27 Feb Getting rid of spots for your skin type

If your skin is prone to acne or breakouts, getting rid of spots is probably high on your agenda.

But it’s important to understand what type of skin you have to make sure that the way you treat your skin will actually achieve your goal of getting rid of spots – or at least reducing them to make your skin look less inflamed and feel more comfortable.

Troublesome skin conditions such as acne can be caused by a hormonal imbalance, and if the problems are severe with frequent inflamed acne cysts, you may need to consult your doctor and ask for a referral to a dermatologist.

But if your spots or acne are milder or intermittent, there are steps you can take to help reduce the severity of flare-ups or breakouts.

But first, you need to understand your skin type to discover WHY you have skin problems.

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by the over-production of sebum which blocks pores, trapping bacteria. The body’s response to this is to send white blood cells to fight the potential infection, causing the pores to become inflamed and present as spots or sore and unsightly acne cysts.

Acne can also be exacerbated by eczema, which is a dry skin condition, so it may seem odd that you can suffer from both acne and eczema at the same time.

The underlying causes of eczema are not yet fully understood, but dermatologists believe that it is caused by your genetic makeup and sensitivity to environmental factors such as pollution. It’s also thought that the physical structure of your skin may mean it’s a less effective barrier than the norm, allowing moisture out and infection in more easily than healthy skin, which can cause eczema flare-ups, which in turn can lead to breakouts of spots or acne.

Allergies can also play a role too, and whilst they generally aren’t the underlying cause, many people find that foods such as dairy products can trigger outbreaks of acne, eczema or both.

According to the British Association of Dermatologists, acne can also sometimes be caused by medication given for other conditions or contraceptive tablets, injections or implants. Some tablets taken by bodybuilders contain hormones that can be a cause of acne or skin problems.

Understanding what type of skin you have

So the first step to getting rid of spots and enjoying clearer skin is to understand your skin type.

The four main skin types are:

Normal skin

If you are lucky enough to have normal or ‘eudermic’ skin, you probably aren’t reading this article! Normal skin has a regular texture and is unlikely to suffer from breakouts, beyond the odd hormonal spot here and there.

If you have normal skin, you can probably use off-the-shelf skincare products and not worry unduly about your skincare regime.

Oily skin

This is caused by excessive sebum production, known as seborrhea. If your skin is oily, it probably looks shiny most of the time, and has enlarged pores. It can be particularly troublesome in hot weather. Many teenagers suffer from oily skin, but this may well settle down as hormones change as you reach your late teens or early twenties.

To care for oily skin, you need to discourage the production of sebum, without drying the skin out so much that it becomes sore or inflamed.

Dry skin

Dry and flaky skin has less sebum than normal, meaning it lacks the natural fats or lipids that keep skin supple and healthy. This can leave it open to attack, so although spots are more generally associated with oily skin, people with dry skin can suffer breakouts and inflammation, especially if you suffer from eczema as well. Everyone’s skin tends to become drier as we age.

If your skin is dry, you may suffer from a rough complexion, red patches, more visible lines and almost invisible pores.

The main way to improve the appearance of dry skin is to keep moisture in the skin by adding a barrier. However, it is wise to choose products that are ‘non-comedogenic’, meaning they won’t clog pores and cause unwanted spots and blackheads.

Combination skin

This is very common and typically presents as oily in the T-zone across the forehead, nose and chin, with dry or scaly patches on the cheeks. Combination skin can be hard to care for, as it’s hard to know whether to choose products to add moisture or ones that prevent oil production.

Factors such as ageing, hormonal changes and health problems or stress can cause your skin type to change over time, so it is well worth experimenting with good-quality skincare products to meet the changing needs of your skin.

Treating skin from within

No matter what your skin type, improving your diet and drinking plenty of clear fluids will all help with getting rid of spots.

Herbal medicines or supplements may also prove useful as some of our testimonials show. Of course, everyone is different and will see different results, but natural products can be useful in the battle to get rid of spots

HRI Clear Complexion is a fully licensed herbal medicine which contains extracts of Burdock root and Blue Flag rhizome (root) to offer symptomatic relief of minor skin conditions including mild eczema, based on traditional use only.

We’ve had loads of five star reviews for HRI Clear Complexion. One reviewer on Amazon said, “I have tried everything to help my skin and nothing worked until I found these beauties! They work wonders and have really cleared up my skin. Thank you so much, I am eternally grateful!”

HRI Teen Skin is a supplement which contains a unique formulation of 26 premium nutrients, including grapeseed and berry extracts and live cultures designed specifically for teenagers and young adults to keep their skin nourished and spot-free.

There are crucial ingredients, such as B vitamins, which regulate hormone activity and aid energy release, as well as nutrients which help to balance blood sugar levels.

HRI Teen Skin is also packed with antioxidants which protect cells from oxidative stress.