Facial care for men with impure skin

Gezichtsverzorging voor mannen met een onzuivere huid

Blemished skin is skin that most men are not happy with. And we get that. You're familiar with acne and pimples. Often also with blackheads, oily skin and large pores. Even though you've been through puberty for quite a few years now.

You do not want blemished skin because your face is the first thing a person looks at. Your skin is not only your business card, but also a reflection of your health. In fact, your health can have quite an impact on your skin. We're going to take a closer look at that today. We will also look at causes and solutions, give tips and look at a good skincare routine for men with blemished skin. We got you!

How do I know if I have blemished skin?

It's always helpful to know what skin type you have. You usually know which way you tend to lean. Every skin type has its own characteristics, so does blemished skin. If you can recognize yourself in many, most or perhaps all of them, it is safe to say that you have blemished skin. Some of the characteristics:

  • Pimples
  • Blackheads
  • White globes
  • Clogged pores
  • Large or dilated pores
  • Shiny or oily skin
  • Subcutaneous inflammation
  • The same features in the neck, shoulders, chest or back

Do you recognize these points? Then it's pretty obvious that you have blemished skin. Don't worry, there are several things you can do to make your skin calmer.

Why do you have blemished skin?

Blemished skin can have several causes. Of course, you have puberty which is the most commonly known culprit, but that's too short of the mark. In fact, there are a lot more causes that we are going to zoom in on.

Hormones

Male hormones, also known as androgens, are the main cause of blemished skin and acne in men. The most well-known male hormone is testosterone. Women also have this hormone, but it is present in greater numbers in men. Androgens stimulate sebaceous glands. This causes your skin to produce more sebum which in turn can cause pimples. A natural counterpart to this are female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). This is why men suffer more from blemished skin than women.

It is important to note, however, that it is not the amount of hormones, but mainly the balance between hormones that matters. At puberty, that balance is far from being achieved, which explains "puberty acne. This balance is the same reason that women who go off hormonal birth control or are pregnant can actually experience more blemished skin. Hormones are key!

Stress

You probably know the situation. You're going through a stressful period and before you know it the subcutaneous pustules are back around the corner. The reason for this is, yep, hormones. After all, we weren't done with hormones yet. Because stress also produces a certain hormone called "cortisol. Cortisol increases your sebum production, causing your pores to clog.

Stress causes the skin barrier to become disrupted and then more susceptible to bacteria. This can then greatly exacerbate blemishes and cause bacterial infections. Stress (cortisol) can also trigger adrenaline which causes pigment cells to go into hyperactivity. This causes pigment spots to appear. So stress is an absolute no-go. Restâgh!

Smoking

Smokers are known to get pimples on their cheeks more often. Smoking increases sebum production in your face and pulls vitamin E and vitamin C out of your skin, while these are important vitamins that keep the right substances in the right place. Vitamin C makes your collagen (which keeps your skin supple) bind better. So smoking quickly causes aging skin that also causes more blemishes. Our advice: leave that cigarette butt in the 70's.

Poor nutrition

There is still plenty of research going on, but in the meantime, some things are clear. Sugar is a kind of fertilizer for your pimples. It is downright nutrition that your blemished skin can feast on. It also raises your blood sugar, which releases male hormones (there they are again) and increases sebum production again.

Eating too much salt is not good either. Eating salt contains iodine, and iodine makes your skin trigger subcutaneous inflammation faster. So those salty ready meals and your favorite hair salons should not be eaten on a daily basis.

Air pollution

It has been proven that people who live in busy cities are more likely to suffer from blemished skin. Think exhaust fumes, more bacteria, etc. Your skin is working overtime to protect you from these external influences.

Medicine

Many people forget about these. You cleanse your skin well, have a healthy lifestyle, low stress, and your hormone levels have proven to be good. So where should you look? Well, maybe you are taking medication. To give you some examples: medications for epilepsy, tranquilizers and cortisone creams are known to trigger blemished skin. So always check what you are taking!

Wrong skin care products

You need to know your skin type to use the right skin care products. Are you using the wrong ones? Then chances are you are actually clogging and irritating your skin. Also, you may not be cleansing your skin the right way. If you don't, then your pores will clog and impurities will increase. But hey, luckily we're in our element here, so we're going to help you with the right products soon.

Tips for men with blemished skin

You may have just read some identifying points and now understand what can cause you to have blemished skin. But we're not going to stop there. We are going to give you some tips to reduce, and maybe solve, your blemishes!

