Unless you are one of the lucky few, most of us know what it is like to suffer from pimples. They can pop up at any time from adolescence into adulthood and range from a few spots to more severe acne covering the face.
Kiri Yanchenko is one of these people and when she had no luck finding a solution to help her condition, she set about developing her own skincare range and tele-health service. A decade later, she is helping people around the world with a variety of skin issues.
What skin conditions are most common?
Whilst acne is the most common skin condition, with up to 85% of Australians developing it in their lifetime, there are millions of people suffering from other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, hyperpigmentation and perioral dermatitis. Whilst the symptoms of these conditions are different, there are often common links to the cause, such as gut health, lifestyle, allergies, stress as well as side effects to medication.
Kiri’s story
Kiri Yanchenko is one of the many Australians who struggled with adult acne. When she was 30, her father’s health rapidly deteriorated and Kiri, being his sole carer, found herself battling with her own health issues. She was prescribed medication, which had acute side effects and her skin went from normal to unbearable almost overnight.
Initially, she developed a severe case of pustular acne that was so painful she could not sleep at night. She then developed perioral dermatitis, a common facial irritation that manifests as spots and flaky skin around the mouth and chin. Kiri searched for treatment options and in her search, she was prescribed a topical steroid. Instead of helping her condition, it made it worse. Her perioral dermatitis spread, soon covering the bottom of her face. With inflamed skin, Kiri was compelled to find a solution.
Turning problem skin into a successful business
Kiri tried several therapeutic skin care products but none of them worked for her condition. Her skin reacted to many common irritants in skincare including sulfates, parabens and synthetic fragrances. She was looking for an ultra-gentle skincare range that contained key active ingredients, but she couldn’t find one. She endeavoured to find an answer for her condition through researching medical studies on skin health and acne. She discovered a link between acne and bacteria, with some strains triggering the problem and others helping prevent it. Another discovery she made to help skin health were glycolic acids to help acne lesions. Identifying there was a gap in the market for active skin care, gentle enough for sensitive skin, Kiri set about developing the solution herself.
She pioneered for 5 years to develop the AMPERNA range, working in conjunction with one of Australia’s most experienced skin care chemists and testing with people suffering relevant skin conditions. Using a combination of natural active ingredients, along with tried and tested ingredients of modern science, she developed formulas that help promote an optimal healthy holistic skin balance.
You can find out more about Kiri and her products here: https://amperna.com/products/holistic-skin-coaching
