Cleansers
| Best Ingredients: Squalene, surfactants | Adjunctive Treatments: Addition of chemical exfoliants |
| Worse Ingredients: Apricot seeds, fruit seeds, sulphates | Tips: Twice a day cleansing, double cleanse in the evening |
What is the science of cleansing?
Remember your mother telling you to wash your face? Well, there is scientific evidence backing up this essential task. Here are 3 main points as to the importance of washing your face correctly.
- Face washing removes build up of sebum (oil), impurities such as dirt, environmental oils (think cooking), make up &, sunscreen.
- Washing your face can improve skin clarity, skin turnover & allow skin care actives including vitamins, skin care acids, pigment correctors & antioxidants work harder.
- The cleansing process primes the skin so that it’s natural regenerative processes can be optimised. This removes dead compressed skin cells known as keratinocytes.
Additionally the action of putting your hands on your skin and massaging increases blood flow, which immediately plumps up the skin and makes it look more rejuvenated.
How To Choose The Right Cleanser?
There are many types of facial cleansers to choose from, depending on your skin type. As a guide-
Oil cleansers
Skin Type: Most skin types
An oil cleanser is a gentle way of removing pore-clogging debris,including waterproof makeup-without drying your skin. Ideal as the first step in double cleansing.
Foam Cleansers
Skin Type: Oily & combination skin
Foam cleansers are lightweight cleansers. These cleansers are initially dispensed as a cream or gel, changing to a foamy lather when mixed. This type of cleanser removes excess oil as effectively as gel cleansers.
Gel cleansers
Skin type: Oily & combination skin
These cleansing gels are ideal for deep cleansing & decongesting pores. They remove excess oil, dirt, & impurities & provide mild exfoliation.
Cream cleansers
Skin type: Dry to sensitive skin, rosacea prone skin
These cleansers are thick & creamy, & as the name suggests are ideal for sensitive skin. Ideal for people who suffer from rosacea or dermatitis. They provide cleansing without stripping the skin of it’s natural protective oils.
Clay cleansers
Skin type: Oily & combination skin
Known for their absorbing power, clay cleansers purify your skin by drawing out excess oil and toxins from your pores.
Bar cleansers
Skin type: Oily & combination skin
New bar cleansers are very different from ‘soap’ and suds rich cleansers of the past. They are often pH balanced & some contain moisturizing ingredients including essential oils & glycerin.
Micellar Water
Skin type: Sensitive & Dry skin, rosacea patients
Micellar water cleansers have a suspension of oil droplets in soft water. These oils attract oil, sebum, dirt, sunscreen, & makeup. Another great thing about them: You don’t need to rinse them off with water.
Powder Cleansers
Skin Type: Oily & sensitive skin
These cleansers—powdery soft when dry—dissolves into a creamy concoction upon contact with water, thoroughly cleansing your skin while providing gentle exfoliation.
Cleansing Cloths Or Sponges
Skin type: Oily & combination skin
There are cleansing wipes, mitts and sponges. These cleansers are made with special fibers and don’t typically require the use of any traditional cleansers—to thoroughly remove impurities while also sloughing off dead skin cells. A few examples are muslin cloths, kassa/kessa mitts & cleaning sponges.
What ingredients should I look for in a facial cleanser?
The best ingredients will depend on your skin type & skin care goals.
For acne-prone or oily skin, look for an exfoliating cleanser with retinol or salicylic acid. For dry or sensitive skin, choose a cleanser rich in emollients. These compounds help to reduce the amount of moisture lost from the skin. Examples of emollient ingredients include petrolatum, lanolin, squalene, mineral oil and ceramides. Humectants are similar to emollients as they help reduce water loss, aiding in moisture retention. Examples of these include propylene glycol, glycerin & hyaluronic acid.
View our Treatment Gallery
What is double cleansing?
Double cleansing as the name suggests involves using two different types of cleansers, one right after the other. Most commonly, an oil based cleanser, balm, exfoliant face scrub, or cleansing cloth provides the first clean, followed with a regular, water-soluble cream, gel, or lotion cleanser that’s suitable for your skin type.
Why oil based as the first cleanse? Oils are adept at dissolving many types of makeup, breaking down sebum (skin’s natural oils) and can also help remove sunscreen residue. The oils work differently from the surfactants found in facial cleansers. Modern cleansing oils contain an emulsifier. This allows the oil to mix with water making it easy to rinse from skin instead of leaving a greasy residue as pure oils can.
Should you double cleanse your skin?
Double cleansing isn’t a deal breaker for most skin types, however, it can be useful under certain circumstances. An example is if you wear transfer-resistant makeup as well as high residue physical sunscreens (think zinc oxide). By double cleansing this will remove both the makeup and the sunscreen, which allows leave-on skincare actives to work better. Patients with oily skin can also benefit from using two relatively gentle cleansers instead of one harsh exfoliant. Double cleansing in this context can remove more oil, sebum & dirt compared to a single clean cycle.
In the 5th decade & beyond, skin requires correction. Skincare is employed to maintain results AFTER procedures such as chemical peels or lasers.
.
Lasers will correct years of photodamage, deep wrinkling & pigmentation.
.
Dermal fillers are employed in this age group to enhance areas lacking in volume & projection, classic areas include the cheeks, eyes, temples & perioral areas (not lips but the surrounding areas including the jawline & jowls).
Patients in this age group will benefit from skin tightening including surgical & non-surgical.
.
What is the best skin care in the 50s?
Formulated skin care is best in more mature skin. The foundation does not change, regardless of age.
.
AM: Cleanser, antioxidants (CE, ferulic acid, resveratrol). SPF
PM: Cleanser, ingredient list depends on concerns.