  1. Always go for mild, perfume-free, alcohol-free and natural products for blemished skin. If you use products that are too harsh, too much sebum will be removed. Your skin's natural reaction is, yep... a hyperactivity of sebum production. So that's exactly what you don't want.
  2. Squeeze. No. Pimples. Out! Oh man, we know how tempting it is but don't do it. Bacteria on your hands can aggravate and spread inflammation. Plus, squeezing often causes unwanted scarring.
  3. Beware of the sun. Most people actually think that the sun dries out pimples. And this is true, but the effect is temporary. The sun's radiation actually causes extra sebum production. And you know by now what this does to your blemished skin. So enjoy the sun but do it in moderation. If you use sunscreen, make sure you use a natural, mild sunscreen with the right ingredients.
  4. Nourish your skin from the inside out. We've already told you about sugars and salts in your diet. But, there are also foods that will do your skin good! Get plenty of vitamin A. This can be found in spinach, carrots and salmon, among others. Zinc (turkey, wheat germ and almonds) is also good for your skin. Vitamin C is always a fine one; you can find this in tomatoes, citrus fruits and papaya, for example. And in addition: water, water, water! Water purifies your body and thus also your skin. Drink about 1.5 / 2 liters per day. Most people see a real difference.
  5. Have clean towels and pillowcases. No joke. If you keep using a used (and by now maybe dirty) towel after cleansing your face, your skin won't stay clean for long either. The same goes for your pillowcase. You often lie there with your face on it for 8 hours anyway. Dirt or residue from your hair products can stay on your pillowcase. Mega important to keep it clean.
  6. Rest and regularity is key. While you sleep, your body recovers, including your skin. Sleep also reduces stress and the hormone cortisol. So make sure your sleep rhythm is good so your body can clean up all the impurities itself.
  7. Integrate a daily cleansing ritual. Blemished skin is not going to calm down overnight. This requires some effort on your part. Give your skin that rest and calm it down! We are going to explain to you the best cleansing ritual for blemished skin.

How to take care of blemished skin?

1. Cleanse with a mild facial cleanser

Cleansing the skin is always the first step in good facial care for men. Cleansing is important for really all skin types, but especially for blemished skin. Don't be tempted to use a powerhouse of a facial cleanser, but rather a mild cleanser. If the cleanser is too violent, skin's own fats will be removed. The result? Hyperactive sebum production. Still don't have what you want. So go for a cleanser without sulfates, silicones, parabens and perfume.

  • Cleanse your face with lukewarm water
  • Gently massage your face with the mild cleanser
  • Rinse your face with lukewarm water
  • Pat your face dry with a clean towel

2. Use a toner

Use a toner to restore your skin's PH balance. Tonic gets the last bits of dirt off your face. If you don't remove it, you give dirt, cleanser or residue the chance to clog your pores. And that's exactly what we want to avoid. Pay attention the first time you use a toner. You can see that there is still quite a bit of dirt on your cotton pad.

  • Put a little tonic on a cotton pad
  • Pat the cotton pad over your face
  • No need to rinse the tonic off your face

3. Use a serum

Time to start moisturizing your face. A serum is great for this. For blemished skin, a serum is recommended that contains, for example, salicylic acid (also known as BHA or beta-hydroxy acid). This ingredient penetrates your pores and will help unclog them. LHA, glycolic acid and niacinamide also help blemished skin.

  • Warm a little serum in your (clean) hands
  • Spread over your face
  • No need to wash serum off

4. Use a day cream or night cream for men

Now it's time for your day cream (or night cream, depending on when you apply this routine). Be careful not to use a cream that is too oily and contains too much oil. This can actually clog your pores. Always make sure you use a special cream made for blemished skin.

  • Remove your cream from the jar with clean hands or a spatula.
  • Massage the cream into your face with circular motions
  • Start in the center and work outward
  • Avoid the skin around your eyes
  • Let the cream soak into your skin during the day/night

5. Deep cleansing

Special step for blemished skin is deep cleansing. Do this about once or twice a week for optimal results. A deep cleansing consists of a facial scrub (exfoliation). This removes dead skin cells and stimulates cell renewal. The result? Skin that can breathe again and therefore can absorb all the good substances from your skin care better. Win win!

  • Cleanse your skin properly
  • Apply exfoliant to your skin in the same way as a cream

The best products for blemished skin

And now for the most important part! It is always difficult to choose the right product among all the products out there. That's why we like to think with you. For example, on our site you always have the choice "blemished skin" under all the different categories. That way you can quickly filter to find the right products for your skin. In addition, of course, we have our favorites.

We hope this has helped you a lot. Of course, you may still have questions. Please feel free to contact us, we would love to help you! You know where to find us.

Good luck!

Your friends, The Alpha Men