You’d think that at 42 years of age, pimples and breakouts would no longer be an issue in my life, a worry of yesteryear, a thing of the past…If only!!!
You see, I have a teenage daughter, and once again, I’m dealing with breakouts because her skin is under attack!
I know that spots and pimples can have a devastating effect on the psyche of a teen (I remember the effect they had on me, back in the day), and was somewhat shocked to learn that not only do they negatively affect self esteem, they can even lead to depression. Many people tie their self-esteem closely to their skin (again, I know this to be true because I did) and an outbreak of pimples can severely affect their mood and behavior, causing sufferers to miss out on the fun aspects of life during a breakout because they tend to avoid social activities.
Miyo, my thirteen year old daughter, has had an issue with blackheads and whiteheads around her nose and chin for a while now. These are not easy to remove, so we leave them be. However, they don’t just disappear – oh no! And, because she absentmindedly rubs these areas, they tend to become infected. Next thing you know, she got a massive, pussy pimple (that all I REALLY want to do is squeeze, but she won’t let me). Worst still is the fact that because she has an olive skin tone, once the pimple has gone, it tends to leave a dark mark behind. I’ve tried a few products that claim to remedy breakouts, but most leave her skin feeling dry – some have even caused irritation.
She’s not that happy that I’m showing you such a close up of her skin, but I need to, in order for you to see the underlying congestion and blackheads.
So, what exactly are pimples?
Pimples occur when the pores get clogged by excess oil and dead skin cells, thus becoming infected with germs. They are usually found on the face, chest, shoulders and back and commonly appear in the form of:
- Whiteheads – closed, clogged pores
- Blackheads – open, clogged pores, appears black when oil in pores reacts with air
- Pimples and bumps – small, red, tender bumps (papules), some with pus at the tips (pustules)
- Large, painful lumps – either solid (nodules) or filled with pus (cystic lesions) below the skin.
What causes pimples?
There are many different causes, ranging from lifestyle to hormonal.
Some include:
- School exam stress. Pimple severity peaks during exams due to stress hormones. I can fully attest to this as have seen it happen with Miyo.
- Longer days. Because of the hormonal changes youngsters go through (such as puberty), their oil glands tend to become overactive. This extra oil can clog pores and cause germs can grow, resulting in redness, swelling and pus (i.e. zits).
- Sleeping Less. This impacts on stress hormones, and the immune system, leading to an increase in pimples.
- Mobile Phones. Holding the phone to your ear can transmit GERMS to the face, causing pimples. Think about it, how often do you clean and actually disinfect your screen?
- Diet. Interestingly, too much VITAMIN B12 changes the germs on your skin, increasing pimple inflammation. Be wary of consuming too many foods fortified with this vitamin such as soy, fortified cereals and breads, milk and Swiss cheese.
- Washing in a hurry. Research shows that on average, we spend 30 seconds washing our faces. We should, in fact, be spending about 2 minutes on proper cleansing, thus allowing the ingredients in our cleansers to work properly.
Did you know?
Globally, pimples affect nearly 1 in 10 people, making them the eighth most prevalent skin problem worldwide. Usually, they surface in teens during periods of hormonal change like puberty, but can also affect adults. Men tend to have more severe and longer lasting forms of pimples, while women are more likely to have repeated breakouts due to hormonal changes associated with their menstrual cycle.
“There is an urgent need today to equip patients with credible, clinically proven pimple solutions and information as they increasingly seek to self-manage the effects of pimples in modern life,” – – South African dermatologist Dr. Pholile Mpofu
Myth Busting
So many myths abound about what causes pimples, and ways to get rid of them.
Here are few examples:
Myth: washing your face multiple times a day is the best way to fight pimples.
Truth: Over Washing will strip your skin of it’s natural oils, leading to even more oil production, increasing the likelihood of breakouts.
Myth: Squeezing pimples gets rid of them faster.
Truth: Squeezing a pimple prior to it being fully formed will push the germs deeper into the skin, spreading the infection to other areas. Also, popping pimples can lead to permanent skin damage and scarring.
Myth: Applying toothpaste to a pimple will dry it out.
Truth: That tingling sensation you get after you’ve applied toothpaste to a pimple is actually the formula irritating your skin. Just don’t do this, ever!
Myth: Wash your face with soap to dry it out and prevent pimples.
Truth: Harsh soaps dry the skin out badly, aggravating pimples and causing inflammation.
What makes the new Pond’s Pimple Clear range so effective?
Firstly, you need to understand that early use of the correct products is KEY to ensuring the best results when using pimple formulas.
The new POND’S Pimple Clear formula contains thyme and pine oils, along with a breakthrough “Lock + Clear technology” developed by The POND’S Institute. Essentially, it locks powerful pimple-fighting Active Thymo-T Essence deep inside the cells of pimple causing germs. This technology is proven to proven to help clear pimples from the root, in just 3 days. There are two products available in the range; a Facial Foam (R52.99 for a 100 gram and R34.99 for a 50 gram) and a Leave-On Expert Cleansing Gel (R44.99 for a 20 gram tube). It’s best to use these products twice a day – morning and evening, as part of a regime.
Just 3 days to clear pimples? That quite a claim, so obviously I put it to test on my teen…
Miyo used both the Pimple Clear Facial Wash and Leave-On Expert Cleansing gel twice daily, in the morning and evening, for three days.
Day 1: Miyo had a huge, festering puss-filled spot on the side of her nose (I really want to show you a pic, but she’d be horrified). All I want to do it squeeze it, but restrain myself. She does not want me touching her face. She uses the Pond’s Pimple Clear Face Wash and follows this with an application of the Leave-On expert Clearing Gel onto the spot, as well as over the congested areas on her chin and nose. She tells me the wash doesn’t leave her skin feeling dry (bonus) and the gel absorbs quickly.
Day 2: There is an improvement in the ‘nasty’ on the side of her nose. It’s still there, but the puss seems to have dried out somewhat, along with the actual pimple itself. We both noticed that a few other red bumps threatening to become fully blown pimples are hardly noticeable.
Day 3: We’re well impressed! Not only is the ‘nasty’ almost completely gone, no less that four zits were stopped in their tracks. We also noticed that some blackheads had completely disappeared. There was an improvement in the whiteheads under Miyo’s chin, but they’re not completely gone (remember, these buggers are not easy to get rid of). Miyo says she’d definitely this range to her peers and teens battling with breakouts.
After using the POND’S Pimple Clear range for three days, Miyo’s skin is looking a lot better.
If you or your teen are waging a war against spots, give this duo a go. Not only is it well priced, the formula is really effective too. You’ll find the POND’S Pimple Clear range at supermarkets and pharmacies.
This post is sponsored by POND’S