Acne Prone Skin Articles

Struggling with mask acne? Here’s what to do!

Wednesday, October 20th, 2021

Summer is inching closer, but for some of us the combination of warmer weather, frequent mask wearing and all-round increased stress levels due to lockdowns is bringing about the unwelcome symptoms of mask acne (aka ‘maskne’). And unfortunately it’s only going to get worse as the humidity of summer sets in.

Making some conscious changes to your habits and skincare routine will help to prevent breakouts and flare-ups and restore the all-important balance to your skin microbiome. Read on for our top tips to beat the dreaded maskne.

Five tips for combatting mask acne

1. Opt for a paper mask

We prefer paper or surgical masks as they are generally more breathable (and effective) than fabric ones. With better flow of oxygen, you’re less likely to sweat and create a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria inside your mask. Paper masks are also easy to clean and sanitize – more on this below.

2. Sanitize your mask in the sun

UV light has the power to zap the molecular bonds that hold together the DNA of viruses and bacteria. With summer on its way, this is good news! So when it’s not essential to be wearing your mask, lay it flat in direct sunlight for 15 minutes or more and let the UV light destroy any nasties that might have settled in the fibres. Scientists use this trick when working in the lab – they place their masks under UV lamps and let the UV light sterilize them. If using fabric masks, make sure to wash them frequently in a mild detergent.

3. Up your daily skincare routine

This is a good time to wear less make-up and add some extra nourishment to your skin. We recommend using a gentle cleanser morning and night to de-clog pores and remove toxins and impurities, followed by a revitalizing toner to balance the skin’s microflora and prep it for moisturizer. If your skin is feeling extra dry or lack-lustre, try a face oil under your face mask, or if you’re struggling with breakouts, apply a targeted serum like our Acne Prone Skin Cream underneath your moisturizer or night cream.

4. Get outside and get moving

Stress levels are sky-high right now, which is only serving to exacerbate skin concerns. Stress stimulates the production of androgen hormones, which make the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin overproduce, leading to oiliness, acne and irritation. Regular exercise and fresh air (safely, and within the current COVID restrictions) will do wonders for your stress levels and well-being. Pop on your mask, walk out your stress and let your skin reap the benefits.

5. Support your immune system

Quality sleep is absolute bliss AND it’s vital for strengthening your immune system – so grab a glass of water and get to bed on time. You can also support your immune system by reducing your toxic load. Go easy on processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, and refined sugars and load up on gut-loving goodies like yoghurt, kefir, almonds, bone broth, ginger and kimchi.

Your night cream questions answered

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Our hard-working all-in-one night creams have been flying off the shelves and we’re loving all your feedback and questions.

From start to finish, these products have been scientifically designed, developed and tested to deeply repair, nourish, plump and firm your skin, restoring that youthful skin radiance you dream of.

If you’ve already purchased a night cream, or you’re thinking of trying one for the first time, have a read over our Frequently Asked Questions below to make sure you get the best results for your skin!

Q: Can I use my Atopis night cream during the day as well?
A: No. Atopis night creams are formulated with potent active ingredients that do their best work while you sleep and while your body is in repair-mode. Using them during the day-time will make your skin sun sensitive and the UV exposure will degrade the cream’s active ingredients. You may also find your makeup smudges with night cream underneath it.

Q: Which cream should I use?
A: If you’re using Atopis Radiant Balance cream during the day, then use Radiant Balance Night Cream at night, and follow the same principle with the Intensive Restore range. Radiant Balance is designed for younger skin (20s onwards) and is especially efficacious for skin that’s prone to rosacea or acne flare-ups. Atopis Intensive Restore Night Cream is designed for mature skin that needs a deeper dose of plumping power and cellular rejuvenation.

Q: How much should I use?
A: These creams are mega concentrated so you only need to apply a thin layer each use.

Q: Why does my night cream feel slightly runny?
A: Atopis night creams contain sphingolipids and phospholipids, which give them a serum-like textural quality and allow them to be deeply absorbed into your skin cells. This is where the magic happens! Our creams are also enriched with ceramides which are lipids (fats) and contribute to the cream’s slightly runny texture.

Q: Can I use the night creams with my other Atopis skincare?
A: Yes, they’re designed to work in synergy with other Atopis products. So if for example, you’re using our Rosehip Renewal Face Oil or Acne Prone Skin Cream, simply massage in your oil or cream first, then apply your night cream over the top. Remember to just use just a small amount of rosehip oil each time to prevent it from drying out your skin. And always remember to wear a SPF50+ sunscreen – even on cloudy days!

Q: Do the night creams contain retinol?
A: Yes! We’ve used the highest quality pure form of retinol in synergy with our patented ingredient Myrecil®. The two ingredients work together to enhance and strengthen each other – boosting collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and softening skin. They’re all-natural ingredients with no nasty side effects. These creams are very concentrated, so just use a thin layer each time.

