Five Lessons On Acne From Dr. Fulton That Will Never Go Out Of Style
If you aren't skincare and acne nerds like us, then you may not have the same obsession with Vivant Skincare founder Dr. Fulton that we do – but hear us out on why you should!
Vivant refers to Dr. Fulton as "the Mick Jagger of skin care" (Gen Zers: think Harry Styles). But, as a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, and Ph.D. in biochemistry, he may come off as a little more mad scientist than sexy rock star on whatever spectrum measures that. However, what he did for skin will never go out of style.
Here are some of our favorite hits from acne and skin legend Dr. Fulton. Because of him, countless peoples' lives have been changed. Even if you haven't experienced serious acne yourself, we all know its devastating effects.
1. Acne is a genetic predisposition
While acne can be complicated to treat at times, its cause is simple at its core. People who experience acne have a genetic predisposition to overproduce dead skin cells in their pores, a condition known as retention hyperkeratosis. With all those dead skin cells piling up inside the pores, causing tiny pore impactions, lifestyle and environmental triggers then exacerbate the issue and lead to visible acne lesions on the skin's surface.
Please don't confuse the symptoms of acne and let them distract you from its cause. Dr. Fulton simplified the treatment of acne by creating powerful yet simple products to purge the pores, such as 8% Mandelic Acid Serum, Derm-A-Gel, and BP 10% Gel Medicine, and to treat retention hyperkeratosis.
2. Acne needs to be treated individually
Dr. Futlon was, of course, a doctor, but he didn't believe that acne needed to be treated just by a dermatologist. He instead coined the term "acneologist" to refer to someone, not necessarily a doctor, who specializes specifically in acne. He believed aestheticians were best suited for the job of treating acne because touching the skin is crucial in treating the condition.
However, everyone's skin is different, and acne manifests in various forms, so a personalized plan and home care product regimen are the most successful paths for treating acne. If you are seeing a specialist who doesn't perform extractions, you are missing better and faster results.
3. A low-glycemic diet is best for the acne-prone
Every year, new food is demonized for flaring acne-prone skin, but it can be tough to prove what truly flares your breakouts. However, it's widely known that when our blood sugar spikes, inflammation is created. Inflammation is a catalyst for acne.
While figuring out what foods you are sensitive to is not always easy, avoiding insulin-spiking foods is universally known to be good for everyone. Because of this, Dr. Fulton always recommended following a low-glycemic diet for optimal results when treating acne.
4. Acne is worse in the fall
Acne-prone skin will always break out sometimes; after all, acne is considered a disease. You rarely will fully eradicate your acne until you grow out of it.
Specifically, Dr. Fulton found that acne tends to worsen in the fall for almost everyone. Of course, students have an extra reason to experience flare-ups due to the stress of school and the shift from outdoor fun to indoor learning. But, for the rest of us, testosterone, which is an acne trigger, generally rises in the fall, which likely means more acne breakouts. If you have noticed patterns of breaking out more in the fall, you are not alone!
5. Some ingredients clog pores and flare breakouts
Probably the most lasting impression of Dr. Fulton (at least on the internet) is the list he derived of pore-clogging ingredients. Among all the acne experts to date, Dr. Fulton is the one who has studied, tested, and experimented with the most ingredients to determine their comedogenic ratings.
Every list you see on the internet of comedogenic ingredients is based on Dr. Fulton's study, though it's often not credited. He tested hundreds of common cosmetic ingredients to rate them on a scale of likelihood to clog pores, ranging from zero to five. His original list remains the most reliable and accurate source to date.
We can't help but have an emotional connection to Dr. Fulton. He was a genius, and his driving force was making sure no one suffered from acne. He would help strangers with their skin and was eccentric in the best way possible. While new research about health and acne surfaces every day, we know the basic teachings will always be the foundation of treating acne. It's okay to embrace the new, but the old standards and teachings of Dr. Fulton will truly never go out of style.