Acne. I can’t think of anyone that doesn’t cringe when they think of this skin condition. At some point in our lives, most of us have experienced some sort of acne. It usually begins in our early teenage years, around the start of puberty. Of course, there is never a good time to experience acne, but during middle school is the worst. Even though we relate acne to teens and younger adults, the fact is that acne can affect anyone at almost any age and can sometimes cause devastating results. There are many different thoughts on acne, so let’s start by discussing the different types of acne, their causes and what we can do to treat it. Acne 101 The Mayo Clinic describes acne as a “skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples”. Acne symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some of the signs are: Whiteheads (closed plugged pores) Blackheads (open plugged pores) Papules (small red, tender bumps) Pustules (pimples – which are papules with pus in the tip) Nodules (large, solid, painful lumps under the skin) Cystic Lesions (painful, pus-filled lumps under the skin) Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders because these areas of the skin have the most oil glands. Although there are many causes that result in acne, the most common ones include: Age Excess oil (sebum) production Accumulation of dead skin cells Bacteria Family history Changes in hormone levels Friction or pressure on skin Stress Family history How to Although we have very little control over our hormones or family history, keeping your face clean and exfoliated is paramount in the control of acne. Equally important is keeping your hands away from your face. Yes, that means no picking, squeezing, pricking with sharp objects, or the overuse of drying agents! Constant pressure to our faces from cell phones or more recently masks, can also cause bacteria to form and travel its way into our pores. There is little we can currently do about wearing masks, but there are ways you can treat your skin to avoids breakouts. See our blog on Maskne, aka face mask acne for more information. Did you know that bacteria that causes acne HATES oxygen? This is why a solid morning and evening skincare routine is necessary to prevent and treat acne breakouts. Cleansing and exfoliating will keep excess oil and dead skin cells from accumulating in follicles and allow bacteria-killing oxygen to enter. Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder and many over-the-counter treatments cause excessive drying of the skin, which leaves its protective barrier compromised and prone to additional inflammation. This is where high and our newest products, high & bye come in to play. Those of you “High Beauties” already know that BioCanna™ is an expert formulation of Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, bioflavonoids and terpenes. This ‘secret sauce’ balances, hydrates, protects, calms and replenishes stressed and fatigued skin. Well our founder and formulator, Melissa Jochim has just introduced another amazing formulation that treats acne! It is called high & bye CLEARING GEL and REFINING OIL. These two products contain BioCanna™ and LYGOS-CBG, (Cannabigerol). CBG is considered a minor cannabinoid and is often referred to as the “mother of cannabinoids”. This cannabinoid is non-psychoactive. What it does do is help calm inflammation, reduce blemishes, purify pores, balance oil production and assist with cellular turnover. For more information about CBG, see our blog CBG, or cannabigerol benefits for the skin. Including high & bye CLEARING GEL and REFINING OIL in you daily high routine will help dry and purify imperfections, while helping to soothe, calm and refine blemish-prone skin. Although there is no ‘cure’ for acne, rest assured that high has the right products to keep your skin healthy and to keep acne-causing bacteria at bay! Look for the high & bye collection's pre-sale this December 2020! If you have questions regarding acne or other skin conditions, please reach out to me at [email protected], or book a complimentary skin consultation with me by booking here.