A blemish can really mean the difference between a good day, and one where you just want to hide under your covers and only leave for ice cream. Whether it is acne, irritation, hyperpigmentation or anything in between, blemishes can crop up for a variety of reasons and can really make themselves at home on your skin.
Everyone gets blemishes of some kind (yes, even Beyonce, probably), but we’re here to break them down for you, and teach you how to kick them to the curb.
What are Skin Blemishes?
Generally speaking, a blemish is some kind of skin marking. You probably think of pimples when you hear ‘blemishes’, but there are actually heaps of blemish types. Some can be itchy, painful, red, while others might not cause any harm, but are just a bit of a pain. We’re going to unpack just a few different types of skin blemishes (we’d be here until next week if we did all of them!) and how to get rid of them.
Different Types of Blemishes and How to Treat Them
Acne
Kicking off with the blemish we all know and love (not!), acne. Acne is a type of face blemish that comes from the skin producing too much oil and sebum, clogging the pores. There are quite a few types; blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and cysts.
Cleanse your face twice a day with The Uncomplicated Cleanser plus Anti-Redness to help calm any irritation from acne blemishes. Fight congestion with the Fresh Sea and Salty Sand Gentle-Foliant. Then slather on the Anti-Inflammation Mint Gel Booster Mask for the ultimate anti-blemish remedy. Top it off with the Anti-Redness Minty Green Smoothie for the powerhouse of calming and antibacterial ingredients. Watch that redness fade away like your worries. And for the love of skincare, please, please don’t pick at your acne!
Skin Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation blemishes are darker than the rest of the skin and, unlike acne, they aren’t raised. They can be caused by genetics (thanks, mum and dad), sun damage, pregnancy, age or acne scarring. Typically, hyperpigmentation blemishes are all thanks to an excess of a little something called melanin, which is what gives skin its colour.
To avoid most pigmentation blemishes, you’re going to want to avoid sun exposure. Lather on our Skin Shield Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 every day (and yes, we really do mean every day).
For sun and age pigmentation, brightening ingredients like vitamin C are going to be your new bestie. Our Pomegranate Brightening Serum is packed with Kakadu Plum, the highest natural source of vitamin C.
Now, one thing to note here is that birthmarks are also considered hyperpigmentation, but you’re usually stuck with them - and thank goodness for that, they make you beautifully unique!
Freckles and moles are also a type of hyperpigmentation but could be a sign of something more serious. If they start to grow or change shape, time to see your GP, ASAP.
Rosacea
Rosacea affects around 20% of people, so if you find yourself with flushed skin or red blemishes most of the time, you are definitely not alone! It causes broken blood vessels to become visible on the surface of the skin, particularly around the nose, forehead and cheek regions. In some cases, your face will feel a bit tender to touch, and foods like dairy and spice may cause flare ups.
Anti-redness products can help to keep this type of face blemish in check. The key is to be super gentle - the last thing you want is to make your skin any angrier! Our crowd favourite Anti-Redness Minty Green Smoothie is perfect for after cleansing. Then, as a light moisturising lotion, go for our Probiotic Skin Mylck plus Anti-Redness, featuring probiotics and anti-inflammatories to help cool and strengthen the skin. When it comes to combating skin blemishes, the healing properties of this Mylk are really something else!
Eczema
Eczema can appear because of environmental factors or simply genetics, often presenting itself as red/brown bumps and rashes. It’s one of the more annoying skin blemishes because as anyone with eczema will tell you, it can be itchy and sore - just an all-around pain in the butt. While there is no cure, per se, there are a few things you can do to relieve symptoms.
Rule number one is to avoid any harsh products, as they will only make the blemishes worse. We always believe natural is best, but this is especially true for those of you with eczema. To give your skin the ultimate TLC treatment, keep it hydrated and use products that help to strengthen the skin barrier. It just so happens that our Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum does both thanks to a magical pairing of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
To find out more about how to treat your skin blemishes, chat to our skincare experts for a free consultation. No matter what blemish has taken up residence on your skin, we’ll help you say “au revoir” to it!