What is maturation arrest acne? Maturation arrest acne results when the acne formation process is halted, or “arrested,” hence the name. While not visible from far away, when you observe your skin closely or pull it tight, you will notice textured pebbles under the skin and an overall dull complexion. This type of acne is generally non-inflammatory, but inflammation can be present for some. Maturation arrest can be hard to identify and frustrating to treat. That being said, with help from a skincare professional, dedicated home care, and patience, you can achieve your clear skin goals. Let’s dive in and break it all down.
What Causes Maturation Arrest Acne?
Maturation arrest is caused by closed comedones, or whiteheads, that become trapped under the skin and lead to a pebble-like appearance. Oil and dead skin cells accumulate inside the pore and create a blockage. In a typical acne life-cycle, the comedones mature into blackheads, or open comedones, which have been oxidized and can be more easily extracted from the skin. But here, the maturation process is stopped, or arrested. With no oxygen to clear the bacteria or inflammation present, the buildup gets trapped under the skin and makes extraction more difficult. As a result, the acne doesn’t heal and results in permanent pebbles under your skin.
Some individuals who are prone to inflammation can experience inflamed lesions as these closed comedones (pebbles) rise toward the surface of the skin.
Some Culprits That Can Cause Maturation Arrest Acne
- Hormonal Imbalances: A rise in testosterone levels can lead to breakouts and maturation arrest.
- Pore-Clogging Ingredients in Topical Products: Check out our pore-clogging ingredients list for tips on what to avoid.
- Omega Fatty Acid Deficiency: Omega fatty acids protect the health of the skin barrier, balancing moisture and reducing bacteria.
- Excessive Inflammation: Consuming inflammatory foods or extreme exercise and sweating can lead to overall inflammation in the skin.
- Tobacco Use: Smoking cigarettes or using tobacco products causes a lack of oxygen to the skin and can lead to clogged pores.
How To Treat Maturation Arrest Acne
Maturation arrest acne can be difficult to treat, as it exists primarily underneath the surface of the skin and can be very stubborn. By taking a proactive approach and with the advice of an AOS certified acne specialist, you can achieve clear skin. We’ve outlined the following steps to help you on your journey to heal and avoid these non-inflamed breakouts.
-
Apply exfoliating and corrective products. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinol work extremely well, especially in tandem. We especially love either mandelic or glycolic acid with retinol for maturation arrest. Some of our favorite products include Skin Script Glycolic and Retinol Pads , Face Reality 5% Glycolic Acid Serum , and Rhonda Allison Stem Cell A .
*Be sure not to use retinol on inflamed skin. Clear up any inflammation first, then add retinol to your treatment. A great option to use with a combination of maturation arrest and inflamed acne is CLEARSTEM’s CLEARITY serum . - Check cosmetics and hair care products for pore-clogging ingredients . Try Illuminare mineral foundations and blush and SEEN Haircare for excellent acne-safe options.
- Cleanse your face gently, but thoroughly, at least once per day. Make sure to use a cleanser without acne-causing ingredients and the right actives, such as Face Reality Ultra Gentle Cleanser or BiON Glycolic Cleanser .
- Add anti-inflammatory foods and supplements to your diet, such as Face Reality’s Clear Skin Balance . Additionally, avoid dairy products and foods with too much iodine. Check out our list here .
- Balance hormones with CLEARSTEM’s MINDBODYSKIN® . If you’ve tried everything else on this list and you’re still not clear, hormones may be the culprit.
- Manage stress as it can contribute to hormonal imbalances and overactive sebum production. Read more here .
I hope we’ve answered all your questions about maturation arrest acne today! If you have any lingering questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our licensed estheticians via live chat. If you need assistance optimizing your current routine, click here for a free skincare checkup or set up a personalized coaching program .
Check out our free acne lessons here.
