When is an ideal time to clear acne?

Let’s be real here, any time of the year is a great time to get clear.  That’s what anyone with acne will tell you.  I am also down with getting anyone clear at all times of the year.  I have a favorite and that’s the spring & summer months and it has nothing to do with the fact that this is a time of renewal.  It’s because of winter, the long-dreaded days of cold and dreary that wreaks havoc on the skin.

“It’s always a good time to get clear”

A study was done in 2015 of acne patients in New England and it found that a larger percentage of them had less acne during the summer and autumn.  The winter had an increase of 11%.

Have you ever heard that people with oily skin will produce more oil when it’s left not moisturized?  I will mostly advise oily skinned (but not necessarily acne prone individuals, that’s a topic for another blog) people to cleanse and then moisturize before bed.  This helps to regulate the over production of sebum.  Winter is a natural time of year that dries out our bodies.  Acne prone individuals will produce more oil and dead skin cells at an accelerated rate than people not prone to acne.  When this happens, the body can’t expel it fast enough and it becomes trapped inside the pores, becomes infected and then an acne lesion is present.  Acne is really an exfoliation issue because the body can’t get eliminate the build up at a fast-enough rate.

The drier the air becomes, the more you body wants to counteract that by producing more sebum.  Even people who have clear skin most of the year will experience a few breakouts during the winter.  I see this all the time.  Women over the age of 40 will come to me in December & January wondering why they are breaking out AND have dry skin?  I tell them to moisturize a little more, get a house humidifier or wear a face covering when they go outside.  These usually do the trick for them.

Dry, cold weather also causes an inflammatory response in the body.  I also firmly believe that we eat less nutritious foods in the winter and more “naughty” foods that results in inflammation in the body.  I am oddly allergic to sugar.  Yup, when I eat sugar my body responds negatively in many ways.  This even includes fruit.  My skin breaking out is one sign that I am not being strict with my nutrition. 

Know anyone who suffers from eczema?  Ask them when it’s worst?  In most cases it’ll be the winter months.  This may not be the case for everyone, but it sure is more common than not. 

In the winter, we are also exposed to the light a lot less.  The sun emits numerous wavelengths of energy and the blue light of the spectrum has the shortest and most powerful radiation.  The blue light of the sun reduces the activity of the sebaceous gland, reducing breakouts for many.  Remember when the skin is dryer, the body wants to produce more oil.  In the summer, we sweat from increased body temperate and the skin responds positively because it’s not under as much stress to produce more oil.

I know, its kind of crazy and almost makes no sense, but our bodies are amazing and powerful.  They want to self-regulate in all areas.  You get thirsty, you drink, then your bladder fills, then you expel.  Then you get thirsty again, so on and so on.

I should move on.

So why do I love to get people clear starting in the spring.  The big reason is that it’s just so much easier.  Trying to keep the skin hydrated while getting rid of acne is very difficult.  Why?  We use ingredients like alpha & beta hydroxy acids and benzoyl peroxide, and all of these can be drying to the skin.  It’s hard to put oil directly on the skin, because most oils will make the skin worse for people prone to acne.  So, I like to get the skin clear while the going is good.  When winter comes around, you may experience a few more breakouts, but you’ll be used to the products, meaning we would have had plenty of time to balance out your oil/dry issues during the spring, summer and autumn.  The body adapts and starting in the spring or early summer is the best time to start on a home care program.  When winter roles around, it’s much easier to control the breakouts once most of them are gone.

Elizabeth has been a licensed Esthetician since 2005 and has worked with thousands of clients over the years, helping them to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Her team of estheticians in her spas are highly trained & certified in many area of esthetics that include our award winning Acne Clearing Program, Beautiful You Repair Series & the Brazilian Wax Treatment.

Every person is different, and we want to give you the attention you need and have a customized approach for your specific acne issues (because no two people are alike).

By Elizabeth Steffen, Licensed Esthetician

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