Q: Will the night cream help with my pigmentation?
A: Yes! Atopis Night Creams contain the highest grade of German Vitamin C to help banish age spots, pigmentation and uneven skin tone.

They also contain seaweed gel (which gives them their gel-like feel), which helps to lock in vital moisture and powerfully hydrate ageing skin. We harvest the seaweed, extract the gel and combine it with ceramides and phospholipids to create a lipid gel matrix. Similar to aloe vera gel, seaweed gel has incredible healing properties, targeting skin in need of intense nourishment and repair 🍃 For normal skin this seaweed matrix gel is non-comedogenic and ensures your skin remains supple and hydrated.

Q: Do I need to use a serum as well as my Atopis night cream?
A: No! Just the one night cream is all you need. All of the big anti-ageing ingredients (think ceramides, Vitamin C, Myrecil® and hyaluronic acid) are combined in the one night cream for ultimate skin repair, hydration and rejuvenation at the cellular level.

Q: What’s the fragrance of Atopis night creams?
A: The lovely aroma you can smell is the combination of the creams’ natural ingredients. We haven’t used much natural fragrance (only a teeny, tiny amount) as the product itself has its own unique aroma.

Q: Can I use Atopis night creams during pregnancy?

A: Atopis Night Creams contain high quality retinol. Although there is no scientific evidence to date that shows that topical retinol is unsafe during pregnancy, we would urge you to err on the side of caution and use another Atopis product instead. Oral retinols are not considered safe during pregnancy.

Please note: The foundational ingredient Myrecil® in Atopis creams has been fully tested and proven safe in two clinical trials focused on safety and efficacy, and is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

My skincare journey: Tackling cystic acne

Monday, May 10th, 2021

“I tried everything to treat my cystic acne. Nothing worked. But I’m glad I didn’t give up.”

We received this heartfelt message from a customer who achieved incredible skin results from using Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream. Her message and before and after photos are shown below:

“I can’t tell you how miserable I was in the before photos. I feel the after photos don’t do justice to how much better my skin is, especially the texture. The before photos were taken in July 2019 and I have been using Atopis products since then. I’ve never had any treatments or Botox etc, I am 50 years old and although these are the most unflattering photos, most people cannot believe I’m 50. Not bad for enduring 40 years of cystic acne. Thank you for your work to develop this skincare!”

Atopis founder Dr Iona Weir talked to US-based dermatologist Dr Nico Mousdicas about some of the key contributors to cystic acne and rosacea. Here’s what he had to say:

“When I see cases of acne I always look for precipitating or aggravating factors. If the patient is female, I ask if she is experiencing worsening of symptoms prior to her menstrual cycle. The second half of the menstrual cycle causes a surge of progesterone and that is known to have androgenic properties.

I ask about if they take any over-the-counter (OTC) oral medications as there is a long list of reported worsening of acne from iodides, bromides, Vitamin B12 and other ingredients.

I ask about their milk consumption as the whey protein in milk stimulates insulin like growth factor 1, which increases testosterone. Chocolate is also a known aggravator in some patients!

Even if a patient is slim, I would try temporarily removing insulin from the diet (or recommend a carbohydrate-restricted diet) to make sure we are not dealing with insulin resistance. Gut health is reflected in our skin and cutting out gluten may help some people as this causes leaky gut, as shown by Professor Alessio Fasano, not only in celiacs but in many other people.

I would ask about mood; if they are stressed, depressed, what their sleep patterns are like and if they do any activities to relieve stress, as these factors all have a major role to play in inflammatory skin disorders. Stress stimulates ACTH which has stimulating effects on the melanocytes and can be a cause of melasma (dark patches on the skin). There is now talk that visible light from too much exposure to electronic screens can also precipitate melasma. An option to consider is using a physical sunblock and placing blue light screen on devices or having the light emitted reduced.

Incorporating holistic lifestyle changes is also really important for good skin!”

Dr Nico Mousdicas, Dermatologist.

My incredible skin transformation, thanks to Atopis

Saturday, June 13th, 2020

Victoria Gamage shares the story of how she regained her skin confidence, by banishing her acne.

“I didn’t get acne until much later in life than many others I know. When I was a teenager I didn’t have any acne. My skin was clear, except for one or two spots on rare occasions. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my son at age 23 that acne started to show up, and even then only as little spots around my nose, mouth and chin. As I went through pregnancy and birth with the hormonal rollercoaster of changes that are part and parcel of motherhood, the acne got worse, but I felt like I could mostly manage it.

