Different kinds of zits and how to deal with them…. correctly.
Your face is the messenger of your body. It's a helpful map to show you where your body may be struggling. It is up to you to observe and correct these struggles not cover up or use excessive force to banish them. Everyone wants clear, healthy-looking
skin, and it really does start by paying attention to what these blemishes are trying to tell you. Not all blemishes require the same treatment. We hope to illuminate a common sense approach to decoding and managing zits. Skip to Blackheads Whiteheads, Papules, Pustules, Nodules, or Cysts
Blackheads are non-irritated open to the air clogged pores caused by dirt and grime from the environment mixing with the sweat and oil in our skin. Contrary to popular belief blackheads are not a sign your face is too oily. In reality, the tools your body is given to make up your sebum (fats you consume regularly/products you put on your face) are not ideal for your body/skin composition. That can mean comedogenic skincare or excess trans/saturated fats in your diet. This is an easy fix! First modify your diet to include more omega-3 fatty acids, things like deep sea fish oil, flax seeds, hemp seeds, and less commercially fried and processed foods. Fry at home in fresh peanut or coconut oil! It tastes better too.;) It is important not to touch your face with dirty hands. That includes resting on your palm while you stare down your computer! Also be sure to wash things that touch your face regularly, like pillowcases, glasses, headphones etc… It is helpful to use a toner before bed to contract pores to make contamination less likely.
Our tried and true method for dealing with blackheads is
1. use an oil cleanser (this breaks up grime in pores so it can be washed away)
2. dual cleanse with a gentle face cleanser (this washes away what the oil cleanser broke down)
3. apply toner with a slightly acidic pH (this helps dissolve what the oil cleanser couldn’t, shrinks pores, and re-establishes a good pH to keep the microbiome diverse and happy)
4. 3-4 drops of Spotless or Equilibrium serum massaged mindfully into skin (this supplements the skin with omega 3 fatty acids until diet can catch up AND provides a antimicrobial buffer to the outside world)
Whiteheads are non-irritated closed off clogged pores caused by irregular exfoliation regimen and microbial imbalance. Basically a bit of keratin sealed a pore shut along with microbes and grime from the enviroment. They usually show up in clusters if a fungal imbalance is to blame. This is an easier fix! As it is mostly to do with external factors. Try exfoliating regularly, avoid microbiome disrupting ingredients, and be sure to restore pH after cleansing.
Our tried and true method for dealing with whiteheads is
1. cleanse with a clay cleansing mask (this soaks up excess oil and provides daily micro-exfoliation)
2. apply toner with a slightly acidic pH (this help dissolve grime, contract pores, and re-establish a good pH to keep microbiome diverse and happy.)
3. 3-4 drops of Spotless serum massaged in mindfully (this will train skin in oil production needs and provide a protective antimicrobial buffer to the outside world).
Papules are small inflamed areas surrounding hair follicles. This is usually a sign of friction to the hair follicles or an allergic reaction. If they pop up in area with coarse hair it is likely caused by friction, so try wearing loose-fitting clothing and having the area plucked or waxed rather than shaved. If papules pop up in an area without coarse hair it is likely allergy related, so try identifying and removing allergen BEFORE trying to treat papules. A wellness diary is a very effective tool for helping you keep real-time data on what you ate/drank, how you felt, and what messages your body was sending. I promise, with diligence in a wellness diary, you will notice patterns and feel inspired to modify your lifestyle. I keep mine in the notes app on my phone ;)
Our tried and true method for dealing with friction papules are preventative measures. The day after hair removal, cleanse with a gentle cleanser and apply a slightly acidic toner (this will prevent dead skin from causing more severe ingrown hairs)
Treat existing friction papules by
1. steaming pores open with a warm bath or facial steamer and lightly exfoliate with a sisal glove
2. oil cleanser (this will break up any trapped oil, microbes, and grime so it washes away easier)
3. double cleanse with gentle cleanser (this will wash away the grime the oil cleanser broke up)
4. finish off with a cold compress to reduce swelling
Our tried and true method for managing allergy-type papules is
LESS IS MORE until the allergy is under control.
