At Sanft & Schön, we’re happy to provide you with practical tips on how to do your dry, blemished skin a favor and make your complexion shine.
First things first: blackheads, pimples – or is it already acne?
First, let’s define what blemished skin actually means – and what terms we’re dealing with when we talk about it, because: blemished skin is not the same as blemished skin. That’s why we’re happy to explain the difference between comedones, pimples, and acne.
Blackheads
Blackheads, also called comedones, form when your pores become clogged. They usually appear in the T-zone – that is, on the nose, forehead, or chin. You may have also noticed them in the form of small black dots, so-called ‘blackheads’. When pulled out of the skin, their texture is compact.
Contrary to popular belief, the black dots are not dirt but melanin – the skin’s own natural pigment. Basically, comedones are white. They only discolor once the pore opens and oxygen enters, causing the melanin in the pore to oxidize and turn dark.
The white dots on your skin, also called sebaceous filaments or ‘whiteheads’, usually come out of the skin in the form of a thread, since – quite simply – they consist of accumulated sebum.
Good to know: Both ‘blackheads’ and ‘whiteheads’ never disappear completely, since our skin never stops naturally producing oil. So if you notice them on your face despite regular visits to a beauty salon, that’s completely normal.
Pimples
Not to be confused with harmless blackheads are so-called ‘pimples’. The pimple is a medical colloquial term for all kinds of inflamed skin elevations that form when pores – for largely unexplained reasons – become clogged and sebum, sweat, and dirt can no longer flow out through these pores unhindered.
Unlike harmless blackheads, pimples are characterized by the fact that they are inflamed – and hurt. Pimples most often occur starting from the moderate form of acne, but can more rarely also occur with mild acne.
Blemished skin: encapsulated pimples and acne
Almost everyone knows the unpleasant, ‘underground’ pimples that have no opening to the outside and can’t be squeezed out even with force. These are encapsulated inflammations lying under the skin, which can be very painful.
The line between blemished skin, pimples, and acne is fluid here. If it doesn’t stay at just a few encapsulated pimples that disappear on their own after a short time and don’t come back right away, experts already speak of a mild form of acne.
Medically speaking, acne is characterized by increased sebum production and a keratinization disorder in the area of the sebaceous follicles – hence the increased scarring as well. If encapsulated pimples keep troubling you again and again, we recommend consulting a dermatologist. Only they can determine the severity of your acne and tell you which type of acne you’re affected by.
Whether blackheads, inflamed skin elevations, or encapsulated pimples: you don’t have to put up with your blemished skin. As professional skincare experts, we summarize selected preventive measures, treatment methods, and natural remedies against blemished skin for you in this post.
Tip 1 against blemished skin: know your skin type
Before you start experimenting wildly with your skin, you should first determine your skin type. Basically, this depends on your skin’s sebum production. Not only the activity of sebum production should be considered, but also the composition of the sebum itself. In addition, your skin’s moisture production is assessed to determine your skin type – and whether your skin is able to retain it.
Your skin type is partly genetically determined, but certain properties of your skin are also influenced by external factors and your lifestyle.
With the right skincare and a healthy lifestyle, you yourself can contribute a lot to an even complexion – even if you’re struggling with skin-type-specific problems like blackheads, pimples, and acne.
Tip 2 against blemished skin: don’t pick!
Source: Prostock-Studio/iStock
Sometimes it’s the things we don’t do that end up making the biggest difference. That’s also true when it comes to squeezing pimples and the like. Even if you’ve surely read and heard it hundreds of times already, here’s the reminder once more: hands off pus-filled and inflamed pimples!
When you squeeze a pimple, you not only injure your skin, but also spread the fluid inside it onto the surrounding skin area. This gives dirt particles and bacteria the chance to get directly into the open wound – even unwashed fingers are enough to cause a lot of damage. Not very hygienic at all! It can also lead to unsightly scars.
If you want to do something good for your blemished skin, ideally you let an expert tackle your problem area once a month. They will clean your skin professionally and according to your skin type. For even skin without acne pimples and painful inflammations, we recommend our Sanft & Schön Acne Treatment Berlin.
Tip 3 against blemished skin: the right diet
Did you know that a lack of nutrients quickly shows up in your complexion? Even the occasional sweet treat shows on your face in the long run, because excess sugar negatively affects your body’s hormone levels. Hormones, in turn, influence the activity of your sebaceous glands, which leads to increased sebum production and thus to the development of skin blemishes.
But foods rich in saturated (‘bad’) fats also attack cells and can lead to the development of pimples and acne. Saturated fatty acids are often found in highly processed foods or convenience products like frozen pizza. As a rule of thumb for beautiful skin from within: unsaturated fatty acids are preferable to saturated fatty acids. You’ll find ‘good’ fats mainly in nuts and various types of fish.
High consumption of cow’s milk can also negatively affect your complexion. The reason for this is whey proteins. These cause your blood sugar level to rise and increase insulin production, which in turn boosts the production of male hormones (androgens) and can lead to blemished skin. Soy, almond, or oat milk are now your healthy alternative.
Tip 4 against blemished skin: declare war on dead skin cells
At Sanft & Schön, we rely on a special, minimally invasive treatment for blemished skin – Aquafacial Berlin Mitte. The Aquafacial specifically removes dead skin cells so that the skin underneath can fully regenerate. With the help of our HYDROcareH2O device, we perform an intensive deep cleansing of your skin in our studio in four phases.
In the first phase, we remove dead skin cells with a water vortex until your fresh skin comes to the surface. In phase two, we apply an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, e.g. glycolic acid or lactic acid) solution to your skin, which softens the deposits in your pores and thus optimally prepares your skin for the deep cleansing.
The third phase consists of the deep cleansing of your skin. Through the vacuum effect of the Aquafacial device, sebum deposits, blackheads, and dirt are released from the pores. Phase four is finally used to supply your skin with moisture.
Good to know: the Aquafacial is particularly suitable for the deep cleansing of oily and blemished skin and helps to minimize large pores.
Tip 5 against blemished skin: clear-up strips
Source: fizkes/iStock
A simple method for quickly removing annoying blackheads is offered by so-called ‘clear-up strips’. Unlike other care products, you can use the strips to free your chin, nose, or forehead from annoying sebum plugs in just a few minutes.
Unfortunately, the effect usually only lasts a short time, because the persistent sebum production already mentioned earlier ensures that new blackheads form. Before important occasions like weddings or birthdays, clear-up strips are still a good alternative if you can’t make it to your preferred beautician in time.
Tip 6 against blemished skin: the right skincare
This tip explains itself: if you’re prone to blemished skin, you should use oil-free skincare products, makeup, and water-based sun protection. That’s because products with fat and oil clog your pores even further. Products with fruit acid, salicylic acid, or lactic acid, on the other hand, can improve your skin, as they open the pores and allow excess sebum to drain more easily.
Note: although the myth persists stubbornly, toothpaste does not help against blemished skin – on the contrary. Toothpaste strips fat from the skin, while the fluoride it contains promotes inflammation, which tends to worsen rather than relieve the symptoms.
You should incorporate these skincare highlights into your skincare routine.
Tip 7 against blemished skin: cleanse your face morning and evening
Instead of immediately resorting to medical measures, you should first try gentle remedies and preventive measures to support your skin’s regeneration. This includes thorough cleansing of the skin – morning and evening.
For more gentle approaches, you’ll find helpful tips in our article on home remedies for acne.
Here’s how: wash your face morning and evening with a mild facial cleanser or a natural soap, then dry it with a fresh towel. Since towels promote bacterial growth, you should change your towel every two to three days.
Do you sometimes forget to wash your face before going to bed? Unwashed facial skin is one of the most common causes of acne – and fortunately can be avoided with a regular skincare routine. If you don’t cleanse your face, dirt can settle in. This in turn leads to clogged pores, which cause breakouts of various kinds.
Tip 8 against blemished skin: stay hydrated!
Source: seb_ra/iStock
We can only repeat what numerous doctors and nutritionists have already said before us: drinking two to three liters of water a day is perhaps the most natural (and most cost-effective) of all skincare measures. That’s because water is absolutely essential for the maintenance of our largest organ.
It stimulates your metabolism, increases your ability to concentrate, smooths your skin, prevents headaches, and boosts your physical fitness. If you don’t like plain water, you can spice it up with cucumber, mint, or lemon, or switch to unsweetened teas.
Tip 9 against blemished skin: hands off cigarettes and alcohol
Cigarettes are not only seriously uncool – besides their bad image, every cigarette also contains plenty of inflammation-promoting substances that create a breeding ground for blemished skin.
As if that weren’t enough, smoking constricts the blood vessels, so that oxygen and nutrients can’t be properly distributed throughout the body. Testosterone levels also tend to rise due to cigarette consumption, which in turn stimulates sebum production. So if you suffer from blemished skin, you should decide against reaching for a cigarette in the future.
How about a glass of wine instead? Better not, because alcohol is no less harmful to your health than cigarettes. Alcohol also leads to blemished skin by simultaneously depleting the body’s water and increasing sebum production. White wine also causes irritation and redness due to sulfites, tequila with salt makes the skin swell, and beer – thanks to sugar and salt – causes a puffy face.
Tip 10 against blemished skin: gently resurface your skin with microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion Berlin Mitte is one of our most popular and most frequently booked cosmetic treatments. During microdermabrasion, the top layer of skin is abraded using special crystal, glass, or sand-blasting devices and then suctioned off via vacuum.
The treatment improves your complexion in two stages: on one hand, your skin is freed from dead skin flakes, and on the other hand, microdermabrasion firms, regenerates, and rejuvenates your skin’s cell structure.
The gentle, pain-free peeling removes not only keratinization but also dead skin particles. It can also smooth out and even unevenness in your skin. This opens up your skin’s pores – allowing nourishing active ingredients to be absorbed better.
Dry, blemished skin: conclusion
Blemished skin isn’t so bad – if you keep a few things in mind. Ideally, you know your skin type, refrain from squeezing pimples, and regularly book professional treatments at a beauty salon you trust.
If you want to prevent blemished skin, you should pay attention to your diet (plenty of water, little sugar, good fats), use the right skincare and cleansing, and largely avoid alcohol and cigarettes. It’s also never a bad idea to change your towels and bedding more often if you’re prone to blemished skin, and to stay away from all kinds of greasy and oily skincare products.
Would you like to arrange a personal consultation appointment with us at our studio? Feel free to send us a message or give us a call.
We also offer hair removal methods such as laser hair removal and waxing, as well as another facial treatment, microneedling in Berlin Mitte – we look forward to seeing you!