“After I had my second, a baby girl, things got much worse. From 2014, when she was one, my skin was just out of control. Acne started popping up everywhere: all around my chin, mouth and neck like an ever-growing rash of acne.

“It’s hard to describe how this made me feel. It really was simply awful and had a huge impact on how I saw myself and acted in public. It also meant I was trying to hide how I looked to avoid my acne being spotted. As a wife and young mum to two kids, I lost all my confidence. If I went out I’d always ensure I was wearing a large amount of makeup, even if I was just going down to the local dairy. When I wasn’t wearing any makeup I’d walk around with sunglasses and caps on during summer, and would walk with my head dipped downwards to ensure as little as possible of my face could be seen. In winter I’d wear hoodies and scarves folded up around my neck and chin.

“It became quite a big issue for me, and of course, stressing about it made it much worse. Around family and friends, I plastered on my big smile and would just pretend nothing was wrong. But of course they all knew how low I felt about myself. Unfortunately I turned into a squeezer and picker of spots. Since they hurt it felt better to scratch, and I didn’t realise how much damage I was doing and the lasting scaring I was causing on my face. During these years, I wouldn’t let people take my photo because I didn’t want to have pictures with my skin looking so bad. This impacted all kinds of things including photos of special events and family times. I have no photos of my skin when it was at the absolute worst point as I was too ashamed to be in photos.

“I’m not really someone who tries lots of different products. I’d always used an everyday Nivea face cream which seemed okay. From memory, I tried two other acne products, but they didn’t work. One fed the acne, making it even worse! The other brought no relief.

“In terms of diet, it didn’t really seem to matter what I did. If I ate lots of junk food the acne got much worse, but I could be eating well for months and it would perhaps just slightly improve, but the acne was still very much there. I was a bit of a stresser: I worried what I looked like to others and so this became a vicious cycle. Honestly, I just gave up on my skin during these years and resigned myself to the idea of having incurably bad skin.

“I actually heard about Atopis through my father! About three years ago he rang me and said one of his colleagues was working with a client who wanted some people to volunteer to test a new product that was supposed to help with skin issues. Dad wondered if I would like to try it for myself, as he knew how terrible I had been feeling about my skin and myself for years. I said yes, as I didn’t have anything to lose. I didn’t expect anything to happen, being the sceptic that I was.

“When the Atopis team sent me a small sample pot of their base skin cream, what has today become known as Atopis Radiant Balance Cream, I had absolutely zero hope and expectations. I thought the cream smelt nice, and realised it felt really good on my face when I applied it, but that was it. About three days later I actually looked in the mirror properly. I took notice of the fact that my skin wasn’t as red or sore, and my acne wasn’t itchy. By the end of that first week, my face felt the best it had done in years! The cracked dry acne was healing so well, and I couldn’t believe I’d had no new blemishes at all since starting to use the cream. The difference really was incredible.

“After that game-changing base cream trial, I tried the acne cream. Both made even more of a difference to my face, smoothing out my skin tone and keeping acne under control. One or two small spots came out, but since using Atopis I’ve never had anything like what I had for those terrible years, with acne all over my mouth, chin and neck. A couple of years down the track, I tried the radiant balance cream. My skin was incredibly at a point where I was happy with it!

“Although I have some scaring around my chin and mouth, I felt like a massive weight had been lifted. I could walk around with my head up, I’d look people in the eye again, and I’d smile genuinely without worrying what people would think. My confidence was back, and for me that was huge.

“This gift even gave me the confidence to apply for a new job. Working in customer service, your face is of course the first thing that people see. It was such a big shift for me to even contemplate working in a customer-facing role. Now, I’m a sales assistant at a fashion store, it’s such a rewarding job to help women to choose outfits for their daily life or a special occasion, and see the smiles on their faces when we find what they need. I’d never have thought about a job like this a few years ago, and I certainly wouldn’t have had the confidence to say “Yes” when it was offered to me!

“When my acne started getting better, so did my sleep and overall health, because my skin was less of a worry to me. My acne was and still is stress and hormone activated, and worse during my time of the month. But I can still say to this day I have not had a major acne flare up since using Atopis.

“For those suffering from acne, I’d like to emphasise that these products really have changed my life. It’s taken a HUGE anxiety and stress issue away. No matter how small or big your acne issue is, I really urge you to try Atopis: order a sample pot and just try it! For the relief it gave my skin, I’m sure one of their multiple products will be able to help you too. You’ve got everything to gain, and only bad skin to lose!

“I want to thank Dr Iona Weir and her team for creating such a wonderful effective product and continuing to improve and create skincare solutions, keeping people like me with problem skin in mind. You’ve changed my life, and I’m forever grateful.”

Why are some people more prone to Acne?

Tuesday, March 10th, 2020

Part Two: Why are some people more prone to acne?