* Retinol or prescription retinoids: to help reduce collagen loss & improve skin quality.
* Pigment correctors: to reduce sun induced & hormonal hyperpigmentation.
.
What are the best procedures in the 50s?
Focus on improving your skin texture. This means correction of sunspots, pigmentation, creases & deeper wrinkles. You should balance this with addressing volume deficits & skin laxity.
.
Skin texture can be rectified with lasers, including vascular, pigment, CO2 & erbium resurfacing.
.
Skin laxity can be addressed with a combination of lasers, HIFU, RF, PDO threads & collagen stimulating fillers. The ideal combination depends on your skin’s chronological ageing, your ethnicity & goals.
.
Skin volume can be addressed with either hyaluronic acid fillers (works faster) or collagen stimulating dermal fillers (works much slower, but last longer).
.
.
#skincarecommunity #skincareobsessed #skincareaddict #skincarescience #skincareblog #skincaretips #dermatology #drdavinlim #internationaldermatologist #protectyourcollagen #dontcatchchylamidia #normalskin #brisbanedermatologist #50sskincare #collagen #dullskin #sunscreen #tcapeels #50
Some super helpful tips to help you to treat that annoying zit that inevitably pops up before an important event. Share if you find this post helpful🙏
.
.
🔬Skin Science: The aim of treatment is to rapidly decrease inflammation & rapidly dry out the occasional #pimple.These products should not be used as a ‘field’ treatment to prevent breakouts. Spot treatments contain a higher concentration of agents that ‘dry out’ #pimples & pustules compared to acne prevention topicals. .
.
📋How to use: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Apply product to the affected area as directed. That’s it. Treatment works best for ‘ripe’ pimples, namely juicy ones that contain pus. The beauty of a spot treatment is, you can zap your zit without drying out or irritating the rest of the face. 😡
.
👉Tea Tree Oil: #organicskincare with #skinscience behind it. Anti-bacterial & speeds up clearance
.
.
👉Murad: Salicylic Acid 2% Rapid Relief Spot Treatment. Same product line contains licorice extract- a proven ingredient to decrease post #acne skin darkening. Sits well under makeup.
.
.
👉Neutrogena: Rapid Clear Spot Gel 10% #BPO, high strength for rapid drying .
.
👉La Roche Posay #effaclar Duo w/ 5.5% BPO & sal acid analogue. Lower strength ideal for patients with #sensitiveskin
.
👉Hydrocolloid Dressings: Anti-inflammatory but most importantly prevents picking- the number one cause of #acnescars
.
🎬Action: If you have frequent outbreaks, consider clinical strength chemical Peels, #AHA, #BHA, Super-Strength VitA; book a FREE consult by the talented skin saviours @cutis_dermatology
.
.
🛑Caution: Do not apply BPO or spot treatments under hydrocolloid dressings as skin WILL become irritated, for sensitive skin select a lower % of actives
.
.
😎Davin’s Protip: #spottreatments are great if you suffer from only one or two spots per month. Any more & you should consider field treatments such as a #retinoid or chemical peels. Remember, #pimples & #zits start off as #blackheads, #whiteheads & congested skin. By effectively treating the cause, you will preventing outbreaks
.
Dr Davin Lim @cutis_dermatology
#dermatologist #skincare #acneskincare
ROSACEA GUIDE!
.
Rosacea can be tricky to manage, with so many triggers out there! Here's a few quick tips to help!
.
Balance out your prescription treatment (like azelaic acid) with gentle cleansers and moisturizers targeted to those with sensitive skin and with calming and redness-reducing ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, oatmeal, chamomile, aloe, or green tea, to name a few. 🍵
.
Tips: Identify & manage your flare up factors if possible
.
1️⃣Keep skin care really simple
.
2️⃣Use a bland cleanser - La Roche #Rosaliac range or #Cetaphil
.
3️⃣Use a non-irritating sunscreen- zinc based
.
4️⃣Avoid AHAs, #retinol & ascorbic acid
.
5️⃣Use niacinamide & azelaic acid
.
.
👍🏻How dermatologists manage rosacea. Topicals include metronidazole gel, ivermectin, brimonidine (often rebounds), #niacinamide, short cse topical CS, microtox, oral incl. Anti-inflammatory abs, #isotretinoin, & vascular modulators including beta blockers.
Laser including KTP, pulse dye, LP 1064, laser genesis, IPL /BBL & ablative lasers for phyma. 🔫
.
.
Dr Davin Lim @101.skin
@cutis_dermatology
.
#skincare #skin #dermatologist #skinhacks #skintips #rosacea #greenteaskincare #sensitiveskin
In the 5th decade & beyond, skin requires correction. Skincare is employed to maintain results AFTER procedures such as chemical peels or lasers.
.
Lasers will correct years of photodamage, deep wrinkling & pigmentation.
.
Dermal fillers are employed in this age group to enhance areas lacking in volume & projection, classic areas include the cheeks, eyes, temples & perioral areas (not lips but the surrounding areas including the jawline & jowls).
Patients in this age group will benefit from skin tightening including surgical & non-surgical.
.
What is the best skin care in the 50s?
Formulated skin care is best in more mature skin. The foundation does not change, regardless of age.
.
AM: Cleanser, antioxidants (CE, ferulic acid, resveratrol). SPF
PM: Cleanser, ingredient list depends on concerns.
* Retinol or prescription retinoids: to help reduce collagen loss & improve skin quality.
* Pigment correctors: to reduce sun induced & hormonal hyperpigmentation.
.
What are the best procedures in the 50s?
