After that, the next step is to be sure you use a water-resistant sunscreen if you’ll be swimming or sweating and to reapply it every 40 to 80 minutes (which is determined by whether it is water-resistant or very water-resistant) when sweating or swimming. You also need to reapply regular sunscreen after every few consecutive hours of direct daylight exposure and anytime you towel off.
When we say the best skin of your life starts here, this is how it begins—with daily, diligent sun protection, your skin will look and act younger. You’ll also reduce the risk and presence of brown spots, degree of sagging skin, formation of deep wrinkles, and impairment of skin’s healing. Most important, it will reduce your risk of skin cancer!
RECOMMENDED SUNSCREENS:
Following is a list of sunscreens with different textures that we’re particularly fond of. All provide broad-spectrum protection and also include other beneficial ingredients like antioxidants. In addition, the brands mentioned tend to produce consistently good SPF products, whether they are facial moisturizers with sun protection or “regular” sunscreens for the body.
Alba Botanica Very Emollient Mineral Sunscreen Protection, Fragrance Free SPF 30 ($11.49)
Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 30 or SPF 50 Body Cream ($23)
KINeSYS SPF 30 Alcohol-Free Sunscreen with Mango ($18.99)
MD SolarSciences Mineral Crème Broad Spectrum SPF 50 UVA-UVB Sunscreen ($30)
Olay Regenerist Regenerating Lotion with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($25)
Replenix Sheer Physical Sunscreen Cream SPF 50 ($29)
Paula’s Choice Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 ($32)
Paula’s Choice Resist Youth Extending Daily Fluid SPF 50 ($32)
Paula’s Choice Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 43 ($25)
Yes to Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Stick ($8.99)
Chapter 7
Stop Acne and Breakouts (No Matter Your Age)
Understanding Acne
Acne is one of the most troublesome and common skincare problems for people around the world and, emotionally, one of the most embarrassing skin disorders. Although most often associated with teenagers and the onset of puberty, the truth is that you can suffer from acne at any age. Even if you never had it when you were younger, acne can still occur.
Most of us are familiar with acne to some degree, even if we don’t know the specifics of what makes it acne and not some other skin problem. Acne’s textbook definition describes it as a skin disorder occurring when hair follicles (every pore on your face is actually part of a follicle) become plugged with dead skin cells and oil that causes skin to become inflamed, erupting as a white fluid-filled sac. [27]
That mixture of oil and dead cells allows the bacteria responsible for acne, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), to flourish inside the follicle instead of remaining on the skin’s surface, where it normally resides without causing too much trouble. [27]
These bacteria feast on the follicle’s contents (gross, huh?), which starts a domino effect that leads to the production of inflammatory chemicals and enzymes. This process then triggers the immune system to send white blood cells to combat the bacteria—a call for help that leads to further inflammation.
Acne is, first and foremost, an inflammatory disorder, so it’s important to remember that when treating it! Anything and everything you can do to reduce inflammation will help acne and the red marks it leaves behind heal faster. The reverse is true as well: Irritation will make inflammation worse and, therefore, cause more breakouts! [3,4]
The last stage in the development of acne is when the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, spilling everything inside to nearby skin, causing inflammation that leads to the formation of a pimple. [27] Exactly what triggers this process, how fast a pimple develops, and why some pores are affected instead of others remains unknown.
Acne can show up on many areas of the body, including the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and arms. When a typical pimple (also called a pustule) forms, it can be one of several types of breakouts, as described below. [53]
Comedones: Comedones are considered non-inflammatory precursors to acne, but these lesions are not acne. In other words, comedones are evidence that conditions are present that could lead to acne breakouts. Comedones come in two forms, whiteheads (sometimes referred to as “closed comedones”) and blackheads (sometimes referred to as “open comedones” because you can see the pore opening).
When too much oil is produced in the pore it can mix with dead skin cells and cellular debris, causing it to get stuck and form a “plug.” This plug pushes to the surface and, if it’s covered by skin, it appears as a slightly raised, whitish, firm bump called a whitehead. These are not pimples.
If these plugs come to the surface and are not covered by skin, they are exposed to the air, which causes the plugs in the pore to oxidize, resulting in a black spot referred to as a blackhead. That dark spot is not dirt showing beneath the surface of the skin!
Papules: These are small, raised bumps that indicate inflammation is occurring in the hair follicles. Papules are unsightly, but typically not painful or sore.
Pustules: Larger than papules, these red, tender bumps have white pus at their tips and are a sign of more advanced, deeper inflammation. They can be painful.
Nodules: One of the most painful forms of acne, these bumps remain below the surface of the skin and are large and solid. They develop when buildup occurs deep within the hair follicles that are severely clogged.
Cysts: These are markedly painful, swollen, pus-filled lumps that form beneath the skin. They present increased risk of scarring due to their depth and collagen-destroying potential. These are also the type of breakout least likely to respond to topical treatments, especially traditional over-the-counter acne products.
Sebaceous filaments: If you look closely at the tip of your nose, you might see tiny dots that resemble blackheads. These marks may be blackheads if they are quite dark, but the dark “dot” you see when you look very closely is also the tip of the columnar structures that fill your pores. They’re known as sebaceous filaments, naturally occurring hair-like formations that channel the flow of oil along the lining of the pore in which they lie. [54] It’s a natural part of skin’s follicle (pore) structure that everyone has, but if your skin is oily or if your pores are large and prone to becoming clogged, you’re more likely to notice it. Removing these filaments manually is possible, but they return shortly, and truth be told, chances are no one besides you and your magnifying mirror notice them anyway. Nevertheless, if sebaceous filaments bother you, regular use of a BHA exfoliant can potentially make them less of a noticeable concern.
Why Does Acne Happen?
You might be wondering: Who gets acne? It’s estimated that 80% of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 will have acne breakouts at some point during this period of their lives, and it’s quite common for many women to have breakouts well into their 40s, 50s, and 60s. [53]
Believe it or not, as long as people have been struggling with acne and even though hundreds of studies have been done, the exact cause remains unknown. Researchers have narrowed it down