Acne vulgaris is a skin condition that involves lots of pimples and redness. It’s usually seen on the face, but can also occur on the back, chest, and neck – and it can really impact your self-esteem and self-confidence!

We typically associate acne with teenagers, but it can also occur in adults, either persisting from adolescence or beginning later. This is called adult-onset acne, and it can be very frustrating because there is a perception that acne is a problem exclusively for teenagers.

What causes acne?

The causes of acne are not well understood, but we do know a few things. From twin studies and family studies, we know that there is at least some genetic component to acne.

Unsurprisingly, however, genetics cannot take all the blame. Environmental factors like lifestyle and diet also have an effect. You may have noticed this in your own life – certain foods or even stress may trigger break-outs.

Think of it like this: there are certain genetic factors that can make you more or less resilient to acne-causing environmental factors. Someone who is very resilient might be able to eat whatever they like without getting any acne, while someone who is very prone to acne will have acne no matter what foods they cut out.

This graph illustrates how one person might have a lot of genetic factors that predispose them to acne and only have a small amount of control over environmental factors (Person A), while Person C has lots of room to change their environment before they will trigger an acne breakout.

A short version of how acne pimples work is that your pilosebaceous unit (what you might think of as the hair follicle) becomes clogged by over-produced keratinocytes (skin cells), forming a plug in the shaft of the pilosebaceous unit. This leads to a build-up of sebum and dead skin cells in the pore, which in turn feeds some “bad” bacteria. This is a whitehead or black head. When the build-up leaks out of the hair follicle into the lower layers of skin, this triggers an immune response to the bacteria, which causes inflammation and redness. For more information, see Part One: Understanding Acne.

The speed at which keratinocytes (skin cells) in the pilosebaceous unit grow is determined by hormones. Androgens, including testosterone, stimulate faster production of these cells, and affects the way they develop and die, which is what leads to the aforementioned “plugs.”

Hormones are funny things, though – because they interact with cells through a signalling system, many different factors within the body and the cells’ environments can influence the “strength” of their signalling, and even the content of the message.

Think of the cell (the keratinocyte) as a pond which a pebble (hormone) is dropped into to make ripples (the message). If the pebble is big, it will make bigger waves. If the pebble is a large, flat square, it will make a different pattern to a small, round pebble. The conditions in the pond will also affect the ripples – if there are lots of other ripples, the message will interact with them. So even the effects of the same hormone can vary from person to person and day to day.

Many things in our life can affect our hormones and the effects of our hormones on our body.

Stress is a big one. Of course, puberty affects hormone production, which is why acne is associated with teenagers. But for adults, starting or stopping hormonal contraception, pregnancy, peri-menopause and menopause can all change hormone production – so it’s no surprise that some adults get hormonal acne.

Our diet can also influence hormone production – the things that our body converts to hormones usually come from our diet, and sometimes molecules that we ingest are analogous to hormones and can simulate them in our body. One dermatologist suggests that dairy can sometimes simulate an androgen, which is why cutting out dairy can improve acne symptoms for some people.

Maybe acne seems like an insurmountable problem – but it doesn’t have to be. By using skincare products and making small lifestyle changes, we can control acne and reduce the symptoms.

As acne is triggered by hormonal changes, trying to reduce these hormone fluctuations in your life can help reduce the symptoms. Reducing stress will influence hormone production, and by eliminating common inflammatory foods to test whether they influence your acne, you may be able to pinpoint some specific triggers.

As mentioned above, dairy is a common culprit. Some other hypotheses relating to diet suggest that increasing consumption of omega-3 fats to balance the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio can improve acne, because it may trigger a change in sebum composition, which can help control acne. It has also been suggested that eating a low glycaemic index diet may help, as it reduces insulin resistance and insulin, as a hormone, affects the way that other hormones function in the body.

But of course, for whatever reason, many people can’t change their diet drastically, so addressing acne directly on the skin is a great option.

That’s where Atopis comes in.

Instead of killing all the bacteria, Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream introduces beneficial bacteria (probiotics) to the skin to help regain the necessary balance in the microbiome. It also contains prebiotics, which are food for these bacteria, to help them establish themselves in the microbiome.

Additionally, Dr. Iona Weir’s patented Myrecil® extract is a potent mixture of plant botanicals that helps to regulate the immune response and reduce redness and inflammation. All this goodness is suspended in a rich, moisturizing cream that will leave your skin feeling clear and fresh.

When used in combination with Atopis Thoroughly Gentle Cleanser, which gently clears comedones and allows them to restore to their natural processes, and our Revitalizing Toner, which stimulates the skin to repair itself and helps to rebalance the skin microbiome, our acne treatment cream can help to control nasty acne outbreaks and help your skin return to a naturally healthy state.

