Written by Ali Waychoff, Reviewed by Dr. Justin Harper, MD
Katie’s Story — A Juvly Master Provider’s story to fighting off acne Old
Let’s get right to the point — acne sucks. While you might feel like you’re the only one in the world who is suffering from an acne break out, know that you’re not alone.
Those who have struggled and continue to struggle with acne know the unpredictability of a breakout — or just one pesky pimple — and how exhausting and sometimes painful it can be. Not to mention the annoyance of trying to cover it up if the breakout happens before a date, a night out, or a work meeting.
Since breakouts are such a common occurrence and we all share the same annoyance with those tiny pimples, we tapped into our sources and asked our nurse injector what she recommends for acneic skin. Here’s what we got:
Juvly Master Provider, Katie Pritchard — RN, BSN, says she struggled with acne in her early teen years and still faces acne breakouts every day. “I have always struggled with acne. I know what it feels like to be uncomfortable in your own skin (literally),” says Pritchard. She understands just how annoying chronic acne can be, and she works with her clients daily to help address their skincare needs and concerns.
Pritchard joined the aesthetic industry to help others with the same insecurity she had with her skin. “Whether its wrinkles, volume loss, acne, or scarring, feeling uncomfortable with how you look can be a devastating feeling,” says Pritchard. Since her breakouts began when she was 14 years-old, Pritchard felt as though she tried over-the-counter remedy before seeking out a dermatologist. “Since then,” she explains, “I have continued to suffer from acne on and off in relation to my hormones, stress, diet, and skincare.”
Anyone experiencing acne breakouts over the age of 25 is considered to be suffering from “adult acne.” Before Juvly, Pritchard was using a prescription medication to help lower her breakout causing hormones. Now, Pritchard is keeping a close eye on her skin with a new and improved skincare regimen recommended by Juvly’s very own CEO, Dr. Justin Harper, to help keep her breakouts in check.
“One important piece of the puzzle for my acne in particular is that I also have eczema,” explains Pritchard. “Which means I have very dry skin and my skin barrier does not function properly. Anything too harsh or too drying makes me breakout even more.” Keeping this information in mind, Dr. Harper was able to create a regimen to target both Pritchard’s eczema and her breakouts, and keep them both at bay. “My skincare regimen is mostly focused on managing my eczema which helps my skin barrier stay strong and keeps my breakouts to a minimum,” says Pritchard.
So we asked her, “What did Dr. Harper recommend for your skin if not using the Obagi CLENZIderm System?” This is what we got:
- AM:
- Gentle makeup wipe — any will do! Just watch out for any perfume ridden ones
- SENTE Dermal Repair Cream — all over facial moisturizer that helps texture, firmness, skintone, and hydration
- SkinMedica HA5 — hydrating serum that keeps eczema at bay
- Sunblock
There’s a science to why she does her morning routine this way. “I only wash my face once per day to keep from over-drying my skin. Normal to oily skin can handle being washed twice per day, but mine gets too dry!” says Pritchard.
- PM:
- SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser: great for all skin types! Acne-prone skin needs a helping hand in exfoliation to help rid the skin of dry skin which can cause breakouts
- Obagi 15% Vitamin C serum:not only is this an antioxidant but, the oxidative stress of the environment causes serious damage to the skin. Using an antioxidant protects the skin from free radicals and stress
- CeraVe moisturizing cream: heavier body lotion that is perfect for dry skin. Containing many different ceramides which help to restore the skin barrier and lock in moisture
Since Pritchard is an acne warrior, she brings her understanding of acne-prone skin to the table when it comes to her job by helping others achieve the look they are going for and obtaining clear, glowing skin at the same time.
What do you feel is important to keep in mind when treating acne-prone skin?
“When treating acneic skin, one of the most important things to keep in mind is the root cause of the acne,” says Pritchard. “If a patient is over 25 years-old, it is highly probable that their acne is caused by hormones. Without addressing or treating the hormone levels, acne can’t be ‘cured.’ But with the right skincare regimen and treatments, it can be managed and minimized.”