Focus on improving your skin texture. This means correction of sunspots, pigmentation, creases & deeper wrinkles. You should balance this with addressing volume deficits & skin laxity.
.
Skin texture can be rectified with lasers, including vascular, pigment, CO2 & erbium resurfacing.
.
Skin laxity can be addressed with a combination of lasers, HIFU, RF, PDO threads & collagen stimulating fillers. The ideal combination depends on your skin’s chronological ageing, your ethnicity & goals.
.
Skin volume can be addressed with either hyaluronic acid fillers (works faster) or collagen stimulating dermal fillers (works much slower, but last longer).
.
.
#skincarecommunity #skincareobsessed #skincareaddict #skincarescience #skincareblog #skincaretips #dermatology #drdavinlim #internationaldermatologist #protectyourcollagen #dontcatchchylamidia #normalskin #brisbanedermatologist #50sskincare #collagen #dullskin #sunscreen #tcapeels #50
Here are some helpful hints & products to treat that annoying zit that inevitably pops up before an important event. Share if you find this post helpful🙏
.
.
🔬Skin Science: The aim of treatment is to rapidly decrease inflammation & rapidly dry out the occasional #pimple.These products should not be used as a ‘field’ treatment to prevent breakouts. Spot treatments contain a higher concentration of agents that ‘dry out’ #pimples & pustules compared to acne prevention topicals. .
.
📋How to use: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Apply product to the affected area as directed. That’s it. Treatment works best for ‘ripe’ pimples, namely juicy ones that contain pus. The beauty of a spot treatment is, you can zap your zit without drying out or irritating the rest of the face. 😡
.
👉Tea Tree Oil: #organicskincare with #skinscience behind it. Anti-bacterial & speeds up clearance
.
.
👉Murad: Salicylic Acid 2% Rapid Relief Spot Treatment. Same product line contains licorice extract- a proven ingredient to decrease post #acne skin darkening. Sits well under makeup.
.
.
👉Neutrogena: Rapid Clear Spot Gel 10% #BPO, high strength for rapid drying .
.
👉La Roche Posay #effaclar Duo w/ 5.5% BPO & sal acid analogue. Lower strength ideal for patients with #sensitiveskin
.
👉Hydrocolloid Dressings: Anti-inflammatory but most importantly prevents picking- the number one cause of #acnescars
.
🎬Action: If you have frequent outbreaks, consider clinical strength chemical Peels, #AHA, #BHA, Super-Strength VitA; FREE consult by the talented skin saviours @cutis_dermatology
.
.
🛑Caution: Do not apply BPO or spot treatments under hydrocolloid dressings as skin WILL become irritated, for sensitive skin select a lower % of actives
.
.
😎Davin’s Protip: #spottreatments are great if you suffer from only one or two spots per month. Any more & you should consider field treatments such as a #retinoid or chemical peels. Remember, #pimples & #zits start off as #blackheads, #whiteheads & congested skin. By effectively treating the cause, you will preventing outbreaks
.
Dr Davin Lim @cutis_dermatology
#dermatologist #skincare #acneskincare
Current snapshot 📸of my skincare stuff
.
👍🏻Cleanser: Cetaphil - because it is simple. You don’t need a fancy cleanser to get the job done
.
💥Trifarotene: seriously strong retinoid. My skin tolerates only twice a week application
.
👉Moisturiser: @drsambunting Great moisturizer, really suits my skin in the less humid months of autumn & winter
.
☀️🕶Sunscreen: La Roche Posay. It’s light enough, but has SPF50+. Cometivally elegant. Free sample is a bonus
.
🌻Minoxidil: Because everyone can benefit from more hair. Increases the anagen cycle of hair. Prolongs the life cycle of hair follicles
.
👍🏻LRP Toleriane: another good product if you are using super strong actives including retinoids & skin care acids
.
😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
.
#skincare #skincaretips #curatedskincare #skincarescience #skinscience #cetaphil #sambunting #laroche
Rosacea flare ups are common with seasonal changes. With colder weather a peak is seen in Winter, especially with the Westerly winds. The other seasonal peak is Spring with increasing UVR
.
.
🔬Skin Science: Rosacea is complex. Genetics, stress, diet /foods, skin care, environmental factors, & many more play a role in the aetiology of this common condition
.
.
Tips: Identify & manage your flare up factors if possible
.
1️⃣Keep skin care really simple
.
2️⃣Use a bland cleanser - La Roche #Rosaliac range or #Cetaphil
.
3️⃣Use a non-irritating sunscreen- zinc based
.
4️⃣Avoid AHAs, #retinol & ascorbic acid
.
5️⃣Use niacinamide & azelaic acid
.
.
👍🏻How dermatologists manage rosacea. Topicals include metronidazole gel, ivermectin, brimonidine (often rebounds), #niacinamide, short cse topical CS, microtox, oral incl. Anti-inflammatory abs, #isotretinoin, & vascular modulators including beta blockers.
Laser including KTP, pulse dye, LP 1064, laser genesis, IPL /BBL & ablative lasers for phyma. 🔫
.
🎬Action: Book in to see my colleagues @cliniccutis Ideally medical therapy should be trialed prior to lasers.Vascular lasers are useful as adjunctive treatment
.
📖Resources include rosacea.org & www.faceuptorosacea.com (Galderma website). Well worth a visit, another great resource is rosacea.org
.
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
.
#rosacea #treatingrosacea #rosaceatips #faceuptorosacea #rosaceaskincare #rosaceacommunity #sensitiveskin #rozex #rosacearoutine #rosaceaskin #rosaceaawareness #rosaceaorg
.
Illustrations from rosacea.org & faceuptorosacea websites
Did you know that Estele Lauder is buying another 47% of Deciem (The Ordinary) for one BILLION dollars? They will buy out the remaining shares at market value in 3 years time. Deciem is currently valued at 2.2 BILLION dollars😱
.
.
👉👀The Ordinary: As with all other skincare companies, some products are great others are Sh*te. 💩What is your experience with their products? Their #squalene cleanser is all the rage, but they miss the mark with #Ascorbic acid - Vitamin C as well as other DIY formulations. Overall I reckon their wash off cleansers are excellent, but leave on products are hit and miss. WIth the growing trend of social media, they play the numbers game (more powerful % with power actives). This is all good if you have normal skin, & can refrain from mixing the most powerful skincare acids, 99% DIY ascorbic acid, layering on #retinoids & another half a dozen products. Sensitive skin? Probably not a good choice. They have given power to the masses, the flipside is The Extraordinary (pun intended) amount of irritant contact dermatitis, rosacea flare ups & an explosion of perioral dermatitis
.
.
👉Other Deciem Brands: Include #NIOD, #Hylamide, Chemistry Brand, & HIF. So for one billion you get 47% of 6 companies. Bargain. Hence in 3 years, Estele Lauder will own 100% of Deciem
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane 🇦🇺
@101.skin
.
#skincare #theordinary #NIOD #TheOrdinary #Granactive #skincaretips #retinoltips #skincareinfluencer #skincareindustry #skincareguide #dermatologisttips #dermatologist #drdavinlim #brisbanedermatologist
A simple skin care routine is often the most effective
.
.
🔬Skin Science: Everyone has a unique skin threshold, exceed this, & skin irritation WILL occur. The logic is to make each #skincare product count. It is not uncommon for sales people to push an entire routine consisting of #sunscreen, #eyecream, cleanser, exfoliant, toner, day cream, night cream, lip balm, anti-aging, anti-pigment, anti-wrinkle, anti-oxidant,anti-covid cream etc.
.
.
🥇Be precise with your skin care with a purpose in mind. Start off with a good sunscreen, & develop a routine application habit. From there add your active one at a time based upon your skin concerns. Be guided by a skin care professional as to what combination is best for your skin
.
.
🥵Sensitive skin skin care: Oversimplification of your skin care is especially important if you have #rosacea, #eczema or dermatitis. Consider good formulations & add actives slowly, listen to what your skin is saying
.
.
🎬Action: Complimentary consult with my #dermaltherapsits & nurses @cliniccutis if you require guidance
.
.
Dr Davin Lim😎
BrisVegas 🇦🇺
.
.
#realresults#realvisibleresults #loveyourskinagain#instaskincarecommunity#antiageingskincare #cosmeceuticals#skincareroutine #skincareaddict#skincareoftheday #skincarejunkie#instabeauty #beautifulskincare#beautifulskinforlife#beautifulskinsolutions #dermatologist #brisbanedermatology
Four simple steps toward achieving great skin. Share if you find this post useful, appreciate it🙏🏼🙏🏼😘
.
.
💧💧Cleanse: Twice a day. Most #dermatologists endorse a simple cleanser, double cleanse. If tolerated you can use an exfoliating cleanser such as #BHA / salicylic acid, or AHA based cleansers with lactic acid. The former is exceptionally good for #acneproneskin, oily skin, enlarged pores & #blackheads
.
.
⭐️Resurface: You can renew your skin’s surface with simple manual exfoliation. Additional improvement can be made with #clarisonic. Step up to chemical peels including tretinoin, glycolic or salicylic acid peels by your skin care professional. For epic sun damage, nothing beats laser resurfacing. Milder treatments include #fraxel lasers & #TCApeels
.
.
👧🏻Rejuvenate: Topicals such as #retinoids & #skincare acids can rejuvenate skin, especially if combined with lasers & clinical strength peels. #hyaluronicacid is best under your skin; namely #dermalfillers including #restylane #belotero & #juvederm
.
.
🛡Protect: as always, #sunscreens form the foundation of protection.Incorporating antioxidants such as #niacinamide, #ferulicacid, Vitamin E & #ascorbicacid can further protect your skin from UV radiation & environmental pollution
.
.
🎬Action: Book for a FREE skin assessment with my team @cliniccutis Using the latest lasers, energy devices, peels & products we can make a significant difference to your skin health
.
.
😎Davin’s Protip : Start skincare early, however it is never too late to reverse and protect.. Following these four simple steps any skin type can be transformed. .
Dr Davin Lim @cliniccutis
BrisVegas 🇦🇺
.
#skincareaddicts #beautytips #skincarecommunity #skincaretips #skinhealth #brisbaneskin #healthyskin #antiaging #skinscience
Lactic acid skin care
Lactic acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid designed to remove old skin cells (exfoliant), whilst minimising skin irritation.
.
.
🤔Who should use it: Best skin acid for sensitive skin. Good all rounder for #sundamage, #skinpigmentation, #blackheads, #acneprone skin, #oilyskin, & congested skin. Lactic acid can be used as a cleanser, exfoliant, cream, mask or serum.
.
.
🔬Skin science: Multitasker ingredient. Lactic acid breaks down dead skin cells, promotes new skin, increases ceramides & aids in H2O retention in the upper layer of skin. Best products contain 10% or less lactic acid, with pH around 3.5- 4.0 (acidic). Larger molecule size cf glycolic limits skin penetration & thus irritation
.
.
🌓When to apply: At night as part of your skin care routine. Aim for 1-2 nights a week (exfoliation). Clinical strength peels once a month- see below
.
.
🏏Plays well with: Simple skin care, moisturisers, #niacinamide, #azelaicacid, low concentration #retinol
.