Understanding Acne

Friday, February 21st, 2020

Part One: How does an acne pimple work?

Understanding how acne pimples form will be key to understanding the best treatments for acne.

Pimples form in something called the pilosebaceous unit, which includes the hair follicle and the sebaceous gland.

The sebaceous glands are filled with sebocytes, cells that make sebum. Sebum is an oily lubricant that helps cells move around and contributes to the protective acid mantle of the skin. These sebocytes are made in the sebaceous gland, and then travel up to the hair follicle, where they release the sebum to lubricate the movement of keratinocytes (skin cells) and growth of the hair follicle.

Keratinocytes make up the internal shaft, forming a roughly cylindrical shape through which the hair grows. Normally, these keratinocytes simply flatten and become hard as they move through their “life cycle.”

When they become flat and hard at the end of their life cycle, they break off and move up the shaft to release onto the skin surface, lubricated by the sebum. However, when the keratinocytes grow too fast, they can “stick together” and not be removed to the skin surface properly. This can create a “plug” in the shaft, which means that sebum and dead keratinocytes will build up in the shaft. This is what causes a whitehead or blackhead pimple.

When all this gunk builds up under the surface, it creates anaerobic conditions – conditions where there is no oxygen. This is really good for some opportunistic bacteria that are found on the skin, called Cutibacterium acnes. They multiply rapidly in the pimple, which causes an immune response – i.e. inflammation.

Acne can affect anyone

All people have a community of bacteria and other microbes inhabiting their skin and gut. These communities are called the “microbiome”, and they are composed of organisms that are commensal – they don’t have any negative effects on us. In fact, many of them have beneficial effects, such as producing antimicrobials that act to kill pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. When the microbiome is balanced, many different species of bacteria successfully live on the skin’s surface and contribute to healthy skin.

Of particular interest in acne cases are the three bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), and Staphylococcus epidermis (S. epidermis). Each of these bacteria is a commensal organism that usually has no negative impact on us, but when they grow in excess they can become pathogenic (bad for us).

For example, S. aureus is the species responsible for most impetigo (school sores) infections, while C. acnes is the bacteria found in acne lesions. S. epidermis is a bacteria that is also found on all skin, and it seems to live alongside C. acnes and keep its population in check through producing a particular acid (succinic acid).

In turn, C. acnes and S. epidermis together control S. aureus. There is also some evidence suggesting that particular strains of C. acnes are especially inflammatory, as they are often found in acne patients but not in the skin of unaffected people.

However, there is no evidence that C. acnes infection is the cause of acne; significantly larger populations of the bacteria are not found in acne sufferers – it’s just that an excess population of C. acnes, attributed to the build-up of sebum in an oxygenless environment, stimulates an immune response (inflammation).

C.acnes has specific effects on the immune system. Molecules produced by C. acnes, and the bacteria itself stimulates production of inflammatory molecules by the keratinocytes, which causes a disproportionate immune response and inflammation (redness).

This is bad enough when the effects are confined to the pilosebaceous unit, but when the pressure builds up and the bacteria-filled sebum leaks into the epidermis, it triggers an even harsher immune response, causing pain and redness. This is what causes papules or pustules.

This picture shows the different types of pimple mentioned.

To find out why some people are affected by acne while others aren’t, watch our for our next post: Why are some people more prone to acne?

For more information, please visit:

Recovering A Clear & Clean Complexion: Jo’s Skincare Journey

Wednesday, March 20th, 2019

Could you please give us some background on your skin and the journey you’ve been through with it? As a teenager I had great skin, I’m probably the opposite of most people! It only started to cause me problems as I got older actually, in my late 20’s really. I would constantly have a few spots that (I felt like) I needed to cover up, and my skin would occasionally flare up and get worse without a pattern. It’s always been an issue for me as I never felt like I could confidently go make-up free, and I always took concealer with me in my handbag. I ate well, drank loads of water, didn’t smoke, and did all the things you’re supposed to do to have good skin, but nothing worked.

How did you discover Atopis, and why did you decide to give it a go? I actually found it on Facebook and checked out the website, and thought it would be worth a shot as some of the success stories from their customers sounded just like me.

What product do you use? I use the Acne Prone Skin Cream.

Please describe how your skin was before Atopis and how it looks now. I always had spots around my chin as well as the occasional ones on my forehead and around my nose if I was having a really bad streak. They were always red and painful and not easy to hide, they would take days to calm down but by then I’d have more! Not fun when you’re in your mid 30’s and everyone else has finished with their acne stage. Now, I only get a spot or two occasionally but for the right reasons like if I eat badly or if I’m hormonal or even if it’s a super humid day – like ‘normal’ skin!

