I was lucky enough not to be too troubled by spots/acne during my teenage years, twenties and thirties. My big issue was facial hair which I learnt how to manage and became less bothered by it. Most people are hung up about at least one aspect of their appearance whether it’s spots, a hairy upper lip or a facial feature but I think it’s important to remember that we scrutinise our own faces far more than anyone else does and notice things about them that others just don’t see.
Anyway, back to spots. I had a scant amount until the age of 40 and then, bang, they started erupting with regular frequency on my chin. Though it’s hard to say for sure, I think the likely cause was either hormonal (I’d just had a baby) or weight gain as high blood sugar is thought to contribute to acne. Most likely it was a mixture of the two but, regardless, it was a problem I wanted to solve. While the spots were annoying, it was actually the marks they left behind that concerned me the most and, in particular, the scarring.
I went to highly regarded dermatologist, Dr Sam Bunting, who advised using a combination of prescription and over the counter products. Thereafter my skin improved considerably and has stayed that way apart from the occasional spot and some congestion. Unfortunately, on-going consultations with a dermatologist can be expensive and as a result I hadn’t been to see Dr Bunting for several years. Therefore, I was delighted to see her at an event held by Avene to discuss all the issues surrounding adult acne along with their Clearance range.
Avene couldn’t have chosen a better expert than Dr Bunting to work with and I knowDr Bunting has too much integrity (and is too much in demand) to work with a brand she doesn’t believe in. The central message that Avene and Dr Bunting conveyed was that you’re never too old to suffer from spots. In fact, there seems to be an increased incidence of people suffering from problem skin later in life. The other important point was that it’s nothing to be ashamed about but it is something that can be treated with the right products.
The Avene Clearance range provides everything that’s needed to help tackle acne (including the residual marks) in a way that won’t dry skin out and is suitable for those with sensitive skin. Also, one of the products contains the recognised anti-ageing ingredient Retinaldehyde, which is a Vitamin A derivative. This means that you don’t get to miss out on an anti-ageing element at a time when its probably most needed.
Another point worth making is that a routine to tackle spots/acne takes commitment and patience. It’s not something that will work overnight but improvements will be seen incrementally over several weeks.
The two most important products in the range are Clearance Expert and TriAcneal Expert. Though I no longer suffer from regular outbreaks I’ve been applying these a few times a week just to my nose and chin to help prevent the odd spot, black heads and general congestion.
Clearance Expert – This helps control the production of oil and contains Diolényl which reduces spots and blackheads. It’s also anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. It can be used am and pm and mattifies the skin so it makes a good base for foundation.
TriAcneal Expert – This also contains Diolenyl, the ingredient mentioned above. Alongside that is X-Pressin which is a gentle exfoliating enzyme that reduces the appearance of the marks spots leave behind. Then there is Retinaldehyde, the Vitamin A derivative, that helps to unblock pores and has a general anti-ageing effect on the skin. This treatment is applied in the evening.
Another product that’s also worth adding into the routine would be the Soothing Hydrating Serum as keeping skin hydrated is just as important when you’re dealing with spots as any other time. I’d actually recommend this serum to anyone as it makes skin feel great.
