Girl warns acne sufferers NOT to exfoliate as she transforms her inflamed skin with gentle skincare regime
Reddit user ricebowlmama revealed her dramatic skin transformation on Reddit after ditching harsh exfoliators in favour of a gentle skincare regime
A WOMAN who suffered with chronic acne has showcased the incredible before and after results after giving up on exfoliation and embracing a gentler beauty regime.
Reddit user shared the pictures of the dramatic transformation earlier today, with the two photos taken just five months apart.
Captioning the image she explained that the initial photo had been taken during the days when she was still using exfoliants on her skin.
She wrote: “This before pic was the result of over-exfoliation by Paula’s BHA + AHA chemical exfoliant (only used it once a day though!)- extremely inflamed skin and closed comedones for the next couple months.”
She continued: “(It) Affected my self esteem sO bad I wore concealer to school like everyday. Did trial and error with whatever products I could find - masks (2 gave me allergic reactions), creams, moisturizers.
“Allergic reactions to The Face Shop brightening mask and Innisfree (i know!!!) Real Squeeze mask made any progress reset twice (sic).”
- Fresh Rose Face Mask, £52 from Fresh -
- Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater, £7 from Beauty Bay -
- COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch, £4.40 from Look Fantastic-
But within five months the Redditors skin has undergone a complete transformation, showcasing a smooth complexion with no sign of redness or breakouts – which she puts down to a gentler skin routine.
She wrote: “In the end, just gave up and stuck with an extremely bare routine that solved it.
“In addition to that, I joined track and field which made me be under the hot afternoon sun for hours. I heard UV rays kill acne bacteria, don’t know how true / effective lol.(sic)”
- Benzoyl Peroxide, £10.49, from Boots -
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Softening Foaming Gel, £10.60 from Escentual -
The Reddit user then went on to list her new six hero products which included; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Softening foaming gel, Fresh Rose Face Mask, Mario Badescu Rose Facial Spray, TDF Derma Formula Light Textured Moisturiser, Benzoyl Peroxide 5% gel and Hydrocolloid patches.
Finally, sharing the ‘moral of the story’ ricebowlmama wrote: “don’t over-exfoliate, don’t use too many products if you’re not sure they’ll help you, didn’t used to believe in benozyl peroxide but it saved my face.”
The Redditor's claim that ditching exfoliation actually improves your skin is backed up by th with dermatologist Mary P. Lupo revealing that while it can be beneficial it cam also be harmful.
Dr Lupo explains that there is a wide variety of exfoliation products available in stores and online, but not all of them are safe and effective.
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She recommends buying over-the-counter chemical products with a low acid concentration — no higher than 10 percent glycolic acid or 2 percent salicylic acid.
Dr Lupo adds: "Before you exfoliate, you really need to understand your skin and skin type.A board-certified dermatologist can help you choose the exfoliation option that’s best-suited to your skin’s unique needs."
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