What changes have you noticed since you started using Atopis? My skin is clearer, and just seems generally happier if that makes sense? I have less fine lines too, which is a nice bonus, and my skin is firmer but soft at the same time.

When did you start noticing your skin changing, and how has it changed since? It took until I was halfway through my second tube to see real improvements. When using the first tube I had a solid few weeks of bad skin and I thought to myself ‘man this is just another product that doesn’t work for me’. Then I went back to read the reviews, and people were saying the same thing and said just to keep using it and it eventually improves. So I did, and it worked; they were right!

How does your skin feel? Happy!

How do you feel about your skin now compared to before? Also happy!

What is your current skincare routine? Exfoliate twice a week, wash face in the shower with goats milk/sensitive skin soap. I Moisturise my skin with the Acne Prone Skin Cream in the morning and on most nights.

What advice would you give to someone who is at the beginning of their skincare journey? Just keep going! The results will happen and they will be worth it!

Struggling with Breakouts?

Our Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream is a 100% natural and safe way to clear pimples, enhance skin health, and help you to break out of the pimple cycle.

Getting treatment deep down into the pores is what our Acne Prone Skin Cream formula does, as it needs to break down the built-up dirt and slowly bring it to the surface so it can cleanse the pore with help from our immune system.

Once you have started with your Acne Prone Skin Cream, it may take up to two or over three weeks for the skin to restore its normal functions. The Acne Prone Skin Cream ensures that bit by bit bacteria comes to the surface, which is removed by your restored skin microflora and stops future bacteria build-up.

It’s better to have small amounts of the bacteria release over time, so your skin microflora has time to respond and heal the skin.

Everyone’s skin is unique, so depending on your skin type and amount of blocked pores, it will take a different amount of time.

Learn More About Acne Prone Skin Cream

How to Pop a Pimple the Right Way

Thursday, January 17th, 2019

When a pimple forms it can be painful, it can ruin our day, and we just want them to get off our face!

Even though it’s tempting – popping pimples makes the skin worse than it already was, therefore not touching our pimples is the best way to avoid worsening the situation!

Looking for a solution to your pimple popping? The Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream goes beyond managing the signs and symptoms, and helps address the causes of Acne – for breakout-free skin.

What makes up a pimple?

Pimples contain bacteria called Acne Propionic Bacterium.

These bacteria are anaerobic, which means they can grow rapidly when there is a lack of air and can live on the surface of healthy skin without causing infection.

Pimples form when excess sebum oil is produced by the glands in the pores – too much sebum oil makes the acne-causing bacteria multiply out of control.

These fast-multiplying acne-causing bacteria produce enzymes that break down our skins proteins which causes the immune system to react and become inflammatory (and causes the pimple).

Because this new pimple contains acne-causing bacteria that inflames and breaks down our skins proteins, it should always be kept contained!

Have a read of our What Causes Breakouts blog to learn more about how and why acne occurs.

What happens when you squeeze a pimple?

Squeezing pimples can release these acne-causing bacteria onto the skin.

Once released, the bacteria thrives on our skin and doubles in numbers quickly.

Our immune system is immediately disadvantaged when overrun by these acne-causing bacteria even popping just one pimple.

Doing it yourself can also cause an infection or darkening of the skin, so it’s best to just not go there!

Squeezing, poking and picking our pimples can cause the bacteria to dig deeper within the pore. This worsens the pimple and can make it stay on the skin longer than it would have – which can lead to permanent scarring.

Permanent Scarring happens when the blocked pore becomes swollen and infected, which starts stretching the pores follicular wall and causing it to break. When the skin eventually heals over, it makes too much skin tissue and which how skin scarring occurs.

Our fingers also carry a variety of bacteria, and when introducing this to the skin’s surface it can infect the pimple with new evil bacteria, causing the pimple it to become even more inflamed and bigger than before.

But what’s worse than that, is other bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus infecting the inflamed pore, aggravating the touched pimple and making new pimples form on the skin – thus the acne cycle continues!

To avoid this happening, try not to touch your face, and if you have to, wash your hands first!

How to Safely Pop A Pimple:

If you have to pop the pimple, here’s how to do it without the bacteria-party starting:

Yes – there is a proper way to do it!

You’ll need:

• Alcohol wipes or alcohol to sterilize
• A pin or needle
• A Lighter
• Tissues

Steps:

1. Wait until the white head forms on the top of the pimple. The white shows that the pus has collected under the surface.

2. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and scrub your nails to avoid spreading bacteria.

3. Get the pin or needle and use a lighter to sterilize it, then dip it in alcohol once it has cooled down.

4. Swab the area you are popping with alcohol, and apply some to your fingers.

5. Dry the fingers and apply tissue to the fingers that you will place on either side of the pimple when squeezing the pus out.

