When it comes to acne-prone skin, two ingredients often take centre stage — glycolic acid and salicylic acid.

Both can help improve the appearance of congested pores and support clearer-looking skin, but they work in very different ways. So, which one is better for acne?

Salicylic acid can help reduce excessive oiliness and the appearance of congestion; however, in some people, it can excessively strip the skin’s oils, contributing to dryness, irritation, and barrier disruption. It can also cause allergic reactions in individuals allergic to aspirin or salicylates, and require medical attention.

Glycolic acid, on the other hand, helps refine congested pores and support clearer-looking skin without excessively removing the skin’s natural oils or risking an allergic reaction in aspirin-sensitive individuals.

The Most Rewarding Skin Transformation of My Career!

In just six months, a young woman went from feeling self-conscious and despondent about her acne to enjoying completely clear skin — finally confident enough to pursue her lifelong ambition of performing on stage.

When it comes to clearer skin, there’s no such thing as a 'quick fix'. Clear skin takes time, patience, consistency, and the right approach. Many single-step 'quick fix' products deliver weak or temporary improvement only — resulting in disappointment and abandonment.

For the best possible results, you need to combine the following two essentials:

1. An effective product, AND
2. A complete restructuring of your entire skincare routine and makeup to eliminate all comedogenic products. This must include all comedogenic cleansers, serums, moisturisers, and sunscreens, plus non-acne-friendly forms of makeup.

Many people struggling with acne don’t realise that their everyday skincare products, makeup, or sunscreen could be contributing to their acne — or interfering with the improvement they're trying to achieve.

Before starting any acne treatment, it's essential you remove ALL comedogenic products from your skincare routine. These are products that can clog pores, trap oil, and trigger or worsen existing acne.

Switching to lightweight, non-comedogenic, oil-free skincare and cosmetics will allow your acne to clear sooner and more effectively.

Hormonal acne commonly begins around puberty, when rising androgen levels can increase oil production and contribute to clogged pores, visible congestion, and inflamed breakouts. Although it is most common during teenage and young adult years, it can persist into adulthood.

Adult-onset acne, by contrast, is often milder but more persistent. It can be triggered by hormonal fluctuations, stress, and certain medical conditions, or even as a side-effect of some medications. 

Understanding the difference between teenage hormonal acne and adult acne is important, because the cause of the acne will determine the approach required.

Many people struggling with acne focus solely on finding a treatment — but overlook the products they use around it every day.

Skincare, sunscreen, primers, foundations, and powders can all make acne worse if they contain pore-clogging ingredients such as heavy oils, silicones, or waxes. These types of ingredients can block the tiny openings of the skin’s oil-producing glands, trapping their natural oils beneath the surface, and triggereing a sequence of events that results in acne.

To achieve clearer skin, use only non-comedogenic skincare and makeup — products specifically formulated not to block pores. This simple change can significantly enhance the effectiveness of an acne product and help prevent future flare-ups.

Whiteheads form when the openings of the oil glands become blocked, preventing their natural oils from reaching the surface. The trapped oil causes the gland to swell and the distended oil glands are what we see as whiteheads.

Blackheads, on the other hand, are simply whiteheads where the trapped oil has become oxidised and darkened when it came into contact with the air. Contrary to popular belief, the dark color is not dirt. 

The key to improving whiteheads and blackheads is keeping the pores clear. Dr Mayson's Anti-Acne Program features glycolic acid in three progressive strengths to gently exfoliate, improve the appearance of clogged pores, and support a smoother, more radiant, and clearer-looking complexion.

Acne is often misunderstood. It is not simply the result of poor cleansing, bad habits, or wrong food choices— it develops when several changes within the skin occur at the same time.

In acne-prone skin, excess oil, built-up dead skin cells, and blocked pores can create the conditions that lead to visible congestion, blackheads, whiteheads, and breakouts. Once the pore becomes blocked, the stage is then set for acne lesions to form.

Understanding this process matters, because the most effective approach is to target the root causes of acne — helping keep pores clear, supporting healthier skin renewal, and encouraging a clearer. smoother, more balanced-looking complexion over time.

When focussed on clearing your skin, even small mistakes can slow progress or stop improvement completely. From stopping too soon to over-cleansing or using the wrong skincare and cosmetics — all are important to achieve the best results possible.

Read the common mistakes acne sufferers make, learn how to avoid them, and look forward to clearer, healthier, and more confident skin.