.
🏹Doesn’t play well with: High strength #retinoids, #ascorbicacid, high concentration acids. Use in caution if combining #BHAs (Salicylic acid) with #AHAs
.
.
🛒Recommended Brands: #dermatologica skin resurfacing cleanser, #murad Lactic Acid masks, The Ordinary (5% or 10% conc.) The Inkey List Lactic Acid Serum 10%
.
.
🎬Action: Clinical strength lactic acid peels @ cliniccutis $89 AUD
.
.
😎Davin’s Protip: Lactic acid is an all round skin acid. This acid is one of the gentler AHAs however it can be irritating if you have #rosacea or super #sensitiveskin. The optimal percentage & formulation will depend on what other skin care actives you are currently using, & and your skin sensitivity
.
.
Dr Davin Lim @cliniccutis
BrisVegas AU🇦🇺
#organicbeauty #naturalbeauty #naturalskincare #skincareexpert #skingoals #ecobeauty #ecoskincare
Here are some helpful hints & products to treat that annoying zit that inevitably pops up before an important event. Share if you find this post helpful🙏
.
.
🔬Skin Science: The aim of treatment is to rapidly decrease inflammation & rapidly dry out the occasional #pimple.These products should not be used as a ‘field’ treatment to prevent breakouts. Spot treatments contain a higher concentration of agents that ‘dry out’ #pimples & pustules compared to acne prevention topicals. .
.
📋How to use: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Apply product to the affected area as directed. That’s it. Treatment works best for ‘ripe’ pimples, namely juicy ones that contain pus. The beauty of a spot treatment is, you can zap your zit without drying out or irritating the rest of the face. 😡
.
👉Tea Tree Oil: #organicskincare with #skinscience behind it. Anti-bacterial & speeds up clearance
.
.
👉Murad: Salicylic Acid 2% Rapid Relief Spot Treatment. Same product line contains licorice extract- a proven ingredient to decrease post #acne skin darkening. Sits well under makeup.
.
.
👉Neutrogena: Rapid Clear Spot Gel 10% #BPO, high strength for rapid drying .
.
👉La Roche Posay #effaclar Duo w/ 5.5% BPO & sal acid analogue. Lower strength ideal for patients with #sensitiveskin
.
👉Hydrocolloid Dressings: Anti-inflammatory but most importantly prevents picking- the number one cause of #acnescars
.
🎬Action: If you have frequent outbreaks, consider clinical strength chemical Peels, #AHA, #BHA, Super-Strength VitA; $62 USD, FREE consult by the talented skin saviours @cliniccutis
.
.
🛑Caution: Do not apply BPO or spot treatments under hydrocolloid dressings as skin WILL become irritated, for sensitive skin select a lower % of actives
.
.
😎Davin’s Protip: #spottreatments are great if you suffer from only one or two spots per month. Any more & you should consider field treatments such as a #retinoid or chemical peels. Remember, #pimples & #zits start off as #blackheads, #whiteheads & congested skin. By effectively treating the cause, you will preventing outbreaks
.
Dr Davin Lim @cliniccutis
BrisVegas AU🇦🇺
#dermatologist #skincare #acneskincare
Acne cysts can occur in different depths. Treatment depends on the type of #cyst.
.
.
🔬Skin Science: There are many types of cysts, some are true cysts (with a cell wall), whilst other lesions look like cysts. In the context of acne, they can be classed as inflammatory or non-inflammatory. Treatments below.
.
.
😡Inflammatory Cysts: These cysts can be the size of a golf ball, & occur with nodulo-cystic acne. Best treated with steroid injections, can also be treated with cryotherapy & anti-inflammatories. Super important to treat these cysts early as majority will lead to #acnescars. See a dermatologist ASAP if you have #cysticacne
.
.
🙄Non- Inflammatory ‘cysts’: these are also called submarine #comedones or macro comedones.These lie deep in the dermis. They don’t usually scar, unless you pick at them, or they are extracted with too much force. My favourite treatment is a 1 mm spot on an erbium or CO2 laser. Can also be treated with a hyfrecator with a needle tip. Drill first, then extract. Done properly there will be no scarring. Topicals have little impact due to the depth of these cysts
.
.
🙄Other acne lesions: Include #blackheads & #whiteheads. These can be treated with #retinoids - #retinol as well as #BHA & #AHA creams. Resistant lesions can be treated with #chemicalpeels
.
.
🛒Recommended products: In the context of acne prone skin, wash with #bpo, or benzoyl peroxide. #benzacac or #effaclar duo these formulations is cheaper than #proactive with even higher % BPO. Add retinol, #murad, #inkey, #obagi are some good brands. #Cerave BHA cleanser, #Kiehls Spot treatment (*Highly recommended), -AHAs, B3 & Sulphur .
. 🎬Action: Acne treatments & assessment @cliniccutis FREE consult with our dermal therapists/nurses
.
.
😎Davin’s Protip: If you have inflammatory cysts, see a dermo ASAP. Early effective intervention can prevent acne scars. Non- inflammatory cysts can be treated by a good #aesthetician or #dermaltherapist. Resistant cysts can be treated with laser extractions.
.
.
Dr Davin Lim @cliniccutis
BrisVegas, Australia🇦🇺
.
#dermatology #pimples #skincaretips #cysters
#cysterhood
Accutane, also known as Roaccutane/Oratane is an oral isotretinoin. Dermatologists prescribe this form of vitamin A for the treatment of severe cystic acne, recalcitrant acne/hormonal acne, potentially scarring acne & acne rosacea. Share this if you know someone who is on #Accutane, or share your favourite #gentleskincare products.
