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Adult Acne and IBS - Transformation Tuesday

April 28, 2016

Adult Acne and IBS - Transformation Tuesday

Introducing Carrie

When Carrie, aged 30, visited Saks Kingshill her confidence was low due to adult acne and skin dehydration. Fortunately, Nicci, a Cosmedix skin care expert, was on hand to advise Carrie on the best route forward.

Carrie was also suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) a common and long-term problem with the digestive system. She has a pretty average diet with some high fat and processed foods, good levels of water consumption but Carrie is not sure what foods trigger her IBS symptoms.

Suffering from such low self-esteem and unable to leave the house without full makeup on, Carrie visited her GP looking for help with her skin and was prescribed a steroid cream which does not appear to have helped. She is currently using products from the Dermalogica skin care range.

irritable bowel and acne

What is adult acne?

Adult acne is certainly not an uncommon condition with over 35% of women in their 30’s reporting problems with breakouts. There can be many common causes of adult acne but the four main triggers are:

  • Diet
  • Hormones
  • Stress
  • Health reasons including  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

In Carrie’s case the main health concern is with her IBS but of course, as with many other people, factors such as stress and diet are going to also play a part in her skin problems.

Acne is caused when the tiny holes in your skin, from which your hair grows through, become blocked. Each hair follicle on your skin is attached to a gland, this is called the Sebaceous gland. This gland lubricates the hair and the skin to stop it drying out by producing an oily substance called sebum. If the gland produces too much sebum it can result in acne as the excess sebum will mix with your dead skin cells essentially producing a ‘plug’ in the follicle.

You are probably familiar with the terms ‘whiteheads’ and ‘blackheads’. A whitehead is close to the surface of the skin, it produces an outwards bulge. Alternatively a blackhead is where the follicle is open to the skin.


How does the skin become dehydrated?

Dehydrated skin is very different to dry skin. Skin can be dehydrated yet still be producing oil, although the production can fluctuate,  whereas dry skin has little to no oil present. Essentially, skin can still be very oily and very dehydrated. Differentiating between the two is important when looking at treatment and changes to skincare routines so seeing a professional skin clinician is usually recommended.

Skin often becomes dehydrated as it ages, this is because sebaceous gland activity and the skins ability to regenerate lipids tends to decrease as we get older. Weather and environmental factors can also dehydrate our skin. One of the main concerns being exposure to the sun which cause moisture to evaporate from our skin. However, cold winds and even air conditioners can contribute to dehydration and premature aging.

One of the main contributing factors to Carrie’s skin dehydration is probably her diet and IBS. The skin is the largest organ in our body and is hugely complicated. A lack of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) in many modern diets have resulted in dehydration of the skin and other complaints. The correct balance of foods and supplements will feed the skin the essential nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

dehydration and skin

How can IBS affect the skin?

Doctors do not have a full picture on the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) but the symptoms are far too familiar to many sufferers - stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhea. A flare up can cause of hours of misery and some people like Carrie are not even able to distinguish the trigger foods that will cause these problems.

As the IBS prevents absorption of essential minerals and nutrients into the body it can also have secondary impacts including a number of skin issues such as rosacea, wrinkles and acne, as in Carrie’s case.

Alongside this IBS can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety which puts your body into a ‘fight or flight’ mode. This causes the body to shut down non essential functions such as digestion again causing the body to lose out on the nutrients it needs to keep the skin healthy. You can see the impact stress can have on your skin, nails and hair.

Your skin is essentially a visual representation of the health of your digestive system so a healthy tummy usually equals healthy skin. If you are suffering from IBS it is important to get a diagnosis from your GP who can recommend dietary and lifestyle adjustments as well as medication if needed.

If you do suffer from IBS it’s certainly worthwhile, like Carrie, looking into introducing supplements into your diet. Probiotics can help rebuild a healthy intestinal flora to improve digestion and nutrient absorption. Omega 3 fatty acids have anti inflammatory properties that can assist with intestinal inflammation and cell damage. You may also wish considering taking a Multivitamin as they can help with nutritional deficiencies caused by IBS.

Usually the best way to combat IBS is to take extra care of your digestive system cutting out processed and refined foods. Cutting down on alcohol and coffee can help many people as they can commonly exacerbate IBS. Keeping a food diary may help Carrie establish which foods trigger a flare up of IBS.

Carrie’s Treatment

The CosMedix consultant Nicci went through a  detailed consultation and skin care analysis to establish that Carrie was suffering from both adult acne and skin dehydration. The main cause of the skin complaint appeared to be poor digestive health as a result of Carries IBS.

Carrie Before Picture


Starting with the products, Nicci chose the CosMedix ‘Clear Kit’ a purifying regime which helps eliminate breakouts and heals current blemishes. The kit includes CosMedix Clarity Serum, this cleanses the skin's texture to fight acne causing bacteria and pore clogging impurities. For the CosMedix Refine + refinishing treatment, Nicci recommended applying to the whole of the face every other evening but not for 5 days after the peel treatments.

Nicci chose to adjust a few products firstly selecting CosMedix Purity Balance, which targets impurities and pore clogging excess oil. She also chose CosMedix C.P.R to calm and restore Carries irritated skin

Moving on to the CosMedix treatments, Nicci started day one with a Deluxe Signature Med-Facial an advanced treatment containing a combination of active ingredients to promote gentle resurfacing of the skin and to assist with the redness Carrie was experiencing.

On day 14 Nicci used the CosMedix Benefit Peel which was applied for 3 hours. This peel is a gentle all purpose treatment that resurfaces, corrects and protects with fruit enzymes and Vitamins A and C.

Carrie Second Treatment Picture


On day 28 Nicci applied the CosMedix Purity Peel overnight. This is a gentle epidermal treatment that decongests pores for clearer, healthier looking skin. This is a perfect treatment for Carrie’s oily blemish prone skin.

Carrie's Fabulous After Picture


Carrie's Feedback

Carrie’s favourite products were CosMedix Clarity Serum and C.P.R from which she felt after using there was a real visible improvement. Her favorite treatment was the CosMedix Benefit peel which she could actually see working and improving her skin.

Overall, she wholeheartedly recommends CosMedix products and treatments. She can now leave the house bare faced, makeup free and full of confidence. Carrie has been so happy and impressed with the results she has already been showing friends her before and after photos.

As well as using CosMedix Carrie has made other adjustments to her lifestyle as recommended by Nicci. She avoids processed foods where possible and has started to eat a variety of ‘superfoods’ instead. She has also started taking an Omega 369 supplement to help with her skin dehydration.

Nicci recommended Carrie start using mineral makeup, in particular products from the Youngblood Cosmetics range as these contain natural pigments and provide sun protection.

Medico Beauty Feedback

Medico Beauty treatments and CosMedix products have given Carrie her confidence back and she looks simply amazing, we are so happy for her and proud of her therapist Nicci for achieving such fantastic results.

loveheart medico

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