Challenges In Moisturizing Acne-Prone Skin

Acne is the eighth most common and dreaded skin condition among adolescents and young adults which is caused due to the overactivity of sebaceous glands, fired by the androgen hormone. It predominantly affects the areas of skin which have a relatively high concentration of sebaceous or oil glands that includes the face, upper part of the chest, and back.

Excessive oil secreted by sebaceous glands along with the dead skin, clog the hair follicles and forms comedones, generically called as pimple. These clogged hair follicles later become the breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria – P.acnes, that irritates the skin and causes inflamed and infected acne, which usually leaves a dark mark at its site due to the accumulation of melanin following post inflammatory Hyperpigmentation.

What could be an ideal treatment modality for acne?

Predominantly, acne is caused due to clogging of hair follicles with a deadly mix of dead cell debris and oil or sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands, which later become the breeding ground for P. acnes, resulting in an infection and inflammation. Ideally, the treatment of acne should be to target the root cause i.e excess sebum secretion, which is possible with powerful medications like isotretinoin, anti-androgens such as cyproterone acetate and spironolactone, oral estrogens, etc, but their side effect outweighs the positives and therefore recommended very selectively, and under strict medical supervision.

Then, the other and much safer alternative is to regularly cleanse the clogged follicles while simultaneously targeting the colony of P.acnes bacterium by utilizing the cleansing and antibacterial powers of premium face wash containing antibacterial agents, natural moisturizing factors and strong exfoliating ingredients that prioritizes normalization of sebum, deep cleansing and reduction of acne pigmentation and scarring but can it be all done by one ingredient?!

Managing Acne and Acne Scars

 

 

Our recommendation, Pionin otherwise also known as Quarternium-73,  is an excellent acne-buster. Physically, Quarternium-73 is a yellowish crystalline powder that has excellent antimicrobial activity at a very low concentration. It splendidly inhibits the growth of various bacteria and fungi and particularly exhibits a strong anti-bacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, the main culprit responsible for acne and blemishes, by inhibiting the enzyme metabolism of bacteria, as well as disrupting the structural proteins in the cell wall and membrane of P.acnes.

Quarternium-73 is a first-choice ingredient for anti-acne preparations worldwide because of its antibacterial activity against P.acnes and its powerful inhibiting action against melanin production, which is almost comparable to a regular anti-melanin agent like Kojic acid, which prevents the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or Acne marks. And the best part is its high safety profile, as it is active against bacteria at a very low MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration).

It is rightly said,

“Prevention is better than cure” and the most effective prevention of acne is to rein in the growth of P.acnes while unclogging the skin pores by exfoliating the comedones and cleansing them of dead cells and excess sebum. But from which product to start? Facewash is a good starting point and the one which does all the above is even better.