Juvly can aid in your skincare journey every 4-6 weeks in-office with a spa service to help keep those breakouts contained. It’s important to have a skincare regimen created for you by one of our aestheticians to help get your skin back on track.
Treatments
Since you see us every 4-6 weeks for your spa services, you can take your pick as to which one you would like to do! Once you’ve had a one-on-one skin chat with on of our aestheticians about what your skin can benefit the most from, you can book one of the following per your skincare treatment plan:
- Juvly Signature Facial: Extractions, exfoliators, and face masks, oh my! Get an all-in-one spa treatment in one appointment
- Microdermabrasion: unclog those pores and extract those breakouts
- Dermaplane: removal of peach fuzz and dead skin cells
- Microneedling: a minimally invasive treatment that leaves the skin with microscopic wounds that create a channel that stimulates collagen cell growth to fill those wounds
- Chemical Peels: an effective treatment for most skin concerns that improves tone, texture, fine lines and wrinkles, breakouts, and dark spots
Skincare
We want to help you keep your skin clear and at its best during the 4-6 weeks you don’t see us! Chatting with one of our aestheticians about what skincare regimen would be best for you is the perfect place to start. For starters, we would recommend a few holy grail products:
- Obagi CLENZIderm System: an acne treatment system complete with a gentle cleanser, pore therapy to help keep those pores unclogged, and therapeutic lotion to keep the skin moisturized while spot treating
- AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser: Let the scrub do all the work in removing dead skin cells and debris from the day from your skin
- Vitamin C Serum: antioxidant to protect the skin from free radicals in the air
- Moisturizer: keep your skin hydrated
What products are holy grails that you absolutely cannot live without for acne-prone skin?
“My number one product that helps keep my face clear is the SkinMedica AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser,” answers Pritchard. “It’s great for all skin types and also helps with brightness. For normal to combination or oily skin, the best acne regimen will also include a retinol or salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. For dry, sensitive, or eczematous skin, hydration status and the skin barrier must be addressed before adding any kind of retinol or harsh products. AHA/BHA cleanser for exfoliation is dry skin’s best friend!”
Really, it’s super important to exfoliate and cleanse the skin every day, whether you are struggling with acne or not. It just helps that SkinMedica’s AHA/BHA has a brightener in it!
How far would you say skincare really goes for acneic clients? What if paired with Juvly treatments?
This is a popular question. While we can understand why, making sure our clients are aware that skincare is an investment and a daily routine they must stay on top of. We want to make sure our clients are receiving the most out of their skincare journey at Juvly. Which is why we recommend a skincare routine and treatment plan.
“Skincare can go a long way,” says Prtichard. “But only if the right ingredients are being used in the right amounts, routinely! Did you know it takes 12 weeks to see the best results from your skincare? Juvly treatments like microdermabrasion and laser IPL are the key to getting fast and improved results for current breakouts. Then, once the skin has calmed down and cleared up, microneedling can be used to treat acne scars and laser IPL can help get rid of post-acne hyperpigmentation spots.”
Explain the Obagi CLENZIderm system and why it’s so important to acneic clients to use?
“The Obagi CLENZIderm System is a great all-in-one regimen for acne-prone skin,” says Pritchard. “It can be used with normal or oily skin types but, I wouldn’t recommend it if you have dry skin or eczema. It contains three steps:
- Daily cleanser with salicylic acid
- Pore therapy toner
- Therapeutic benzoyl peroxide lotion
These three steps remove excess oil and dirt leaving the skin extra clean and help kill acne causing bacteria. Plus it smells and feels fantastic!”
What would you recommend to a client who has struggled with acne either all their lives or recently that are brand new to the skincare and aesthetic community?
“The best thing to do is come in and get a customized consultation!” says Pritchard. “Not all acne-prone skin is the same.”
Well, there you have it! It’s time to stop looking in the mirror wondering what help is out there for you. Juvly wants to help you get the clear skin you’ve been yearning for and we have a few treatments and skincare regimens up our sleeves!
Call or go online to book your free consultation here with one of our Aestheticians. Choose the Juvly location that’s most convenient for you and find out exactly what’s keeping your skin from being the best it can be. It’s skincare — treat yourself!