.
🔬Skin science:Retinoids are one of the most powerful molecules used in skincare. Their pharmacological activity often leads to associated side effects. This post is designed to simplify skin care for patients on, or contemplating being on this medication. .
🛒Skin care solutions: Majority of side effects are dose dependent. This is only an attenuated list of over 1000’s products dermatologists frequently recommend. .
🙄Gentle Cleansers: Cetaphil, #Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleanser @drsambunting .
🤐Dry lips: Apply SPF moisturiser 4-8 X a day. Aquaphor Balm, Blistex, Paw-Paw ointment / Vaseline just before sleeping.
.
🛀Dry skin (body): Cetaphil wash, Cetaphil lotion body moisturiser, Cerave Moisturizing lotion, Ointments if super-dry.
.
💡Dry skin (face): Cetaphil moisturiser $, Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser $, #Toleriane range $, #Avene range $,#Obagi Hydrate $$, Luxe $$
.
🌞Photosensitivity: La Roche Posay Anthelios, Invisible Zinc. Ego Sunsense/Neutrogena Ultrasheer weekend/waterproof.
.
🛑Caution: Do not add skincare actives during your Accutane journey. Actives may cause increased skin sensitivity. .
😎 Protip: Your dermatologist will have their own guidelines, favoured products & skincare tips. Preventing sh*t from happening will result in a much more pleasant journey, especially for side effects that are predictable & preventable. Above all, keep things skincare simple.
.
Dr Davin Lim @cliniccutis
BrisVegas AU🇦🇺
KL MY (on hols)🇲🇾
.
#skincareguru, #skincaretips #skincare #acnefree #nomorepimples #bestskincare #instaskincare#skincareaddiction#skincarecommunity #skincaretips #retinolskincare #skincaremyth #skincarescience #dermatology #dermatologist
.
Disclaimer: The decision to go onto Accutane should be discussed in detail with your medical dermatologist.
Picking and squeezing #zits, #pimples & pustules is probably the most heinous self-inflicted crimes on skin. This often leads to permanent scarring.😪😪 🔬Skin Science:Picking delays skin healing leading to persistent inflammation, infection & severe #acnescars. This form of acne is called acne excoriae, a form of #ocd.This condition is made worse with stress. HOXB8 & SAPAP3 gene mutations can predispose individuals to skin picking
.
❔Clinical presentation: Pick lesions often associated with acne scars. Pick scars on the jawline, cheeks, forehead & nose. Scars are self-inflicted, with a minor component from acne itself
.
♣️Products: Keep things simple to reduce skin irritation. Cleanser- #cetaphil, #laroche range for #sensitiveskin . Non-comedogenic makeup & moisturisers
.
🛑Caution: Products that cause skin irritation and inflammation such as #benzoylperoxide / #proactive can lead to itch. In some cases this can lead to more picking-scratching. Delay in effective treatment leads to scars
.
👨⚕️How dermatologists can help: This form of #acne can scar very quickly and easily.
.
😏Seeing a medical #dermatologist early is important. .
✔Skin experts can use a variety of treatments including medications for inflammation, anti-hormones, vitamin A-#retinoids, as well as methods to reduce picking.Working with psychologists can reduce your stress levels.
.
😎Davin’s Protip: Start off with simple things like trimming nails. By quickly decreasing the substrate for picking, your skin will heal in time.This is one type of acne that dictates early management by medical dermatologists to reduce or prevent acne scars. Working with a psychologist using techniques such as CBT is a good idea.
.
Dr Davin S. Lim @cliniccutis 🏆
Brisbane, Australia. 🇦🇺🇦🇺
When and how do I double cleanse?
The best time to double cleanse is in the evening. Most dermatologists would suggest you do not require double double cleansing (namely am and pm) as this can strip your skin of it’s natural oils, leading to skin irritation. Here are the steps involved with double cleaning-
- Dispense your cleansing oil based product & apply it to your hand, mixing well. Massage this solution on your face for a minute before washing off). Wipes or cloths are other methods of providing the initial cleanse.
- Rinse or gently remove the cleanser with a soft, wet washcloth.
- Next, dispense a small amount of your regular water based facial cleanser and apply it to damp skin, massaging in gentle circular motions. Rinse the second cleanser and pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel. This second phase removes the residual oil based cleanser as well as adding another layer of removal for dead skin cells & residue.
From there you can start your evening skin care actives, or apply your moisturizer of choice.
What skin type should be extra cautious when double cleansing?
Patient’s with sensitive skin, such as rosacea or even inflammatory acne should be extra cautious when performing double cleaning. A non-abrasive cleanser should be used- ideally one cleaning cycle. La Roche Posay, Avene & Dermatologica manufacture special products for super sensitive skin types.
How often should I cleanse my face?
No more than twice a day, this includes people with oily skin. Frequently cleansing can stip your skin’s natural protectant barriers, leading to inflammation & irritation. For people who suffer from oily skin, more frequent cleaning often leads to a rebound in oil production.
What are exfoliant cleansers?
The cleansers can be divided into chemical & physical exfoliating cleansers. Chemical cleansers include alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic or lactic acid, & or beta hydroxy acids such as salicylic acid. Physical exfoliation consists of fine particles of apricot seeds that function in the same way as microdermabrasion. Exfoliating cleansers help remove the outer dead layer of skin known as the stratum corneum including any residual oil, dirt & makeup.
Exfoliation is tricky, especially if you suffer from sensitive skin AND you are using powerful skin care actives. If you have oily, congested or resistant skin, exfoliating twice to three times a week is sensible. Do not combine physical and chemical exfoliation in the one sitting.