1. If you can--> avoid soap, toners, and lotions in the area, just use a soft cloth and warm filtered water.
2. If your skin feels dry and tight, soak the area with warm water and a soft cloth compress followed by a light massage with 3-4 drops of Refurbish serum.
Pustules are larger, heavily inflamed, and filled with pus. They are caused by a rupture in the pore. Usually, pustules form after squeezing blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, nodules, and papules. Resist the urge to squeeze but if you do
1. wash the area well with gentle cleanser and water.
2. apply toner to re-establish pH and microbiome around, but not on, pustule.
3. lessen damage with vitamin E correcting serum. Apply with a clean finger or cotton swab. (This will speed healing and prevent scarring)
4. apply cold compress immediately after to amplify.
Nodules are deeper, more painful inflammation of the hair follicles. They tend to feel very hard under the skin and rarely come to a head. They can be a sign of an internal imbalance.
It is important to make note of where and when these blemishes show up. If consistently in the same place after exposure to a specific environmental trigger, for instance, you can correct the cause. An example would be in the middle forehead (corresponds to small intestine) after consuming dairy products. This is where blemishes get tricky and you'll need to bust out your detective skills to rectify the cause. A wellness diary is a very effective tool for helping you keep real-time data on what you ate/drank, how you felt, and what messages your body was sending. I promise, with diligence in a wellness diary, you will notice patterns and feel inspired to modify your lifestyle. I keep mine in the notes app on my phone ;)
Our tried and true method for managing nodules is
1. very gentle massage with fingers and a stimulating oil cleanser. you want to focus on moving lymph from the area affected with nodules to the lymph nodes in the neck and beyond. If your nodes are overburdened (swollen, achy, or if you are currently sick) internal support may be needed. Try raw carrot salad, burdock root tea, and integrating some sweating into your lifestyle.
2. double cleanse with a gentle soap or aloe cleanser. (this will wash away any grime the oil massage broke up)
3. apply toner to restore pH and keep microbial populations diverse and happy.
4. spot treat with Recuperate drawing salve to encourage blood flow to the area and pull irritant/toxin to the surface.
5. apply 3-4 drops of Spotless serum to provide an antimicrobial barrier. Be sure to mindfully massage into skin.
Cysts are large fluid-filled bumps. They tend to be very red and painful. Usually filled with pus and blood and they scar easily. Definitely, a sign of internal imbalance especially in the areas that correspond to detox organs (temples, between brows, lower cheeks) Make note of when and where these blemishes show up to correct the underlying cause. This type of blemish can be a bit trickier to manage and you will need to do some detective work to get a handle on them. A wellness diary is a very effective tool for helping you keep real-time data on what you ate/drank, how you felt, and what messages your body was sending. I promise, with diligence in a wellness diary, you will notice patterns and feel inspired to modify your lifestyle. I keep mine in the notes app on my phone ;)
Our tried and true method for managing cysts is
1. apply a clay cleansing mask to draw irritants and toxins to the surface as cysts are usually signs that detox organs are over-taxed and need to purge via the skin as a last resort. let it sit for 5 minutes then
2. cleanse with a gentle soap or aloe cleanser. It is especially important to opt for gentle cleansers in this situation. Oatmeal face soap or real aloe-based cleansers to prevent more irritation, inflammation, and excess oil production.
3. apply toner to restore pH and keep microbial populations diverse and happy.
4. spot treat with recuperate drawing salve
5. apply 3-4 drops of Spotless serum to provide an antimicrobial barrier and prevent moisture loss.
6. use a cold compress to amplify.
Repeat routine twice daily to move toxins out quickly and, most importantly, address underlying issues via lifestyle changes.
When you start to see your skin as an ally rather than something that needs to be fixed a whole lot of other struggles start to make sense. You will find that the closer you pay attention the better your skin will look and the better you will feel all around. If you need help decoding your skin we are always here to answer questions or provide a one-to-one consultation. Shoot us a message via the "Lets Chat" button to get started. ---------------->---->---->----->---->