How to get rid of spots under the skin

There are few things in life more frustrating than spots under the skin. Okay, okay, so we know we’re not supposed to squeeze our spots but when they’re taunting you with their presence and threatening to make an appearance from underneath the surface of your skin? Well, it’s all we can do to stop ourselves, frankly. Luckily we’ve got the intel to help, plus the lowdown on how to tackle them and how to stop them reoccurring. Read on to discover what facialist and  expert spot-sapper Chelsee Lewis, facialist has to say…

By Georgia Day

• 1 Diagnosis first

  'In order to treat the spots, you need to be able to identify them first', says Chelsee. Colourless bumps, which are usually hard but can feel angry, are often a result of hormonal changes such as the beginning your menstrual cycle or stopping the contraceptive pill. ‘Red spots under the skin can be due to eating too many acidic fruits like berries’ says Chelsee, while congestion in the form of white lumps (known as milia) can be caused by a build up of sebum (usually caused by inadequate cleansing) or too much dairy.
• 2 Listen to your body and never squeeze

  ‘The body is always telling us what’s going on. Generally spots like this mean something is imbalanced or something is wrong with our diets’, advises Chelsee. Try and identify any patterns in your routine and if necessary cut back on potential triggers. Unless a spot is at the surface of your skin and has an obvious white tip, it’s best left alone. To attempt to do otherwise can burst the skin on top and cause infection and scarring.
• 3 Thorough cleansing

  A good cleansing routine is a must and should form the basis of your at-home regime. Use a gentle, creamy product that has good slip, which allows you to really massage it in to the skin properly. This will not only help stimulate circulation, which boosts the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin, but it will open pores up and help remove cellular debris that cause the spots to occur in the first place. Add a hot flannel into the mix and you can turn your nightly cleanse into a mini-deep cleanse. How? Hold it over your skin and allow the steam to penetrate your pores, then use it to buff away your cleanser concentrating on areas such as your brows, nose and around your mouth. 
• 4 Effective exfoliation

  If you want clearer skin, introudcing a gentle exfoliator to your cleansing regime is a must; look for one with salicylic acid, which is excellent at de-clogging but is also anti-inflammatory so will calm any angry redness. Using a very harsh, granular scrub is not advised as it could break the skin or aggravate the spot further. Hit up  Decleor, Elemis, Dermalogica and Environ to find an exfoliator that really keeps spots under the skin at bay. 
• 5 In salon action

  ‘Opt for a bespoke deep cleansing facial with steam extractions or try one with Microlance, a procedure which involves a small sterile needle that allows the therapist to break the skin, making it easy to do extractions and remove any spots’, advises Chelsee. Anything that involves deep exfoliation like microdermabrasion or a peel is also good as it will draw impurities right out of the skin and help refine its surface. Manual extractions (Squeezing spots) is the only way to get rid of build ups under the skin, but the preperation must be done correctly in order to avoid damaging the surface. Any professional deep cleasning facial will start with steam and exfoliation before any spot zapping gets under way.  Our Editorial Director Liz Hambleton recommends the following four extraction facials in London….

  Chelsee Lewis Le Visage Facial 

  Face Place Signature Facial 

  Jan Marini Vitamin C Deluxe Facial at Seduire London 

  Dermalogica Extraction Facial at Cucumba