6. Gently push the pin to pierce the top and of the Whitehead.

7. Using the tissue covered fingers, gently squeeze either side of the pimple, pressing around the whitehead but avoiding contact with the whitehead.

8. If pus comes out, good! If it doesn’t, then leave it alone as it is not ready to be popped.

9. Finish by applying alcohol to the open pimple to disinfect it – be careful as it might sting!

All the best with your pimple popping endeavours! But just remember, leaving them alone and using suitable a skincare product that enhances the self-cleaning process is the best way to go.

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Struggling with Breakouts?

Our Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream is a 100% natural and safe way to clear pimples, enhance skin health, and help you to break out of the pimple cycle.

Once you have started with your Acne Prone Skin Cream, it may take up to two or over three weeks for the skin to restore its normal functions. The Acne Prone Skin Cream ensures that bit by bit bacteria comes to the surface, which is removed by your restored skin microflora and stops future bacteria build-up.

It’s better to have small amounts of the bacteria release over time, so your skin microflora has time to respond and heal the skin.

Everyone’s skin is unique, so depending on your skin type and amount of blocked pores, it will take a different amount of time.

Learn More About Acne Prone Skin Cream

What Causes Breakouts?

Thursday, March 8th, 2018

What Causes Breakouts?

Breakouts can be annoying, painful and damaging to our self-esteem. Most of us have had the pleasure of experiencing them at some point in our lives, but for those of us who struggle with prolonged bouts of acne, the problem can be even more frustrating.

It’s important to understand what type of break outs you’re experiencing and what’s causing them, so you can find the most suitable and effective treatments. We’ve explored the key causes and triggers below so you can begin your journey to healthy, clear skin.

Causes and Triggers

Genetic Makeup

Studies suggest that you’re more likely to struggle with breakouts if your direct relatives have suffered from acne. Skin types are passed down through your genes and play a key part in how your skin responds to your hormones and how well it deals with sebum (oil), bacteria, anti-inflammatory properties and the re-generation of skin cells.

Hormones

One of the biggest culprits of acne is fluctuations in your hormones. Across a variety of ages, hormones and hormonal imbalances can lead to detrimental effects on our skin. Read more about how your acne can vary as you age here.

For women, acne usually appears in the later stages of the menstrual cycle, so a week before or even during your period. It can also appear after starting a new form of birth control, hormone replacement therapy through menopause, or as a result of fluctuating hormones and conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Androgens (male sex hormones) can fluctuate in level when compounded with stress, fatigue and lack of skin care. Androgens are the worst perpetrators for causing bad skin because they stimulate growth of the sebaceous glands and increase sebum levels, making skin oily and causing severe congestion known as hyperkeratinisation. This condition means dead skin cells don’t slough off naturally and instead clog the skin’s pores. Cue the entry of bacteria and acne appears as the star of the show.

Lifestyle

Though less of a factor than genetics and hormones, your lifestyle can certainly be reflected in your skin. Poor cleansing (or over cleansing), dehydration, stress, smoking, poor diet and abrasive product use can all be detrimental to your skin.

Types of acne

Some spots can be more troublesome or obvious than others, most appearing on our face while some appearing all over our body. It’s important to identify your acne type so that you can ensure you’re not mistaking it for other potential skin conditions.

We’ve put together a list of common offenders below:

Blackheads – Small dark spots
Cystic Acne – Usually painful, larger pus-filled spots.
Nodules – Hard and under the surface of your skin.
Whitehead – Small white raised bumps.
Pustules – On the surface red pimples with pus.
Papules – Pink, smaller bumps on top of the skins surface.
Body Breakouts – Any of the above descriptions but outside of the facial area, with
typical places including back, neck, chest and shoulders.

Preventative Measures

Just like our gut microflora, the good bacteria and matter that make up our skin microflora, known collectively as your microbiome, needs to be preserved.

There are many lifestyle changes that can be made to improve your skin’s health and enhance its ability to self-heal.

These include:

Keeping your gut balance and microflora healthy through fermented foods and Kefir which helps replenish beneficial bacteria. These naturally combat the inflammatory effects of antibiotics, sugar, alcohol and processed foods which reduce your immunity.
Stimulating your lymph system through exercise, drinking more water and avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Experimenting with cutting dairy out of your diet and try to incorporate Evening Primrose Oil, zinc and vitamin B6.

Limiting stress and getting more sleep.
Quitting smoking – this will enhance your skins ability to heal.
Avoiding touching your face.
Keeping your hair out of your face to avoid it from touching your face.
Using water based, nonalcoholic cosmetics.
Taking off your make-up every night and using a gentle, natural cleanser and moisturizer. Stay clear from abrasive, artificial products that could aggravate your skin.

