Acne awareness month

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition which is very common amongst young adults between 15 to 30. Acne happens when the pores under the skin become clogged with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. They can cause outbreaks of angry cystic acne, or they can be more mild. Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring. 

Genetics does usually play a part in the chance of you suffering with acne with a case study showing 80% of cases are genetic related. Hormones called androgens in both males and females can cause an increase in sebum production which causes the acne. 

There are many treatments available for treating acne, with a very high success rate, especially treating the acne scars caused from acne.  Having a good home skincare routine increases the positive effects and success rate, supporting the treatments in clinic. We’d expect the results will be achieve 60% from us skin care professionals and 40% from your routine at home. Using products like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are particularly effective in treating acne from home. Retinol creams and serums also are known for treating acne as they resurface the epidermis which is the top layer of the skin.  

So, what can we do for acne patients in the clinic? 

  1. First, you will need to attend for a consultation with our skin care professional who will be able to see what type of acne you suffer with, they will assess your skin and ask multiple questions, and from this will put you a treatment plan together which will normally be a combination of treatments.  
  2. We will give send you a prescription for the Alumier MD medical grade skincare products in which have been recommended to you from their professional opinion. These products are prescription only and have very active ingredients in them which will take inflammation away and treat the acne. 
  3. Your first treatment is usually a chemical peel. It is usually suggested that we perform a course of 3-5 chemical peels on your skin depending on how bad the acne is. The more aggressive the acne, the more peels it may take to completely take it away.  Here at the clinic, we use Alumier MD highly active chemical peels. We may bring the intensity up to a TCA peel which is very powerful and can only be used in specific circumstances. They have a very high success rate with our patients.
  4. Microneedling is the next step, as most patients who had acne, experience scaring and dimpling in the skin. This treatment can only be done once all the active acne is 100% gone as there is a risk of spreading the bacteria. However, once the chemical peels have got rid of the acne, the Microneedling causes trauma to the skin with tiny needles to trigger the natural wound healing process. Forcing the natural production of collagen cells tightens the skin therefore tightening the pores. This stops any further spots or acne forming under the skin again.  

 If you or a loved one is suffering from acne, or even mild spots or scaring from having acne in the past please contact our clinic and book in to see our skin specialists. Then, your journey begins!

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