4 Mistakes You’re Making In Your Fight Against Acne

Acne is a tricky beast to tackle – something as simple as washing your face can cause a flare-up if you’re not careful. And even if you make it through the actual breakout, if you haven’t treated the issue the right way from the get-go, the scarring can be equally as frustrating. How fun!

Here’s what we think is important to remember: skin with acne is still skin. If everything goes your way and the blemishes bid your face farewell, you want to make sure that you haven’t sabotaged the skin beneath all in the name of banishing acne. And yes, there are actually ways to leave skin clear and happy.

So, to help you steer clear of breakout-fighting faux pas (and instead lead you in the direction of healthy, calm skin), here are the classic acne mistakes you may be making, plus how to correct them…

The mistake you’re mistaking: Using harsh chemicals

Acne treatment ingredient lists often read like cleaning product ones, and if that’s not a red flag we don’t know what is – bleach on the skin sounds rightfully terrifying, and yet that’s basically what most acne treatments subject you to! And even if it’s not bleach (often listed as ‘peroxide’ instead), it’s salicylic acid or something similar.. Let’s just say if you’re applying your acne treatment before bed and waking up with a pillowcase that’s been bleached, that stuff is far too intense for your face…

What to do instead: Favour gentler formulas

Our top tip? Find a range that doesn’t contain salicylic acid or bleach. Your face can fend off blemishes without them, we promise! Dermal Therapy’s Acne Control range will help you do just that – it’s mindfully created without these chemicals and not to be dramatic, but it’s basically redefined all traditional treatment options. For example, the Dermal Therapy Acne Control Wash is free from peroxide, salicylic acid, soap, and sodium lauryl sulphate, but uses a fancy ingredient called Seboclear™ that actually addresses sebum control (AKA the root cause of acne) rather than just shutting down every kind of bacteria on the skin regardless of its good or bad…

The mistake you’re making: Killing off the good bacteria

Did you notice we just called one type of bacteria bad? Well, that’s because there’s a good kind too, and killing it off won’t help anyone. If you’re dealing with mass breakouts, it’s easy to think you need to get rid of anything lurking around – any kind of bacteria could be the potential perpetrator behind your blemishes, right?! Wrong. Your skin isn’t covered in solely bad bacteria (or ‘pathogenic bacteria’ if you prefer to sound fancy), and most acne treatments have no idea how to tell the difference between the two, resulting in an unbalanced microbiome.

What to do instead: Find a formula that kills only the bad bacteria on the spot whilst not hampering the skin microbiome everywhere else

You’re going to need something that assesses before it attacks! On top of being free from iffy ingredients, the Dermal Therapy Acne Control Wash and Acne Control Lotion protect the skin’s precious microbiome while still handling the problem. The Acne Control range certainly isn’t messing around when it finds said bad bacteria though – the Dermal Therapy Acne Control Spot Cream effectively reduces breakouts on the spot (leaving the good stuff where it needs to be and keeping the microbiome balanced). Hard to argue with a stat like that!

The mistake you’re making: Not prioritising scar care

Scars aren’t much less frustrating than acne itself, especially after you think you’ve just won a battle with blemishes. But while the market is loaded with post-acne scar treatments, your best chance at fighting them comes while you’re treating the acne itself. So yes, you need a multitasking formula if you’re going to win both fights.

What to do instead: Reach for acne treatments with built-in scar care

The Dermal Therapy Acne Spot Cream is as committed to reducing scars as it is to reducing acne. Featuring an innovative anti-scar formula (that heroes niacinamide for pore size reduction and bakuchiol – a natural retinol alternative – for pigmentation fading purposes PLUS alpha arbutin), it’s your best bet for nixing bad bacteria and battle scars. Spot and scar-free skin?! The dream!

The mistake you’re making: Not protecting your skin while treating

Another common mistake? Skipping moisturiser because you’re scared it’ll exacerbate the issue. Spoiler alert: choose wisely and it won’t. Protection is still key to keeping the skin healthy below breakouts! Of course, there is still a pretty crucial criteria – you want to look for something that’s gentle enough to use on the daily, boasts an oil-free status, and reduces redness while keeping skin free from acne-causing bacteria. Protection and hydration are key, which brings us to our final tip…

What to do instead: Prioritise protective, hydrating ingredients

Relying on formulas that leave out certain chemicals is a supreme start, but what’s in your formula is almost as important as what’s not in it. Acne treatments are traditionally drying so anything that factors in hydration replenishment is a winner. A dermatologist-tested must-try, Dermal Therapy’s Acne Control Lotion actually contains hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to provide intense hydration. But don’t stress about hydration equalling oil! Firstly, it definitely doesn’t! But secondly, allow us to remind you that the formula heroes Seboclear™, which keeps oil and sebum levels well under control, all whilst balancing the skin’s microbiome – what a hard worker!

Dermal Therapy’s Acne Control range is genuinely changing the acne treatment game – so while you’re all the cleverer for learning these breakout-fighting hacks (congrats), their products offer an end-to-end routine that will make sure they’re all being actioned. All you have to do is add to cart and apply!

Available NOW at Chemist Warehouse

Have you been making any of these common acne mistakes?