How Atopis Can help

Some of you may be all too familiar with the hopeless feeling of having tried everything and failing to see any improvements to your skin. Try to remain patient through this process, your skin requires around 8 weeks to fully respond to new treatments or products.

When choosing your skin care products, we highly recommend sticking to natural and non-abrasive products such as our all Natural Acne Cream. Based on award-winning international research and successful clinical trials, Dr Iona Weir has formulated safe, natural products to help unlock skin’s own immunity and assist self-repair.

Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream helps treat acne by limiting overstimulation and moderates the hormone receptors of the skin’s sebaceous glands. It rebuilds your skin through moisturising, controlling sebum levels and preventing that old villain, hyperkeratinisation.

Meanwhile, the probiotic peptides in Atopis, work to restore your skin’s friendly bacteria microbiome, just like probiotics in the gut.

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To find out more about our products and how they work click the links below.

How to Manage Hormonal Breakouts

Thursday, April 27th, 2017

As we go through pivotal changes in our lives, breakouts are common but it doesn’t make the pain and embarrassment any easier. Sufferers are not just teenagers, but include women enduring the hormonal rollercoaster of pregnancy or menopause, and some men who can find their back, chest and shoulders have literally become acne fairgrounds. But there are choices you can make to assist in blemish-free skin, especially when it comes to hormonal acne.

Have you been trying everything to manage your breakouts?

Most people learn the basics about acne at school, and it’s normally attributed to four main causes:

Oil production through the skin’s sebaceous glands
Dead skin cells
Clogged pores
Bacteria

But hormones, most prominently considered to be a ‘teenage thing’, continue to be a root cause of other breakouts as we age.

Stars of the show

In adults, Acne is usually caused by hormones, and it often appears in the lower half of face, cheekbones and jawline. It may look cystic, big and red, and can be very sensitive.

For women acne usually appears in the later stages of the menstrual cycle, so a week before or even during your period. It can also appear after starting a new form of birth control, hormone replacement therapy through menopause, or as a result of fluctuating hormones and conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

The skin’s sebaceous glands interact directly with the hormones in our body. In fact it’s a particular trinity of hormones including estrogen, progesterone and androgens that make up the hormonal circus. Androgens are commonly called the male hormones and include testosterone for example. These three groups of hormones are naturally present in our body at all times but can fluctuate in level, particularly androgens, when compounded with stress, fatigue and lack of skin care.

Androgens are the worst perpetrators for causing bad skin because they stimulate growth of the sebaceous glands and increase sebum levels, making skin oily and causing severe congestion known as hyperkeratinisation. This condition means dead skin cells don’t slough off naturally and instead clog the skin’s pores. Cue the entry of bacteria and acne appears as the star of the show.

Men are particularly susceptible to breakouts because acne belongs to a grim troupe of hyperandrogenic diseases that are characterised by the excessive production of androgens. Other members of this merry band include male pattern baldness which can join acne as a misery double act.

Treating the miserable circus

It’s important for people to understand that acne is a skin disease, and it needs to be treated as one. Our skin is an effective barrier against dirt, infection and pathogens, which is designed to beat skin disease at its own game. We’re born with our own unique skin microflora of bacteria and viruses that builds our immunity and keeps skin healthy. Just like our gut microflora, the good bacteria and matter that make up our skin microflora, known collectively as your microbiome, needs to be preserved.

Here’s some potential treatments for hormonal acne:

Keeping your gut balance and microflora healthy through fermented foods and Kefir which helps replenish beneficial bacteria. These naturally combat the inflammatory effects of antibiotics, sugar, alcohol and processed foods which reduce your immunity.

Stimulating your lymph system through exercise, drinking more water and avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Experimenting with cutting dairy out of your diet and try to incorporate Evening Primrose Oil, zinc and vitamin B6.
Limiting stress and getting more sleep.

Seeking medical advice to rule out any hormone imbalance or disorder that may require further investigation.
Keeping the skin’s moisture barrier strong and healthy as this makes it more resilient and reduces the severity of acne. Don’t use soaps or cleansers that strip the skin, and gently exfoliate once a week. It’s also important to use a good moisturiser that doesn’t block the pores (non-comedogenic), and targets acne and hormonal skin complaints.

How Atopis can help

Based on her award-winning international research and successful clinical trials, Dr Iona Weir has formulated safe, natural products to help unlock skin’s own immunity and assist self-repair.

Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream helps treat hormonal acne by limiting overstimulation and moderates the hormone receptors of the skin’s sebaceous glands. It rebuilds your skin through moisturising, controlling sebum levels and preventing that old villain, hyperkeratinisation.

Meanwhile, the probiotic peptides in Atopis, work to restore your skin’s friendly bacteria microbiome, just like probiotics in the gut.

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Drop the final curtain down on hormonal acne by trying Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream.