – staying persistent with both treatments and home routines is what delivers long-term, lasting results.
Contact Revive Laser for Skincare Help
Here at Revive Laser, we understand skin, and we know what works and what doesn’t. Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment to discover how we can help your skin look its best!