Should you exfoliate or cleanse first?
By cleansing first you help remove dirt, sebum (oil) and make up off skin’s surface. This leaves a clean base to then exfoliate away dead skin cells. If you are considering double cleansing, your first cleanse can be with an exfoliant, followed by a water based gentle cleanser. The absolute order of cleansing before exfoliation is a controversial one as it depends on your skin’s sensitivity.
What are squalene based cleansers?
Squalene based cleansers are water based formulations used for makeup removal as well as functioning as a multipurpose cleanser. Squalane is efficient in dissolving makeup, dirt, & sebum. Being non-comedogenic and soap-free, this formula is designed to be gentle enough for daily use, without over-drying the skin, making it suitable for all skin types.
What are the best cleansers for acne prone skin?
The first step in your anti acne skin care routine is to clean away the excess oil and impurities clogging your pores. Look for ingredients that exfoliate the skin, soothe inflammation & acne-causing bacteria.
The key to fighting acne is actually about finding the right balance between cleansing, exfoliation & skin hydration. This depends on your skin type. Hydrating and antiinflammatory cleansers, which won’t irritate or strip the skin, are best for dry & sensitive skin types. This includes patients who are on retinoids such as Differin or Accutane/ Oratane/ Isotretinoin. Whereas exfoliating cleansers and treatments that rid the skin of excess oil or sebum can be highly effective for those with oily skin types that don’t suffer from sensitivity.
Exfoliants are often incorporated into many anti-acne cleansers because of their ability to clear pores of built-up sebum, dirt and bacteria. Exfoliating agents are often found in the form of chemical exfoliants, such as:
- Salicylic Acid, a beta-hydroxy Acid (BHA). Due to its low molecular size & oil solubility, Salicylic Acid can deeply penetrate into the oil gland to remove dead skin cells and other impurities and debris.
- Glycolic Acid, & lactic acids are alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). These are more effective than Salicylic Acid at exfoliating the surface of the skin, improving the skin’s texture and boosting its brightness.
Other acne cleansing products contain ingredients that can reduce inflammation & kill acne forming bacterium. These include- Tea tree oil, Charcoal, Witch Hazel & Kaolin Clay.
What are the best cleansers for oily skin?
While we naturally produce oil in order to keep our skin soft and supple, too much of it results in that uncomfortable greasy & shiny look. Oily skin or seborrhoea occurs when your sebaceous glands go into overdrive. This can lead to enlarged pores, congestion & acne. While you can’t change your genetics, you can minimize the appearance of oily skin by using specific skin-care products including washes, lotions & creams. The goal is not to strip the skin of its oil supply. In fact, if you do that, it will lead to worsening acne and paradoxical increase in oil production, as the dryness will send a signal to the skin to make even more sebum to compensate. Balance is the key. Here are some helpful tips-
- Cleanse twice a day, any more and it will affect your skin’s barrier function.
- Look for ingredients that include ceramides & squalene as emollients
- Look for washes that contain low concentrations of salicylic acids (2% or less)
- Look for ingredients that contain charcoal, clay & kaolin
- Use oil free cleansers (needless to say)
- Consider physical exfoliators such as sensible once daily Clarisonic
What is the best cleanser for rosacea & sensitive skin?
Facial cleansing is important to remove impurities, sebum, make up & sunscreen. For rosacea prone skin, most people prefer a non-soap based cleanser (unless you are oily as well). As a guide-
- Dry to normal or combination skin. A wide range of non-soap cleansers is available, including a number of options developed specifically for sensitive or redness-prone skin.
- Very dry skin. A creamy, low-foaming, non-soap cleanser may be ideal for skin that’s very dry — these types of formulas often leave behind a thin film that helps skin hold moisture.
- Oily skin. For very oily skin, wash with a mild soap, taking care to avoid scrubbing. Aggressive rubbing or over-cleansing can irritate skin. I do not recommend exfoliant cleansers that contain high concentrations of glycolic or lactic acids. A minority of rosacea patients can tolerate very low concentrations of salicylic acid, as this can be anti-inflammatory.
Recommended companies that manufacture great products for rosacea patients include La Roche Posay, Neutrogena, Avene, Ego & Dermatologica. Cleansing tips for rosacea prone patients include-
- Do not over do it. Twice a day face washing is enough. Any more and skin irritation will ensure.
- Using your fingertips, wash skin with a cleanser suitable for your skin type. Avoid using an form of exfoliation, this includes physical & chemicals (eg. AHAs, BHAs)
- Rinse away cleanser with tepid water. Hot or cold water may cause flushing or irritation. Remember face washing and bathing should be quick & cool for rosacea patients.
- Gently dab your face dry with a cotton towel. Don’t rub skin, as this may cause irritation. Dab don’t rub!
- Since stinging most often occurs on damp skin, wait half a minute for the face to dry completely before applying any medication. Slowly reduce the drying time until you find the least amount of time your skin needs to avoid a stinging sensation.
- After applying topical medication, wait five to 10 minutes more before applying moisturizer, sunscreen or makeup.
Double cleansing is controversial. Some patients with ‘follicular’ rosacea may benefit from mild exfoliants, most commonly with a mix of very low strength sodium sulfacetamide, sulphur & salicylic acid.
Which Ingredients Should I Avoid if I have Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin can be prone to dryness, especially during a flare-up. The stronger the cleanser, the harsher the cleansing agent and the more drying the product is. Try and avoid-
- Cleansers formulated to eliminate acne and excess oil as these often contain chemical exfoliants such as salicylic, lactic and glycolic acid.
