Treating Acne as an Allergy

Having an allergy typically means steering clear of the allergen to prevent adverse reactions, except for individuals with lactose intolerance, who often push their limits with dairy consumption. An allergy refers to the body's harmful immune response to a specific substance, like pollen, fur, certain foods, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.

On the other hand, acne, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the occurrence of inflamed or infected sebaceous glands in the skin, particularly characterized by red pimples on the face and/or body. So, are there any similarities to note here? Often, acne-prone skin can be mistaken for sensitive skin.

As mentioned earlier, when you are allergic to something, you instinctively avoid it to prevent any unwanted reactions. The same goes for acne triggers - if a product tends to cause breakouts, it's best to avoid it. Many clients come to me seeking advice on newly purchased products, wanting me to check for ingredients that may trigger acne. If a product contains pore-clogging ingredients, I always recommend returning it and stating that you're allergic to it. In essence, if a skincare product leads to breakouts, it signifies an inflammatory response to a new allergen introduced to the skin.

If we adopt a mindset of treating every acne-triggering ingredient as a severe allergy, we could potentially witness a significant decrease in overall breakouts.