Today, let’s talk a little bit about the 4-letter word that none of us wants…acne. I want to dive in to how exactly to treat stubborn acne and what to avoid in the process. And don’t fret – if you’re located in Flagstaff, we can help you with your acne treatment!

Let me first remind you – acne is 1000% NORMAL, and most of us have experienced some form of acne in our lifetime. We are all human, and you’re bound to have a breakout. For those of you who haven’t, you must teach us your ways! Realistically speaking though, there is no one who has never experienced a pimple before so, we all at least know what acne is. I know that having acne can make you feel a little more self-conscious and uncomfortable but fortunately, our mission here at Allure is to make you feel beautiful in your own skin. Let’s start simple with a few tips and tricks!

First things first, let me tell you what acne actually is. Think of your parents – did they have acne growing up? Did your siblings? Most of the time when you have acne, your parents or siblings did too. Acne is actually an inherited disorder of the pores where your skin is constantly shedding. People who are acne prone actually shed up to 5 layers of skin a day while someone who isn’t acne prone may only shed 1. When that overproduction of the cells shed, they become stuck in the pores packed down with oils and dirt and poof…now you have an acne lesion.

Something awesome we offer at Allure is a Flagstaff acne treatment program that can treat very mild acne up to grade 3 cystic acne. Believe me, I have seen amazing results come from this program called Face Reality. It has a 95% success rate on clearing up even the most inflamed and irritated acne. At Allure, we offer a Face Reality Membership to really help tackle stubborn acne. It’s a 6-month commitment but typically takes 3-6 months to see skin clear once we completely flush the skin of all the impurities. During this program, you will be coming in twice a month for your treatments. The Face Reality membership is $250 per month which includes your two treatments for that month. You will be required to put aside all of your current products and invest in all Face Reality medical-grade skincare so that we can accurately control all of the products you use on your skin and optimize your results. I know it sounds like a lot but trust the process! If this is something you’re interested in, I would suggest you set up a Face Reality consultation with one of our acne-certified Estheticians.

In the meantime while you’re deciding what is best for you, here are a couple tips:

1. Ice your skin – even in the winter when the last thing you want to do is go near ice! It will significantly help with the inflammation and redness.
2. Cut out dairy products and eat clean for a little bit to see if that helps improve breakouts. When trying to clear your skin, your gut health is extremely important.
3. Stop scrubbing over-active lesions.
4. Keep your skin hydrated even if you’re naturally oily.
5. Don’t pick your skin.

If you’ve done all the above and you’re still feeling frustrated at your results, take the time for yourself and schedule a consultation. Your life, and skin, will change!