Why this £16 face cream is the best-selling acne product - even for mature skin
Acne is no longer just associated with teenagers and puberty. Cases of acne are on the rise with women in their 30s and beyond struggling with the condition. In fact,"45-50% of women in the UK suffer from some sort of adult acne in their life time," says Dr David Jack, who works in a Harley Street clinic. "There are also 2.4 million GP appointments each year for acne problems," says skin microbiome expert, Richard Martin.
Expert skincare brand La Roche Posay, who operate within the L'Oreal group, have long been on a mission to cure acne. After 25 years of research, seven published clinical testings and thirteen studies later, there is finally an affordable high street product that works. And the best thing? It's £16 - a refreshingly approachable price, given the amount of costly acne treatments on the market.
They have just launched their third edition of the stalwart treatment Effaclar Duo+, a new formulation with a bacteria-balancing active that controls the skin’s microbiome. One is sold every three seconds worldwide, proving it to be the best-selling acne treatment product in expert skincare.
What is a microbiome?
"Our skin is covered in an invisible layer of over 100,000 bacteria," says Martin. "This layer is unique to each individual, like with DNA, and when this layer is naturally balanced, skin is healthy. Various things can disrupt this natural bacterial balance, such as using harsh skincare, a changing environment or taking certain medications. When the bacterial balance is disrupted, the strength of the skin’s barrier is compromised, making it more vulnerable to conditions such as acne.
"Each persons microbiome is different; it is the body’s first line of defence when it comes to acne, and it is constantly communicating with our immune system. A healthy microbiome self-manages its communities of bacteria, ensuring no bacteria becomes too dominant," advises Martin. Hence La Roche Posay have re-formulated Effaclar Duo + as a treatment that targets and controls bacteria. Put simply, if you control bacteria production, you can control and cure acne.
What your spots say about you beauty face
The key bacteria
L'Oreal's recent studies have revealed that staphylococcus, a bacterium genus, is a major catalyst for acne-infected skin and if controlled can reduce inflammation and acne lesions. Unique to their formula is patented LA Roche Posay Water than contains Aqua Posae Filiformis (APF) bacteria, a classic inhabitant of spa water dating back to Roman times. It is especially good for the skin, controls staphylococcus bacteria and is uniquely cultivated by La Roche Posay to charge their formulas. It also re-balances the skin by arming bacteria with anti-microbial peptides to stop pores from getting clogged up.
How to conceal spots
“As a dermatologist I always try where possible to prescribe a skincare solution over antibiotics when treating acne patients," says Consultant Dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall. "As Effaclar Duo (+) respects the skin microbiome it is a great long-term solution for maintaining healthy skin and one I will often recommend to my patients." Effaclar Duo+, £16.99 is available here.
