Acne & Blemish Care

Acne & Blemish Care covers cleansers, spot treatments, serums, creams and patches aimed at breakouts, blackheads, congestion and the marks left behind.

What Actually Causes Acne

Four things happening at once, none of which is being dirty:

• Excess oil, driven mostly by hormones.

• Dead skin cells blocking the pore opening.

• Bacteria multiplying in the blocked pore.

• Inflammation, which is what makes a blocked pore red and painful.

• Acne is not caused by poor hygiene, and washing more often makes it worse rather than better. Over-cleansing strips the barrier, the skin produces more oil in response, and the inflammation increases.

The Ingredients That Work

• Salicylic acid (BHA) — oil-soluble, so it gets inside the pore. The best single ingredient for blackheads and congestion.

• Benzoyl peroxide — kills the bacteria. Effective, and it bleaches towels and pillowcases, so use white ones.

• Niacinamide — calms inflammation and helps oil control, and it is well tolerated.

• Retinoids — the strongest evidence of all for preventing new breakouts. Start twice a week and build up; expect a few weeks of adjustment.

• Azelaic acid — good for both the spots and the marks they leave, and gentle enough for pregnancy on advice.

• Introduce one at a time, and give any of them eight to twelve weeks.

What Makes It Worse

• Picking and squeezing. This is what turns a spot that would have gone in four days into a mark that lasts four months, or a scar that is permanent.

• Scrubs on inflamed skin. Physical scrubbing spreads bacteria and damages the surface.

• Heavy, occlusive products. Look for “non-comedogenic”.

• Skipping moisturiser and sunscreen. Every acne active makes skin drier and more sun-sensitive, and sun deepens the marks you are trying to fade.

Storing It Properly

Bangladesh’s heat and humidity are harder on most products than anything else they will meet.

• Cool, dry and out of direct sunlight — not a sunny windowsill, and not the hottest corner of the bathroom.

• Keep the cap closed properly. Air and moisture do more damage over months than anything else.

• Do not decant into an unmarked container. Once the pack is gone, so are the batch number, the expiry date and the instructions.

• Keep it out of reach of children.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see a doctor?

If you have deep, painful cystic spots, if acne is scarring, or if three months of consistent over-the-counter treatment has changed nothing. Prescription treatment works well and waiting mostly costs you scars.

Do pimple patches work?

For a whitehead that has come to a surface, yes — they absorb fluid, flatten it faster and, most usefully, stop you picking at it. They do nothing for a deep cystic spot under the skin.

Does food cause acne?

The evidence points at high-sugar foods and, for some people, dairy — but it is a smaller factor than hormones and genetics. Do not cut out food groups hoping to clear your skin.

How do I know the product is genuine?

Check the seal, the batch number and the expiry printed on the pack itself rather than on a sticker over it. Everything we sell is sourced to arrive sealed and within date, and if what you receive does not match the listing we will put it right.

How much shelf life will it have?

We stock to arrive well within date and do not knowingly ship anything close to expiry. If you need a specific minimum for a particular order, ask before placing it and we will check the batch.