The Best Ways To Manage Lockdown Blemishes, According To A Dermatologist

2020 was the year of many things – for most of us, it was a year of change and adjustment. Staying at home, travel (or lack of), and the way we work were all big line items, but what about the change and adjustment of your skincare?

You might be surprised to learn that the search term ‘lockdown skin’ peaked 20 days after the UK’s first lockdown was announced. In the year since, ‘lockdown skin’ would peak every time a lockdown announcement was made. Adults were hungrily looking for ways to treat their stressed out, blemish-prone skin. In the same thread, ‘maskne (that’s mask-acne) tips’ also rhythmically jumped in popularity every few months through 2020.

The web’s various search engines are usually a first port of call to find out which topical treatments are best for irritated, blemish-prone skin. But! Today, there’s no Googling required. Our partner La Roche-Posay have furnished Bustle with dermatologist, Dr Justine Hextall, to explain how lockdown can affect your skin, which active ingredients can help, and the dos and don’ts to live by when caring for maskne.

Dr Hextall makes one thing clear from the outset, “Finding the right skin care regime is absolutely pivotal.” It’s all about the balance of “finding gentle hydrating products that will soothe the skin, alongside active and prescription treatments,” she explains. Do this and you’ll see improvements in your skin’s condition.

Which is why La Roche-Posay’s Effalcar range is recommended by dermatologists and suitable for use on acne prone skin – the Effaclar range represents the balance Dr Hextall applauds: between active, efficacy tested ingredients and soothing, barrier restoring formulas.

We asked Dr Hextall so many questions related to managing lockdown blemishes – and found these six pointers to be the most relevant and helpful when crafting your own skincare routine in 2021.

Why you might be experiencing a change

“Some [people] notice skin changes when they move to a city or experience a stressful job or life event,” says Dr Hextall. Adjusting to ‘living through a pandemic’ might be that stressful life event the consult dermatologist is referring to – and while things slowly nudge toward normality, we know mask-wearing won’t be going anywhere, anytime soon.

While essential, wearing a mask can also make the skin hot and sweaty. “This moisture with excessive oil and skin cells can block pores… there may be changes to the natural skin microbiome, disrupting the delicate skin barrier. This can also exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions such as acne,” explains Dr Hextall. Hence, your frequent blemishes!

Why ‘product monogamy’ is important

Is sticking to a routine of products and ingredients important? “In essence yes,” says Dr Hextall. “Keep [your] skincare regime gentle and simple. Constantly chopping and changing [products] – whilst understandable in the context of a skin problem – will usually achieve little and frequently exacerbate the skin.”

The difference between anti-blemish and ‘dry skin’ moisturiser

Essentially, it comes down to the active ingredients in the moisturiser. “An anti blemish moisturiser may contain some actives to treat and soothe blemishes at the same time as hydrating skin,” says Dr Hextall. The Effaclar Duo(+) formula contains salicylic acid and lipo hydroxy acid (LHA), both of which help to unclog pores, explains the dermatologist.

The last word on moisturising & blemishes

“Using hydrating calming products including moisturiser in my view is key,” says Dr Hextall. The consultant dermatologist recommends avoiding oil or petroleum-based moisturisers, even if they’re comedogenic. Instead, look for water-based products. If you steer away from creams, try a gel! “[People] with acne are more likely to be happy to apply a gel as it tends to be recognised as hydrating but less comedogenic.”

Niacinamide can be important for darker skin tones

Dr Hextall is a big fan of niacinamide for darker skin, “I am always keen to try and prevent post inflammatory pigmentation, which can last for months after the active acne has cleared.” This ingredient helps to reduce inflammation and suppress pigmentation. “Niacinamide can help [with pigmentation] as can applying a high factor broad spectrum sun cream that is not comedogenic.” suggests the dermatologist.

How to make the most of your night-time skincare routine

An ‘active’ serum is best used as a part of your night skincare regime. “Night time is a good time for actives. On the whole I tend to suggest actives that may make the skin slightly more sensitive such as exfoliants or retinoids,” explains Dr Hextall.

The dermatologist suggests acids that gently unblock pores, or ‘micro-exfoliants’ that won’t disrupt your delicate skin barrier like a physical exfoliant might. “Effaclar Duo+ Serum by La Roche-Posay contains three acids: LHA, AHA and salicylic acid alongside niacinamide to soothe the skin and minimise post inflammatory pigmentation.”

With these six important pieces of advice under your belt, it’s time to put La Roche-Posay’s dermatologist recommended Effaclar range to use!

This post is in paid partnership with La Roche-Posay.