INTRODUCTION
Diddy bluds who have acne look filthy, people associate it with poor hygiene and ugliness in general, so here's some products to fix certain types of acne. (Check the end for sources)
BLACKHEADS / COMEDONES
Salicylic acid (BHA; unclogs pores)
Cleansing oils (dissolves sebum, makeup)
BHA toners / exfoliants
Retinoids (OTC adapalene 0.1%)
Clay masks (kaolin, bentonite – absorbs oil)
Charcoal masks (mildly detoxifying)
Niacinamide (reduces sebum production over time)
FUNGAL
Ketoconazole
Selenium Sulfide
Clotrimazole Cream
Miconazole
WHITEHEADS
Azelaic acid (reduces keratin buildup)
Glycolic acid
Lactic acid
Retinoids (OTC adapalene 0.1%)
PAPULES (bumps without pus)
Vitamin C serum (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory)
Salicylic acid
Kojic acid (can lighten post-inflammatory redness)
Azelaic acid
Niacinamide (reduces inflammation)
PUSTULES (inflamed bumps with pus)
Salicylic acid
Tea tree oil (5% gel)
Sulfur spot treatments
Azelaic acid
NODULES (deep, painful bumps)
Salicylic acid
Azelaic acid
OTC retinoids (adapalene 0.1%)
Niacinamide
Sulfur-based creams (mildly reduce inflammation)
CYSTS
Azelaic acid
Niacinamide
OTC retinoids (adapalene)
Warm compresses (non-chemical, helps drainage)
POST INFLA HYPERPIGMENTATION
Retinol (speeds cell turnover)
Kojic acid
Vitamin C serum
Niacinamide
Sunscreen (prevents darkening)
Centella asiatica (healing, anti-inflammatory)
OILY SKIN
Niacinamide
Clay masks
Oil-absorbing powders / blotting sheets
Salicylic acid cleansers
Mattifying moisturizers
DRY SKIN
Hyaluronic acid serums
Ceramide creams
Glycerin-based lotions
Squalane oil
REDNESS PRONE SKIN
Niacinamide
Centella asiatica (cica creams)
Aloe vera gel
Colloidal oatmeal moisturizers
Fragrance-free products only
DARK CIRCLES
Caffeine serums (de-puffing)
Vitamin C (brightening)
Niacinamide
Retinol (very low % under eyes)
FINE LINES / EARLY WRINKLES
Retinol / retinaldehyde
GHK-CU(Subcu duh)
Vitamin C
Hyaluronic acid
Sunscreen
HYPERPIGMENTATION (melasma)
Azelaic acid
Niacinamide
Vitamin C
Kojic acid
Chemical exfoliants (AHAs, mild glycolic)
Sunscreen
DULL SKIN / UNEVEN TEXTURE
AHAs (glycolic, lactic)
BHAs (salicylic acid)
Vitamin C
Niacinamide
Exfoliating scrubs (very gentle)
ENLARGED PORES
Niacinamide
Salicylic acid
Retinoids
Clay masks
INGROWN HAIRS / RAZOR BUMPS
Salicylic acid (chemical exfoliation)
Glycolic acid
Aloe vera
Tea tree oil (anti-inflammatory)
SUN DAMAGE / PHOTOAGING
Sunscreen
Vitamin C
Retinol / retinaldehyde
Niacinamide
AHAs / chemical exfoliants
SOURCES FROM MUMBAI
Jankowski M., et al. — “Uncovering the emotional scars: Study reveals significant stigma associated with female adult acne” (presented at European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress 2023) — found faces with acne judged as less attractive, less trustworthy, less successful.
O’Donnell A. & Davern J. — “Acne stigma linked to lower overall quality of life” (University of Limerick) — survey of 271 acne sufferers: negative perceptions of society’s view on their acne linked with more distress.
Jokic‑Zanozić A., et al. — “Depictions of acne and psoriasis influence interpersonal aversion” — showed faces with acne rated significantly less attractive and with lower willingness for social contact.
Tüzün Y., et al. — “The effect of acne on quality of life, social appearance anxiety …” (Turkey) — showed acne severity inversely related to quality of life and directly related to higher social appearance anxiety.
Aung M.‑M., et al. — “Perceptions and psychosocial judgement of patients with acne vulgaris” (Penang, Malaysia) — found people with acne were perceived as “unattractive, sad, lonely, distant, unhealthy, dishevelled” compared to clear‐skin pics.
