Dr Karen Soh, medical director at Prive Aesthetics, tells us how to prevent hormonal acne, and why you need to apply sunscreen even on a cloudy day.
Dr Karen Soh, medical director at Prive Aesthetics, tells us how to prevent hormonal acne, and why you need to apply sunscreen even on a cloudy day.
How do I prevent acne caused by hormonal changes, such as the breakouts I get a week before my period? – Irene Kuek
Oestrogen and progesterone levels go up two weeks before your period. Progesterone stimulates oil glands to produce more sebum. When sebum mixes with dead skin cells and acne-causing bacteria, pores get clogged and you get breakouts.
One to two weeks before your period, use a gentle daily exfoliator like ZO Skin Health Offects TE-Pads Acne Pore Treatment ($107) to remove dead skin cells so they don’t trap bacteria. It also has 2 per cent salicylic acid to unclog pores.
Skin is more sensitive during this time, so use gentler skincare. For severe cases, doctors may prescribe topical antibiotics, retinoids or birth-control pills to deal with the hormonal breakouts.
Is it true that we shouldn’t moisturise our skin often, to encourage it to replenish moisture on its own? – Yanti Jacob
No. While skin is built to hold on to moisture, it loses this ability as we age. It needs to stay moisturised to maintain its protective functions.
Topical moisturisers form a thin, oil-based film on skin to trap water vapour from the air. Use a day moisturiser with sun protection and a night formula with repairing ingredients. If you want one product for day and night, go for Calecim Professional Restorative Hydration Cream ($267.50), which firms skin with proteins and hyaluronic acid.
Also consider dermal fillers like Dew Drop Skinboosters, where hyaluronic acid is injected into skin in small doses to replenish its moisture.
Why you should ditch the facial wash
Generic face cleansers that are designed for all skin types may not suit your skin. If you have drier skin, go for cleansing formulas like creams, lotions, oils and milks. For combination to oily skin, a good-for-all cleanser won’t reach into your clogged pores to remove sebum and dead skin cells. Instead, opt for a cleanser with ingredients such as salicylic acid that can clean out pores to prevent blackheads and acne.
WINNING LETTER
Can I stay in the sun for as long as I want if I use sunscreen? And can I skip applying it on a cloudy day? – Yao Meilin
Sunscreens aren’t able to block out 100 per cent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays – the average SPF50 sunscreen blocks out about 98 per cent of the rays. So you shouldn’t stay out in the sun for long periods.
What’s more, being out in the heat means you sweat more, which causes sunscreen to wear off. You have to reapply sunscreen regularly – one application for every two hours of sun exposure.
Don’t skip it on a cloudy day either. While you may not see the sun or feel the heat, UV rays can still penetrate clouds, haze and fog to damage skin.
Ultimately, you should remember that a sunscreen is the most crucial defence against premature skin ageing. Picture this: You apply anti-ageing skincare diligently but skip sunscreen. So while the anti-agers are working hard, they are being attacked by UV rays, and in the end, all your products go to waste. Try: Prive Skinworks Triple Action Skin Defence SPF50/PA+++ ($62) to keep out UVA and UVB rays. It also has antioxidants to further protect skin.
