Top Nerdie Tips For Dealing With Random Breakouts

Is there anything more annoying that getting a spot or having a breakout when it really isn’t the norm for you? When the vast majority of the time, spots or breakouts aren’t a key concern of yours, you would be forgiven for not having the tools, products and know-how on hand to oust them. Thankfully, you have us to help you out. 

Why people get “random” spots and breakouts

You’ve had at least one nerdie consult, so you know that we believe that nearly everything with regard to the skin happens for a reason. Even if a spot crops up out of the blue, there is something that has contributed to it, even if it is something that you’re not thinking about often.

Some common factors that can encourage a spot to pop up like your annoying aunty who was just “in the area” include:

Hormonal fluctuations - even on a small scale, when your hormones fluctuate, you may see a spot or two
Stress - stress is a demon for causing spikes in our hormones, leading to breakouts
Diet - even though studies leave scientists and dermatologists torn, we see so many people who will get a spot if they’ve spent the week eating takeaway
Bacteria - sounds like a “no duh” but if you’re not changing your pillowcases enough or disinfecting your phone, they will harbour bacteria and sweat that can lead to spots

Your spot-tackling tool kit

We are a big fan of seeing the skincare that you have as a tool kit that you can pick and choose from as you need. If you’ve usually got normal, well-hydrated skin, its highly unlikely that you’d be looking to use a spot-zapping ingredient like salicylic acid every day or even once a week. However, it is good to have a product or two about for all of your skin’s little emergencies, no matter how infrequent.

Here are some ingredients and products to add to your “tool kit” for when you do get those random little lumps, bumps or blackheads:

A mild salicylic acid cleanser
If you get random breakouts rather than one or two singular spots, the Environ Focus Care Clarity+ Sebu-Wash Gel Cleanser (€39.00) contains a smaller amount of salicylic acid than some of the other anti-congestion cleansers you’ll see about, so it won’t dry you out to no end.

An on-the-spot treatment
Acne Out Active Lotion (€26.00) is an on-the-spot treatment with a difference, as it doesn’t cause the classic healing spot “cornflakeyness”. You dab a tiny amount onto the skin with the tip of a very clean pinky or a cotton bud and away you go. It does a great job at bringing down the swelling and redness associated with spots.

Skin Accumax
Okay, to reap the benefits of Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Accumax (€53.00), you really do need to be taking the supplement long-term, but for those who don’t experience spots often, you could take one a day every day to truly ensure that they won’t pop up. It is still vitamin A so you’re going to see general skin benefits from that anyway!

To pop or not to pop

Popping spots can lead to infection, marking (post-inflammatory inflammation or PIH, for short), and in some cases scarring. It’s a nerdie no the vast majority of the time.

However, we know you’re going to do it anyway. Our only request is that you only do it to juicy whiteheads with a soft tip that are clearly ready to pop, and that you do it at night time to allow your skin time to repair.

Here is how to do it properly:

Step 1) Wash your hands with antibacterial soap or your salicylic acid cleanser, paying particular attention to under your nails.

Step 2) Double-cleanse, removing all makeup, oils and debris from your face before starting, and pat your face dry.

Step 3) Wrap tissue or cotton pads around your forefingers (pointer fingers), the ones that will be doing the popping.

Step 4) Imagine the spot as a volcano and the bacteria, infection and pus as the lava. You want to get all of the lava out in one go, hopefully. Press the side of your forefingers, not your nails, around the sides of the spot, leaving space for the actual circumference of infection below, and push down firmly and outwards away from the spot.

Step 5) Once the white or yellow pus is gone, STOP. If you continue until you bleed, you will see marking and even scarring.

Step 6) Disinfect it with highly-diluted salicylic acid cleanser and then pop an antiseptic cream like Savlon onto it. It’s important that this cream is actually antiseptic and antibacterial, rather than something that will just soothe it, like Sudocrem.

Step 7) Don’t apply makeup or anything directly onto your freshly popped spot. It is an open wound, allow it to scab over first.

The definite spot-popping don’ts

Don’t go at yourself with a needle or anything pointy. This is only okay in a salon or clinical setting because of the high level of hygiene. Also, be honest, you have no idea what you’re doing.

Avoid extraction tools, as the vast majority of non-skin-trained hoomans will press too hard, causing damage, and won’t sterilise this equipment very often.

Don’t try to pop spots that aren’t ready. As you will learn if you try, you just anger them, making them more swollen, red and painful.

Don’t do it all the time. Really, really, really. Try not to. Put a note on your mirror that says “Do not pick at face”. Admittedly, some of us in Nerd HQ have had to do this before. We are no angels.

Your all-in-one random spot toolkit
The Environ Skin Clarity Kit (€145.00) has just landed on the store, and although perfect as the basis of a routine for those who suffer from congestion all the time, it’s also fab as a spot tool kit for those who get them on a sporadic basis.

Containing the dynamic duo of the Focus Care Clarity+ Hydroxy Acid Sebu-Lac Lotion & Sebu-ACE Oil, the fantastic Focus Care Clarity+ Hydroxy Acid Sebu-Clear Masque and a FREE Focus Care Clarity+ Botanical Infused Sebu-Spot Blemish Gel, it has everything you need to get those random breakouts gone in no time.

If it so happens that these breakouts start becoming less random, never hesitate to book in for a follow-up consultation, or get on to us by email at consult@theskinnerd.com or phone at +353 1 5649362.