Tag Archives: acne

Quick tips to help with maskne

We have a new word in our skincare dictionary – maskne! As you can probably tell, it refers to breakouts caused by the wearing of face masks. As makes are something that we have to use, and may be with us for quite some time, we need to have some new ways of treating our skin to help reduce the side effects of breakouts, chapped or sore skin.

There are two ways in which the wearing of face masks affect the skin underneath – the friction of cloth against skin and the buildup of bacteria from our mouth/breath being trapped against the skin.

The first, friction, is properly known as acne mechanica and is something that we are used to treating. It can show the following symptoms:

soreness
redness
flaky/chapped areas
impacted congestion such as blackheads, whiteheads, dry bumps which may be sore
rash-type appearance
rarely shows infected-type spots (pustules)

The aim in helping control this type of maskne is to keep the skin layers strong so that your skin is in the best possible condition to repair itself quickly and protect against barrier disruption. We focus on skin strengthening serums, anti-inflammatory ingredients and repair at night.

Here are some simple changes to your routine that will help:

Cleanse as soon as you get home instead of waiting for bedtime, apply a barrier repair product such as Lipid Repair Concentrate to rebuild skin defences.
Choose good quality cloth masks. I like cotton best, line with silk or linen for extra protection, particularly if you have to wear masks all day. Do NOT use fabric conditioner in the wash, you don’t want that against your skin all day.
Make sure that you have anti-inflammatory ingredients and vitamin A in your skincare products to repair and strengthen skin daily.
Don’t wear foundation/makeup if possible where the mask sits. The less your skin has to deal with the better.
Do not exfoliate too often, you need to build up your skin, not break it down.
If you are getting chafing where the top of the mask rests on your cheeks/under your eyes, try applying a light layer of vaseline to the area.

Good products to include:

Lipid Repair Concentrate is your best friend here. Add one drop of it into your morning serum for barrier protection through the day. Follow with sunscreen as normal.
If redness is becoming an issue, use Anti-Redness Concentrate as your morning serum.
Age Slowly Serum at night mixed with Lipid Repair Concentrate will rebuild skin layers and help heal damage done during the day.

In the second instance where bacteria is building up on the inside of the mask/transferring to the skin we would need to do a more personalised consultation as it will vary from person to person depending on skin type, diet, medications etc. but in general you will see infected spots (pustules) possibly a fungal aspect ( may appear as a ‘wet’ flakiness and/or individual pores/folicles visibly affected like a dotted appearance).

This is treated differently as we need to add in an anti-bacterial element to the routine, perhaps an anti-fungal and salicylic acid or a probiotic lotion to protect and restore the skin’s own microbiome.It is possible to experience both types of maskne at once. Some tips:

Use mouthwash regularly thought the day to reduce bacteria.
Change masks regularly throughout the day.
Don’t squeeze or pick! Get professional help from a skin therapist.
Use ice (wrapped in kitchen paper) to bring down inflammation in sore, infected spots.

Products to consider:

Ask about our cucumber probiotic toner to hydrate and balance skin’s microbiome.
You may need a separate specialist cleansing product for affected areas, salicylic acid or fruit enzymes can help. We will recommend one for you based on a personalised consultation.

Buy sun repair special offer, skin essentials by mariga

Stop doing these 5 things if you want clear skin!

If you are acne prone, whether teenage or adult acne, there are some common lifestyle factors that will contribute to breakouts.

While there are many individual factors that influence and trigger breakouts including hormones, genetics, environment and nutrition…

There are also some common triggers that need to be avoided by everyone who is prone to any type of acne.

There is no single fix for acne as it has many contributory factors and some of these vary in severity from person to person.

Also, you need to be very compliant with your routine as acne is always ‘under control’, never ‘cured’. But there is every hope that you can keep your breakouts minimised if you are willing to commit to your skincare routine and lifestyle/dietary changes.

Here are some things to avoid to help get you started on clearing your pimples and spots:

Ditch the dairy. There is no middle ground on this one, consumption of dairy products directly impacts breakouts. Try almond milk on your cereal.
Sticking with nutrition, sugar is the next culprit you need to limit in your diet. It contributes to inflammation and so to inflammatory acne. I agree that it is hard to eliminate completely but see how much you can clean up in your diet and watch the impact on your skin.
Again, a dietary tip (see how much your gut health has to do with your condition of your skin?). Be sure to get your 5 a day and drink more water & herbal teas than coffee. Skin, like the rest of your body, needs the building blocks of a strong, healthy structure to flourish and a lot of this comes directly from your diet.
Picking – everyone is guilty of it but squeezing blackheads, popping pimples and generally poking at your face will spread infection, cause scarring and definitely not reduce the breakout!
1. Use ice to cool a hot or sore spot, it will act as an anti-inflammatory and make the spot clear more quickly. Remember, once you see a spot on the surface, it is too late to do anything about it.
Using random products without any plan or cohesion. It can be tempting to try the latest internet ‘tip’ (who even starts these viral things??) but always consider the source! Professional skincare advice should only come from a skincare professional. Not a facebook meme. Mixing glue and charcoal and applying it to your face is not something you will find in any cosmetic chemistry textbook 😳. Believe me, if there were some instant or miracle cure for acne, we as skincare professional would know!
1. Also, jumping between one product and another will never work, even if the products are great! Getting on top of acne is a long-term situation and even the very best acne control protocols take months to show the results on the surface as the foundation work in correcting dysfunction deep in the skin comes first.

As specialists in skincare, we also create our own skincare products including our very popular Blemish Control Cream.

This is an acne control system that works on all the causes of spots simultaneously to give you real, long-term results.

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Why is your acne treatment not working?

There is no doubt that acne is a traumatic experience for teens and adults alike.

One of the major focuses we have at Skin Essentials when dealing with acne is lessening the emotional impact of acne.

We do this by trying to clear your skin as much as possible as quickly as possible by first understanding your unique skin, it’s behaviour and history, then crafting a unique control plan just for you.

We never say the word ‘cure’ when it comes to acne, teen acne is firstly an inherited predisposition (yes, you can blame your parents), then is also hormonally triggered at puberty, and genetics and hormones are out of our hands!

What we CAN do though is to control the symptoms, keeping your skin as clear and calm as possible by eliminating all the other triggers and contributory factors such as clogged pores, excess or stagnant oil, inflammation and bad lifestyle habits.

Even given the fact that acne is different for every person, and can evolve and change as your hormones fluctuate, there are some great ingredients and treatments available that when used correctly can have fantastic effects on keeping breakouts and inflammation under control.

So, what are the reasons that you have ‘tried them all’ and they’re not working for you? Here are the most common reasons your acne treatment is not working:

You’re not consistent. This is the number one reason we see why even the best programmes can fail. Acne never gives up, neither can you! To keep consistently clear you must keep consistent with your product use and treatments/check ups. No excuses.
Related to No. 1 above – you thought you were finished. Many times over my career I have been frustrated to have this happen. I work with a client to get them clear of breakouts, and they do everything I ask. The acne clears and everyone’s happy. Fast forward 12 months and the acne is as bad as ever and they are back to square one. The reason? They stopped using the products because their ‘skin was good’. Do not fall into this trap! Remember, control is all we get, never cure!
You don’t keep a clean diet. I know it’s hard, but the gut and the skin are closely related and this is never so obvious as when dealing with acne. Unfortunately dairy products are a big no-no and I do get a lot of push-back from teens on this issue! Strictly restricting sugar and salt may also be necessary. Don’t blame me, I didn’t make the rules
You’re picking. Yes, I know you say you don’t. But we can tell. Always. This will cause blemishes to last longer, drive bacteria deeper, spread it around the surface of the skin and cause scarring.
It was never acne in the first place. Many people self-treat breakouts with over the counter products as a first point of action. While this is understandable I would encourage parents to bring their teen to a skin specialist as early as possible. While most times it is teen acne you are dealing with, particularly if one or both parents suffered with it, there are some conditions that look like acne but are not. Some examples are fungal folliculitis (sometimes seen in boys who have recently started shaving), or bacterial infection. While not overly common, these conditions need to be treated in a much different manner, perhaps even medically, and you will not want to waste time and money trying to treat a non-acne issue with acne protocols.

