Tag: acne

Lessons Learned from Acne Journey Stories

Posted on Cybil SolynLeave a commentPosted in Opinion, Uncategorized, Wellness

I’m known as the House MD of Skincare because I specialize in hard cases. This brings a lot of acne into my office. But not the easy to fix acne, the weird, obscure, and just plain nasty to fix stuff that is often on the edge of ruining a person’s psyche.

The thing many people don’t realize, is acne is physically, emotionally, and mentally scarring. This is where a well crafted skin journey is vital. The power of seeing someone else get clear, someone with skin like yours or worse than yours, clear up give you hope! The more positive the message and story the better.

It takes courage to share an acne story which is why so many people don’t want to. In my office I clear about 30 cases of acne a year, but very few of my clients are comfortable sharing those images online. It’s hard to show yourself at your most vulnerable and unflattering pictures that remind you of the worst moments of your life are just that. Remember what I said about acne being physically, emotionally, and psychologically scarring? Well sharing all this. Reliving it all can be really triggering for the storyteller.

All Yellow Josh is a perfect example of what a great acne journey is all about. He mixes bravery, humor, and creativity with a strong message to his viewers. His acne journey has me sobbing over how vulnerable he was with everyone.

I also appreciated how clear and strong Josh’s message of love and support was while expressing that there is no magic cure to acne. He was adamant that acne is controlled not cured. He got help to get it under control. He continues to take care of his skin and knows that his acne can flare up, but feels in control of his skin now because he’s educated and knows what to do if he has an acne breakout again in the future. He sought help from those more skilled and educated than he was, listened to their advice, and the plans to continue with his routines to keep clear. We love you Josh!!!💛 💛 💛

Another way acne stories can help is by showing real pictures with dates. Acne is a twisty bitch and getting clear isn’t a straight line. For the hard cases especially it gets better, it gets worse, it gets better, then it gets THE WORST IT’S EVER BEEN right before it gets better in nearly all the cases I work on. I’m not going into the why’s in this post, but there are reasons for sure why!

Showing images of how long the process takes and what the clearing process is like gives you a realistic expectation of what getting clear skin from having years of breakout will be like. I’ll be honest, I’m amazing at my job. I’m one of the top estheticians in the country but getting someone clear and controlling a hard case can takes about a year. YES you heard right, A YEAR. That’s just reality.

I follow Madison on Instagram (she’s very talented!) and when I saw her acne journey photos in her Story I reached out to talk to her for this post. Like me she was called to aesthetics because she struggled with her own skin. Her journey is beautiful to watch because she was so diligent about her photos. In them you can see the clearing and purging cycles that come with any true deep acne healing instead of acne suppression. As I always tell my clients – “That craps gotta come out!”

Since Madison is an esthetician she is honest about her feelings, what crazy stuff she’s tried (and OMG as esty’s we try crazy stuff!!), and finally what worked for her. She discussed her ongoing struggle to stay on track and keep clear because controlling acne is a lifelong endeavor!

My favorite part about speaking with Madison was talking to her professional to professional about how diligent you have to be to control acne. “You can’t give up. I got lazy and my skin wasn’t looking right. I finally forced myself to keep to a better routine.”

Madison’s acne journey is the perfect example of setting realistic expectations for people. I get so mad when I see stories of people who washed their face for a week and cleared up. If you started from nothing and did something, then yeah you’re going to get great results. The reality of most clients who see me, and who are reading about acne are that they’ve lived with it for a long time. It’s going to take some time to heal that up.

I encourage you to go look up some acne journey’s for yourself. If you have one write it! Be brave and share. Know that your acne story could change someone’s life.

Don’t Bother Blemishes With Bad Products

Posted on Cybil SolynLeave a commentPosted in Skincare

I know you’ve heard it a million times, SPF is important and should be worn everyday. But many people with oily or sensitive skin are prone to breakouts when using over the counter SPF’s. The thing is, a good SPF will keep you protected and clear. You just have to know how to pick one and apply it. Here are a few sunscreen tips:

Mineral Makeup
If you plan to spend time outside skip heavy makeup and use a mineral based makeup like Jane Iredale. You’ll get your SPF protection and look good while doing it.

Broad spectrum sunscreen is best
For the best protection, go for a broad spectrum brand. I always recommend Titanium Dioxide and Zinc as the primary ingredients. Remember to reapply every few hours. You’ll also want to make sure you pick up a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 to 40. Anything over 40 is really not necessary and isn’t worth the added chemicals on your skin for the slight increase in protection.

Avoid added fragrance
Some sunscreens contain dyes or perfumes to make the product look and smell more appealing. Leave the scented sunscreens on the shelf and opt for a product that’s perfume and dye free.

Pick an SPF you love
If you don’t love it, you won’t wear it so choose something you like. I carry eight different SPF options because everyone has different preferences.

Don’t let the sun hinder your radiant look, just prepare for it. Spend some time selecting the right sunscreen to make sure you’re covered for both sun protection and acne prevention.

Exercise and Skin Care

Posted on Cybil SolynLeave a commentPosted in Skincare

By all means, when you’re at the gym, work up a sweat. A solid workout routine will do wonders for your overall health, but it can create a few problems in the skin care department. That sweaty layer you’ve got going on is dropping the pH level of yout skin and creating a breeding ground for congestion and bacteria. Don’t let a little sweat stop you from having radiant skin. Just follow these skin care tips:

Remove the makeup
Ladies, if you’re hitting the gym after work, head to the restroom first and wash the makeup off your face. You can put on a fresh batch if you, like me, don’t like to go out without your second skin on. But even an excellent mineral makeup like Jane Iredale has worked hard all day blotting oil and collecting dirt and debris from getting onto your skin. As soon as you sweat thought, all the stuff on top of the makeup will end up rubbed around your skin and in your pores – eew! If you don’t wear an all mineral makeup then please take it off and keep it off during your workout. The combination of gunky makeup and sweat spells disaster for your skin. Use a basic face wash to remove the makeup from your face.

If you’re working out in the morning, be sure to wash your face and apply a light moisturizer. No need for all your products since you’re going to sweat them off, but a clean face stops the goo you’re face has made overnight from spreading all over the place. The moisturizer protects from dehydration and irritation. Once again an all mineral makeup like Jane Iredale is fine to workout in. But when you’re done rinse it off and reapply. That sweat needs off your face!

Exercise needs a gentle face wash
Don’t have time for a full on wash before working out? Why not use a microfiber cloth like the Magic Mitt from Jane Iredale. It removes all makeup, dirt, and debris (even waterproof mascara!) with some warm water and a few swipes. You can rinse and repeat post workout too, saving yourself product and the potential for over washing the skin. The biggest probelm I see with cleansing before and after a workout is stripping. Too much washing can strip the skin of vital moisture and break down it’s natural protective acid mantle. So be sure that gym bag cleanser is very gentle.

Wash or at least rinse your face immediately
Once you’ve finished your workout wash your face again. Yes, it’s a little repetitive, but it’s the best way to keep your skin clear of sweat-induced bacteria. Your skin is a bit sensitive after working out so be mindful not to apply the heavy duty anti-agers or acids within 20min of a hard, sweaty, exercise session. The same is true for applying product before a workout. Sweats pH can reactivate acids and enzymes making them burn or irritate the skin.

Use a clean towel
Using a clean towel when working out is vital. Rubbing sweat off your face and body with a dirty towel is, well, dirty! And don’t go without one either. Even a clean gym can have some nasty surfaces. What if the lady before you didn’t wipe down those dumbells after picking a rock out of the tread of her shoes? Or that mat you’re lying on had someone’s unwashed hair all over it? Bring a towel and keep it clean.

The Zit Stops Here

Posted on Cybil SolynLeave a commentPosted in Skincare

It’s the night before the biggest event of your life and a pimple pops up on your face in a spot that could only be missed in a pitch-black room. Acne is frustrating at any time, but there are moments when you simply must get rid of the offending zit fast.

Facials
Come in to see me. Not only do I have the tools to safely remove any dirt or debris from clogged pores, but I have an arsenal of products and doodads that can help get rid of that zit FAST! So before you try and conquer your face with your fingers, contact me.
Spot Treatments
Clay, sulfur, and algae are my favorites as spot treatments. Experiment to see which your skin prefers. Wash your face and apply the treatment directly to the acne twice a day. More than twice a day may cause extreme drying, so it is best to stick with two times a day until the acne disappears.
Warm Compress
Quite frankly this is where I always start with an unwanted blemish. Sometimes a wash cloth soaked in hot (NOT SCALDING) water applied to the area for 5-10 min does the job. The wet heat will either bring that red bump to the surface for removal, or make it go away all together. It also makes the skin more receptive to products so it’s what I like to do first.
Professional Advice
Leaving acne untreated can result in emotional and physical scarring and often have a simple solution in proper skin care, better makeup, and regular facials.