Who is suffering?

Teenagers

When thinking of blemishes it’s likely that ‘teenagers’ are the first group of sufferers who springs to mind. Rightly so; hormones released at the onset of puberty are responsible for increased sebum production resulting in oily skin which is more prone to pore blockages- and hence blemishes. Extra sebum, combined with shedding skin cells lining hair follicles, can block pores creating an environment ideal for bacteria to multiply. Eventually, this leads to inflammation and becomes visible as blemishes.

Typically, teenagers start suffering from blemishes between the age of 10 and 13. Blemishes are often located on the forehead, chin, around the nose, cheeks and in more severe cases blemishes may also be visible on the neck and back.

Women

Not only teenagers suffer from blemishes, it is estimated that 1 in 4 adults between the ages of 25 and 44 experience blemishes at some point in their lives and nearly half of all adult women experience mild to moderate occurrences, mainly due to fluctuating hormones.

Premenstrual

So called ‘PMS blemishes’ are caused due to an increased release of the male hormone androgen which is known to alter the skin’s pH and to increase sebum secretion, a combination that can encourage blemishes.

Pregnancy

Some women find they suffer from blemishes during pregnancy while others report their blemishes cleared up. If you find yourself suffering it's likely to be due to an increased amount of androgen which is known to increase sebum production – similar to what happens when suffering from PMS blemishes.

Please note: certain medications are not safe to take during pregnancy e.g:- tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline. Nelsons Pure & Clear does not contain any of the above medications. 

If pregnant or breast feeding always consult a healthcare professional before using any anti-blemish treatments.

Menopause

Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life when her reproductive cycles end. This typically occurs between the age of 45 and 60. During this transition, the ovaries start producing lower levels of estrogen and progesterone and many women find themselves suffering from hormonal imbalances expressed by hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, aching joints, and blemishes.

Blemishes during the menopause can be explained by the dramatic decrease in estrogen levels allowing for testosterone and DHEA to cause the oil glands in the skin to produce an excess quantity of sebum which tends to block pores and hence results in blemishes.

Worth knowing

Regardless if you are looking for a solution to blemishes for your teenage son or daughter, your partner or yourself, it is important to understand that it's necessary to stick to a rigorous skin care regime once an effective anti-blemish range has been identified. A common mistake is to stop the regime once the blemishes have disappeared, but its recommended you continue using your gentle topical products to help maintain bacteria- free skin.