Diddy bluds who have acne look filthy, people associate it with poor hygiene and ugliness in general, so here's some products to fix certain types of acne. (Check the end for sources)
BLACKHEADS / COMEDONES
Salicylic acid (BHA; unclogs pores)
Cleansing oils (dissolves sebum, makeup)
BHA toners / exfoliants
Retinoids (OTC adapalene 0.1%)
Clay masks (kaolin, bentonite – absorbs oil)
Charcoal masks (mildly detoxifying)
Niacinamide (reduces sebum production over time)
FUNGAL
Ketoconazole
Selenium Sulfide
Clotrimazole Cream
Miconazole
WHITEHEADS
Azelaic acid (reduces keratin buildup)
Glycolic acid
Lactic acid
Retinoids (OTC adapalene 0.1%)
PAPULES (bumps without pus)
Vitamin C serum (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory)
Salicylic acid
Kojic acid (can lighten post-inflammatory redness)
Azelaic acid
Niacinamide (reduces inflammation)
PUSTULES (inflamed bumps with pus)
Salicylic acid
Tea tree oil (5% gel)
Sulfur spot treatments
Azelaic acid
NODULES (deep, painful bumps)
Salicylic acid
Azelaic acid
OTC retinoids (adapalene 0.1%)
Niacinamide
Sulfur-based creams (mildly reduce inflammation)
CYSTS
Azelaic acid
Niacinamide
OTC retinoids (adapalene)
Warm compresses (non-chemical, helps drainage)
POST INFLA HYPERPIGMENTATION
Retinol (speeds cell turnover)
Kojic acid
Vitamin C serum
Niacinamide
Sunscreen (prevents darkening)
Centella asiatica (healing, anti-inflammatory)
OILY SKIN
Niacinamide
Clay masks
Oil-absorbing powders / blotting sheets
Salicylic acid cleansers
Mattifying moisturizers
DRY SKIN
Hyaluronic acid serums
Ceramide creams
Glycerin-based lotions
Squalane oil
REDNESS PRONE SKIN
Niacinamide
Centella asiatica (cica creams)
Aloe vera gel
Colloidal oatmeal moisturizers
Fragrance-free products only
DARK CIRCLES
Caffeine serums (de-puffing)
Vitamin C (brightening)
Niacinamide
Retinol (very low % under eyes)
FINE LINES / EARLY WRINKLES
Retinol / retinaldehyde
GHK-CU(Subcu duh)
Vitamin C
Hyaluronic acid
Sunscreen
HYPERPIGMENTATION (melasma)
Azelaic acid
Niacinamide
Vitamin C
Kojic acid
Chemical exfoliants (AHAs, mild glycolic)
Sunscreen
DULL SKIN / UNEVEN TEXTURE
AHAs (glycolic, lactic)
BHAs (salicylic acid)
Vitamin C
Niacinamide
Exfoliating scrubs (very gentle)
ENLARGED PORES
Niacinamide
Salicylic acid
Retinoids
Clay masks
INGROWN HAIRS / RAZOR BUMPS
Salicylic acid (chemical exfoliation)
Glycolic acid
Aloe vera
Tea tree oil (anti-inflammatory)
SUN DAMAGE / PHOTOAGING
Sunscreen
Vitamin C
Retinol / retinaldehyde
Niacinamide
AHAs / chemical exfoliants
SOURCES FROM MUMBAI
Jankowski M., et al. — “Uncovering the emotional scars: Study reveals significant stigma associated with female adult acne” (presented at European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress 2023) — found faces with acne judged as less attractive, less trustworthy, less successful.
O’Donnell A. & Davern J. — “Acne stigma linked to lower overall quality of life” (University of Limerick) — survey of 271 acne sufferers: negative perceptions of society’s view on their acne linked with more distress.
Jokic‑Zanozić A., et al. — “Depictions of acne and psoriasis influence interpersonal aversion” — showed faces with acne rated significantly less attractive and with lower willingness for social contact.
Tüzün Y., et al. — “The effect of acne on quality of life, social appearance anxiety …” (Turkey) — showed acne severity inversely related to quality of life and directly related to higher social appearance anxiety.
Aung M.‑M., et al. — “Perceptions and psychosocial judgement of patients with acne vulgaris” (Penang, Malaysia) — found people with acne were perceived as “unattractive, sad, lonely, distant, unhealthy, dishevelled” compared to clear‐skin pics.
