You’ve finally settled into your
apartment and your new routine in Japan. You’re in the euphoric peak of culture
shock, where everything is perfect and wonderful. Until one morning, as you
wash your face, you feel slight pain underneath the surface of your skin,
indicating an emerging zit. “Whatever, it’s no big deal,” you tell yourself as
you head out to work. However, later in the day, the zit finally pops its ugly
head, causing you to rush to the bathroom to pop it. “Problem solved.”
However, the following morning you notice
three more giant, Mt. Fuji-esque zits have appeared on your face. You decide
it’s best to ignore the problem but every day more zits appear on your face
while older zits take a long-drawn-out time to disappear. Sooner or later, it
looks like Godzilla has wreaked havoc on your skin, forcing you to feign
illness and wear a surgical mask at work in order to hide the blemishes.
Despite sympathizing with your pubescent students, your confidence has plummeted
and, in a foreign country, you are unsure of your options.
Don’t panic! Instead, let’s talk about
acne and learn about some of the options available to you in the Land of the
Rising Sun.
Here’s the Deal
about Acne
Your skin in the largest organ on your
body and many factors can contribute to acne. Acne is a disease of the skin — not a skin type — that affects a wide range of people of
various ages. In other words, your teenage students aren’t the only ones who
can suffer from acne. In fact, there are many people who suffer from
skin-related issues, like acne, after their arrival to Japan – you aren’t
alone! The important thing to remember is that you do not have to put up or
“deal” with acne. Nevertheless, if your acne is serious, see a dermatologist (legal disclaimer: done).
Identifying the
Cause of Your Acne
Scientists are stumped at
the exact cause of acne (you know, since it’s your largest organ) but recent
research has identified certain factors that may worsen acne in someone who
already has the skin disorder. These factors can be broken down into stress,
diet, hormones, and genetics.
Stress
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| Photo by Jpellgen |
Whether you’re upset when
automatic doors in Japan won’t open fast enough or frustrated when someone uses
difficult-to-understand 敬語 over the phone, research
has shown that moments of heightened stress can cause your acne to flare up due
to the increased production of
sebum, an oil secreted from
the sebaceous glands, which mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog pores. Life in Japan is full of
daily stressors, but it is vital to relax and unwind at the end of the day.
Meditation is a great way to destress and if you’re new to meditation or can’t
get out of your own head (like me), the app, Headspace, offers a wonderful guide to
assisted meditation. Exercise is also a great option for those who like to
actively unwind — just make sure you wash your face. Another app, Pocket Yoga,
offers an inexpensive way to get a great workout at home. Tie that in with
medication, and you’ll be Gandhi in no time!
Unfortunately, a modern-day
Gandhi (or Dōgen — if you want to get Japanesey) can still suffer from acne.
Nevertheless, in a moment of stress, the worst
thing you can do to your face is to pop your zits. Unsightly blemishes are
stressful, but resist the urge to scan your face and pop a zit. This is
especially difficult when the
craters of Mt. Zitville are staring at you, but it’s best to leave them alone.
When you pop a zit, you inadvertently spread bacteria and oils from your hands
to you face, causing small gashes that can lead to scarring. In short, keep
your hands off your face.
Diet
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| Photo by Mie Imanashi |
There is no solid evidence
that links poor diets with acne, but research has shown that high glycemic
diets and high glycemic foods, which increase insulin production, are
associated with worsening acne. Binging on Japanese sweets since your arrival? Maybe
that fifth box of コアラのマーチ wasn’t the best idea. I’ll admit Ghana chocolate by Lotte is
amazing but if you notice a correlation between eating sweets and acne, then it’s
time switch to healthier options like fruit. You may also need to lower your
consumption of processed carbohydrates, such as rice and breads (yes, even
melon pan). Milk in Japan, usually whole milk, is high in lactose, which is a
type of sugar. Therefore, a low-sugar or lactose-free option, such as Blue
Diamond’s Almond Breeze, is a healthier alternative. Everyone bodies react to foods differently,
but eating healthier could help your complexion. Sayonara 給食 milk!
Hormonal
As you age, your hormones
change and this may cause an increase in testosterone that could lead to acne.
My dermatologist lovingly refers to it as a “second puberty.” Therefore,
someone with relatively no history of acne can have a sudden and aggressive
outbreak due to hormonal changes. These zits usually appear on the lower part
of the face around the mouth and jawline. Also, unlike whiteheads, they are
profounder, red, and painful — almost like cyst. Only a dermatologist, who may
prescribe a combination of antibiotics or recommend birth control, can treat
hormonal acne.
Genetics
You’re grandparents had acne.
Your parents had acne. Your older sibling had acne. Now, you have acne. You
were born that way (#LadyGaga), but you don’t have to live that way — visit a dermatologist.
Other factors
Call me crazy, but I have a
strange theory that there is something in the air or water that can also
trigger acne or other related skin issues. My friends and I noted that our acne
would go clear up when we visited our home or other countries, but would emerge
once more when we returned to Japan. I’m not sure if it’s pollen or hard/soft
water, but that may be something to look into.
Acne Products in Japan
It’s difficult to know what
Japanese products to use because everything is unfamiliar. Therefore, you could
spend an exasperating amount time at the store trying to read labels in order
to figure of if the product is a face or hand wash. Nevertheless, here are some
products you can try:
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, commonly found in grocery
stores, superstores (like Don Quixote), and Aeon (a.k.a. Jusco), is a wash that removes
dirt, clears impurities, and dissolves makeup while nourishing the skin. Ladies
and Gents: it’s important to develop of nightly cleansing routine that consists
of removing makeup and/or washing your face — no excuses.
For a cheaper alternative,
try Kose Softymo Deep Cleaning Oil. Looking for a natural solution? Try
extra-virgin olive oil!
Mentholatum Acnes Medicated
Cream
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If you’re looking for an
everyday acne cleanser, look no further than Mentholatum Acnes Medicated Cream.
This product’s active ingredient,
isopropyl methyl phenol, sterilizes skin in order
to prevent acne. You’ll be able to spot this product with ease at grocery
stores and Aeon – just look for the word “Acnes.” Despite its great reviews,
this product can cause peeling and redness in those with dry or sensitive skin.
I recommend using minimal amounts of this product, every other day, along with
an oil-free moisturizer. If your skin feels tight after using the product, you
have inadvertently stripped the necessary oils from your face. This will cause
your glands to produce more oils, which can clog your pores and cause acne.
Remember, you want a clean feeling, not a tight feeling. Also, avoid
exfoliates, as they can irritate the skin and worsen acne.
This company offers other
acne products such as spot creams and medicated BB cream.
Strawberry
Nose Medicated Concealer
Forme’s Strawberry Nose Medicated Concealer has its own cute summary:
Are you covering your pimples with
foundation? Stop that immediately! Covering your strawberry nose full of the
redness of pimples or blackheads and/or large pores with makeup only makes the
situation worse. Care for your face by covering those pimples with our
medicated concealer, while wearing your makeup as usual! The medicated agent kills
germs, suppresses inflammation and prevents the formation of pimples! The cute
design of the bottle will cheer you up, too.
The only downside is that the
concealer is only available in light skin tones and it’s mostly found in stores
with a large makeup selection, like Don Quixote.
Manuka Honey
Need a mask for spa night?
Try a mix of Manuka honey and cinnamon. Manuka honey is produced from bees that
feed from the manuka tree in Australia and New Zealand. As you may not know,
honey and cinnamon are natural antibiotics, and Manuka honey is the Dwayne “The
Rock” Johnson of honeys. Manuka honey is found in stores like Max Value or
online at iherb.com.
Dermatologist Visit in Japan
The best solution for acne
is to see a dermatologist. This can be a bit daunting in a foreign country, but
don’t fret - it’s painless. Search “Dermatologist” or 皮ふ科
(hifuka) on Google Maps for a local
clinic or ask a close friend/coworker for a recommendation. Generally,
dermatologist’s office hours extend into the late evening and weekends, but you
don’t need an appointment - just visit the clinic, present your insurance card,
and let them know you are there for acne (ニキビ;
nikibi). You will be asked to fill out a general
medical form while you wait. Be prepared to wait at least an hour before seeing
the dermatologist, as they are in high demand.
Once you are called, you
will be presented to the dermatologist who will quickly examine your face (sans
makeup, ladies). There may not be much of an exchange between you and the
dermatologist because this is a fairly common disease. Depending on the
severity of your acne, the dermatologist may proscribe a combination of
medicines:
Basic
- Antibiotic creams,
such as clindamycin
Severe
- Oral Antibiotics
- Vitamin B12 and E
- Kampō, Chinese traditional
medicine, for detoxification
Be sure to use the medication as proscribed, but here is some
insight: the antibiotic creams can cause drying, irritation, peeling, and
redness. Make sure that you are using a gentle face wash (not medicated) before
applying antibiotics. Moreover, avoid spreading the cream on the bags of your
eyes, as your skin is thin and highly sensitive in this area. Also be forewarned
that your acne may temporarily worsen before clearing, so be patient. Nevertheless,
if you do not see result by the second week, visit the dermatologist once more so
that they may prescribe a different medicine or additional treatments.
ファイット！
There is no simple solution for curing acne and it’s not an
overnight fix. Try to identify what factors in your life, whether stress or
diet, have changed since you’ve arrival to Japan, familiarize yourself with
Japanese products and if your acne worsens, visit a dermatologist who can
prescribe the necessary medications. It’s a hard battle — one that I am still
battling — so to everyone fighting acne in Japanland, 頑張っれ！