Science Writer · Editorial staff

Liliana Voss

Specializes in myth-checking common claims about acne treatment against the published literature.

4 stories by Liliana Voss

Field Notes · 6 min · Liliana Voss

Fading the dark marks acne leaves behind

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation outlasts the pimple that caused it, sometimes by a year. The difference between red marks and brown marks, the ingredients with real evidence, and why sunscreen is the whole ballgame.

July 5, 2026

Explainer · 5 min · Liliana Voss

Purging or Breaking Out? How to Tell If Your New Acne Treatment Is Working or Failing

Retinoids and other cell-turnover actives can make skin look worse before it looks better. Here is the mechanism behind purging, how long it should last, and the warning signs that mean you are reacting, not adjusting.

July 2, 2026

Field Notes · 6 min · Liliana Voss

Acne mechanica: when friction and sweat cause breakouts

Helmets, straps, masks, and sweaty workouts can trigger a specific kind of acne, and it responds to specific fixes.

July 1, 2026

Dispatch · 6 min · Liliana Voss

How to treat acne without wrecking your skin barrier

Layering actives is how most people stall their own progress.

December 9, 2025