- Drying ingredients to avoid include Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate, which are commonly found in foaming cleansers. If you do react to multiple cleansers, a patch test by a medical dermatologist can help identify the culprits.
When choosing skincare for sensitive skin, the shorter the ingredients list, the better. Going natural is always a good option, however you should be mindful that not all ingredients are listed on ‘naturopathic skin care lines.’ For patients with dermatitis, eczema, rosacea & general skin sensitivities brands such as Avene, La Roche Posay, Ego & Cetaphil make great cleansers.
How long should I leave cleanser on my face?
If the package directions doesn’t specify how long to leave the cleanser on your face, aim for 30 to 60 seconds. Even if your skin is very oily or dirty, cleansers shouldn’t stay on your skin longer than two minutes For people with sensitive skin aim for 30 seconds.
How should I gently cleanse / tips and tricks?
Here are some tips regarding ‘how to’,especially important if you suffer from rosacea, & sensitive skin-
Water temperature: Use cool (room temperature) water. Hot water increases the ability of surfactants to penetrate the skin, increasing the removal of lipids, proteins from your skin.
Use less cleanser: The less cleanser that touches your skin, the less damage you’ll get. Start off with a pea size drop & increases as required.
Short contact: The longer the cleanser stays in contact with your skin, the more time it’ll have to penetrate into your skin. Don’t let it stay on your skin for too long- maximum of 2 minutes, shorter the better.
Cleanse less frequently: If you wash your skin with cleanser more than once a day, see if you can cut down. In the morning, if you’ve cleansed sufficiently the night before, you can just splash water on your face and pat it off. Water is also a skin irritant (believe it or not), so also limit plain water washing to twice daily.
Remove surfactants: Wipe-off products (e.g. micellar water, cleansing wipes) contain mild surfactants that can be left on the skin, but it’s still better to remove them. Follow up with moisturiser: Add water, emollients and humectants back into your skin with a moisturiser.
Avoid Chemical Exfoliants: Salicylic, lactic and glycolic acid cleansers can be harsh on sensitive skin. Avoid these ingredients initially however some patients can tolerate short contact low concentrations.
Gentle pressure with physical exfoliants: Pressing too hard on physical exfoliants such as loofah pads, lots & even brushes (example Clarisonic), can damage your skin. Go easy if you have sensitive skin.
Can I just wash my face with water only?
Is washing your face with soap-cleansers just a hype? No, if you have oily skin or require to remove impurities & grime, you do require a factual cleanser. A “water only wash can be used by some people to avoid dry skin, however too much water can actually irritate your skin. Balance is the key.
Why do dermatologists recommend Cetaphil?
Dermatologists classically have loved the Cetaphil cleansers because they are non-alkaline (pH 6.3-6.8), lipid-free, non-comedogenic, & mild enough for sensitive skin.
Historically I know that the makers of Cetaphil, Galderma, packed this skin care range for patients on Accutane- Oratane- Isotretinoin. The logic behind recommending Cetaphil was probably with good intentions as in many countries these ‘Accutane packs’ were given out FREE of charge (at least in Australia). These allowed dermatologists to concentrate on addressing the finer details of specialist acne management, rather than go into a 5 to 10 minute conversation on the use of cleansers. Of course, patient had their choice of what cleanser they wanted to use. A recommendation takes out a lot of the unknown, which probably made the job a lot easier if skin irritation occurred. Yes, dermatologists are aware of the long ingredient list of Cetaphil, including the multiple potential allergens & irritates.
*I am a procedural dermatologist & not a medical dermatologist, I do not prescribe Cetaphil, nor do I have any links with Galderma (I was on their advisory board for other S4 products). I do not have any option regarding their product line, nor am I interested in the ingredients in Cetaphil. If you have any questions, please direct them to your treating physician or dermatologist.
Why do dermatologists prefer lower pH cleansers?
Your skin pH, which is a measure of acidity-alkalinity, sits around pH 5 (4-6). This means your skin’s natural state is acidic. The majority of foaming cleansers are alkaline which can compromise your skin’s barrier function. Typically for normal skin types we prefer a ‘Low pH Cleanser’ for the following reasons:
- Typically Non-Drying: Low pH cleansers tend to feature a gel, milk, or cream texture, which tends to be less drying than a foam
- Better for Those With Eczema: Low pH preserves the lipids within the skin which is better for those who are prone to eczema or dermatitis
- Protects the Skin’s Acid Mantle: The acid top layer of the skin is a thin layer of slightly acidic film made up of fatty acids, sebum, & copacted cells. This mix forms a protective barrier that maintains skin integrity, protecting the skin from potentially harmful bacteria and viruses.
It is important to note that not everyone should avoid alkaline washes. Higher pH cleansers are more like detergents that clean the skin thoroughly; these are the best in oily & resistant skin, which can withstand dehydration of a cleanser that acts like a surfactant.
How do I know if a cleanser is low pH?
The best way to tell is whether or not the cleanser is pH balanced is to see if it bubbles or foams, which means it’s a high pH cleanser. Look for the words “pH balanced”. These products have been formulated to mimic the skin’s natural pH level, and won’t raise your skin’s pH level.
Davin’s Viewpoint on Facial Cleansers
Facial cleansing & sunscreens form the basis of skin care- hence why it is vital to get it right from the beginning. It can be perplexing with the amount of products out there, ranging from creams, gels, lotions, oil suspensions in water, through to mits & bars. Double cleansing, as ‘invented’ by the Koreans, is probably a sensible way of removing make up, sunscreen, sebum (natural oils) & impurities. With good facial cleaning it primes the skin, ready for skin care actives such as vitamins, hyaluronic acid, skin care acids & antioxidants to work harder to achieve your goal.