Call us on (053) 914 5981 to book up a consultation with a therapist, or book online by clicking the link below.

Skin Texture issues? Solved with Trifractional Resurfacing

Is your skin texture the issue that is bothering you?

-Bumpy or rough feeling to the skin?

-Enlarged Pores?

-Dull, patchy surface?

-Acne scarring?

-Ongoing congestion in the pores?

Then you need to know about TriFractional Skin Resurfacing using the Divine Pro technology.

Combining a shallow type of microneedling treatment with radio frequency energy, the skin’s surface is gently but thoroughly resurfaced to leave it smoother, brighter and a lot more even.

With typical downtime of just a few hours and results visible from the very first treatment, we know you will love this just as much as we do!

From having a single treatment to rejuvenate and smooth minor texture issues, right through to an intensive series for scar revision, we create a programme exactly right for you. By combining this incredible technology with corrective homecare products adjusted for your particular skin’s needs, we both correct the issue and prevent it from happening again.

When treating texture, we use a shallow needle array to direct the radiofrequency exactly where we need it within the stratum corner / upper epidermis, meaning the treatment is applied only where needed, giving a quicker recovery time.

From stand-alone TriFractional to treat superficial skin texture issues to combination therapies targeting deeper issues and scarring, we have almost limitless options to customise your resurfacing treatment.

Give us a call on 053 9145981 or drop in to us at our Wexford Town clinic (find us in Selskar, right next door to the Selskar Bookshop) to find out how we can help you today.

You can also book your complimentary Divine Pro Consultation online on our live booking system

$Animated pic of trifractional application to the skin showing depth of penetration into epidermis$

RF energy is targeted exactly where needed.

Before and after pics of eye and lip lines following first pyramid facelift treatment

Before and after picture of indented acne scarring showing dramatic improvement in depth and colour after a series of Pyramid Facelift Treatments from Skin Essentials by Mariga in Wexford Town

Pitted acne scarring treated with Pyramid Facelift technology at Skin Essentials by Mariga

Bad acne? We Have Good News!

Bad acne? Don’t Worry, We Have Good News!

Acne comes in many forms and while you may feel hard done by if your particular type is red, inflamed and angry while your friend has a few blackheads and occasional spots, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

You will be pleased to know that the worst acne is actually the easiest to treat and control!

This is because these types of acne eruptions are closer to the surface and so respond much better to treatment. Of course, you must be on the correct treatment to begin with.

Most acne cases will fall into one of the four grades below:

Grade I: Blackheads

Grade II: Blackheads and whiteheads

Grade III: Above plus papules (red, raised spots) and pustules (infected spots)

Grade IV: Above plus deep, hard nodules. This is known as cystic acne

Grades III and IV are actually the easiest to bring under control but also the most likely to scar so it is important that you take advice from a skincare professional as soon as possible to reduce the instance of post-acne scarring and other marking.

With your personalised Skin Essentials by Mariga acne treatment programme you can expect to see major improvement within 3 months with compliance.

Book your assessment now on 053 9145981 and take back control of your skin.

Are you a past acne sufferer and now have scarring left behind? DOn’t worry – we have great options for dealing with your acne scarring so that you can leave all traces of your acne behind you and move on! Until recently there were many options for red or flat scarring such as microneedling or chemical peels and these are still a great way to improve these types of scarring but indented or pitted scars were not treatable non-surgically until recently.

We now have available to us great new technology that can dramatically improve the depth and colour of these types of scars. See the pic below for a recent result of one of our clients!

Pitted acne scarring treated with Pyramid Facelift technology at Skin Essentials by Mariga

New Teen Acne Packages

We are so excited to partner with an amazing brand for our new acne treatment programmes.

Skin Script are an independent brand who are making waves in the US aesthetics market with their incredible professional and homecare products for teen acne.

We are delighted to exclusively introduce these protocols into Ireland and look forward to bringing you fantastic results on all grades of teenage acne.

teen acne, skin essentials by mariga, wexford, skincare, skin advice

From occasional pimples to full-blown deep-set acne, we can tailor an in-clinic and at-home programme for you.

Having completed intensive ingredient and protocol certification with Skin Script’s director of education, we are confident that we have sourced the best acne solution on the market for our clients that is consistent and more affordable than many other options.

What’s involved?

This is all about targeted ingredients, used in a customised way for each client, both in the treatment room and at home.

Teen acne needs to be addressed with a very consistent approach in order to disrupt the pattern of blockage-pimple-infection that is occurring in the pores.

The application of at-home products as directed is crucial to the success of the programme so we need a commitment of consistency from you before we start!

Each regime will consist of a minimum of 6 customised acne treatments and a homecare routine to be followed. You must attend for a consultation first so that we can create a programme for you, and you will take home your products on the first day to begin prepping at home for your clinical treatments.

Once we begin your treatments (anywhere from 1-4 weeks after starting on homecare depending on your skin’s initial presentation), you must attend weekly for 6 weeks while also continuing homecare.

The treatments are short, 20 minutes on average, but very important. Missing a week will mean you will not get the full result.

The treatments will consist of a customised blend of enzymes/acids/masks as well as any necessary extractions.

We will customise a package exactly for you at your initial consultation. Our packages usually consist of 6 x custom-blended peels and a set of products that we would recommend. (Sample treatment package pricing: course of 6 €290 / €60 per individual treatment).

Call us on 053 9145981 for more info, or you can book your teen acne consultation online.

Red marks left after spots?

Whether it is an occasional spot or pimple, or a more serious case of acne, a common feature of many spots is that even when they are gone, they will leave a red mark behind that can least for weeks or even months.

Acne scarring, skin essentials by mariga, wexford

These marks can even be permanent in some cases – usually when the damage is so deep (as in cystic acne spots) that the full depth of the skin structure is damaged, or due to damage inflicted by picking or squeezing.

Even when the damage is not that deep and you have resisted picking, the red marks can hand around for a while after the original spot is long gone.

What causes them?

When you have a spot or pimple, the body sends healing resources to the area which are transported in the blood. This is why the area initially gets red and inflamed.

Sometimes when the spot is healed there is some redness left behind as the tiny capillaries that carry the blood to the skin have become enlarged and more dense in that particular area, meaning we can see them through the top layer of skin.

Many times this will fade over time as the capillaries return to a normal size. The weaker your skin is in general, the longer this can take. So, in this, as in many other things, prevention is better than cure.

In a skin that has the benefit of a good diet, optimum hydration and appropriate supporting skincare, these red marks will vanish much more quickly than in a compromised skin.

To help them fade faster, you can make sure that your skincare includes Vitamin C (Hydra Collagen Serum), Vitamin A (Age Slowly Serum), and essential fatty acids (Lipid Repair Concentrate).

In our clinic, some superficial acid peels or LED light therapy may help to speed up the fading.

Sometimes, the capillaries remain enlarged and the red area never fades. While this is no harm, most people don’t want this visible damage left on their skin.

In these cases we can consider using diathermy in isolated areas to reduce/remove the red patches where they have visible capillaries involved, or Trifractional resurfacing treatments where the red mark is more scar-like and definite in shape.

For more information call us on 053 9145981, or book a treatment online by clicking the link below: