Acne is one of the most common conditions we see in our clinics. If your acne is making you feel self-conscious, or if breakouts are causing you pain, then our range of treatments can leave your skin feeling soothed and you feeling confident by tackling the acne at its source.
WHAT IS ACNE?
Acne is a complex and continuous cycle that can be caused by many factors, resulting in a hormonal fluctuation that stimulates oil production. It is most common in adolescents but can be experienced at any age and range from mild to severe. Too often, people squeeze spots and blemishes because of their unpleasant appearance.
Unfortunately, the habit can increase inflammation and, in extreme cases, lead to permanent scars.
CAUSES OF ACNE
The disease is caused by a sensitivity to androgen hormones. Specifically, it is sensitivity to the hormone derivative of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, known as DHT – that triggers the condition.
There is conflicting research regarding the relationship between diet and acne. Individual foods cannot cause acne; however lack of good nutrition will reduce the skin’s capacity to fight infection and heal itself. Low levels of antioxidants allow free radical formation, which can further damage the skin tissue. Low levels of Free Fatty Acids, particularly Linoleic Acid, will reduce the skin’s natural barrier defences and acid mantle. So it’s a good idea to eat a healthy, balanced diet and take Vitamin C and Zinc supplements to increase the skin’s healing capacity and defences against infection.
Likewise, acne cannot be blamed on poor hygiene. It is a systemically caused (affecting the whole body) inflammatory condition and is not due to an individual being unclean. A thorough skincare regime is however vital in removing surface grime, make-up and dead skin cells, which cause skin congestion. In fact, being too clean can actually aggravate acne as an overly harsh cleansing regime will trigger further oil production, cause dehydration and disturb the vital acid balance and barrier function of the skin against infection.
What conditions are related to acne?
- Acne scarring
- Oily Skin
- Rosacea
- Polycystic ovaries
- Thyroid conditions
How to manage acne
Getting rid of acne successfully – or even controlling it – will depend on your skin, your lifestyle and the treatment you choose. Generally speaking, you could say goodbye to acne through a combination of the following:
- Visiting My Laser Clinic and talking to an expert
- Washing your make-up brushes, pillowcases and bed sheets on a regular basis
- Minimising the stresses and strains in your life
- Eating a balanced diet and consuming plenty of water
- Exercising regularly
- Reviewing your beauty products, i.e. choose the right moisturiser for your skin type
- For women, consider another form of contraception
- Don’t squeeze your spots!
TREATMENTS FOR ACNE
LASER TREATMENT
Laser treatment reduces acne inflammation through photoselective absorption and controlled heating. The laser safely penetrates the skin to an optimal treatment depth to thermally and selectively destroy overactive sebaceous glands.
In addition, the treatment accelerates the healing process and stimulates collagen remodeling, an important step in the long-term treatment of acne.
ADVANTAGES OF ACNE LASER TREATMENT
- Fast and Convenient
- Safe and Effective
- No Medication
LED THERAPY
This LED light technology targets both the upper and lower layers of the skin to help fight acne. LED broadband light to heat up the dermal layer of skin, destroying acne causing bacteria, as well as reducing inflammation.
ACNE SCARS
Laser treatment is ideal for mild scar revision. It safely and effectively penetrates the skin for gentle resurfacing of acne-scarred skin, helping to improve your skins texture and tone.
Unlike chemical peels and dermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing allows the penetration depth to be precisely controlled by the practitioner. The laser gently vaporizes micron-thin layers of the acne-scarred surface to reveal healthy, undamaged skin below.
FAQs
Can changing my diet help my acne?
Dairy, sugar, coffee and nuts can cause an increase in sebum, which is thought to trigger or worsen acne, so reducing your intake of these food types may help your acne.
Why do acne spots leave scars?
Dark spots that remain on your skin after a breakout are caused by inflammation during the skin’s healing process. When a spot is popped, the pore will open up, and then when it closes back together, abnormal pigmentation, texture and tone appears that looks different to the rest of your skin. Sometimes broken blood vessels that remain after acne fades can result in a mark that appears more red or purple than brown.Sometimes particularly aggressive blemishes can leave permanent marks, called acne scars. Acne scars occur when normal tissue in the skin is destroyed and replaced with fibrous tissue. When acne is severe, it can act like a wound, so when the body heals the damage, it can produce too much or too little tissue to repair the area. The production of too much tissue forms a keloid or a hypertrophic scar, and too little tissue leads to a depression in the skin, or atrophic scar. The deeper and more inflamed the acne lesion, or the more that it is picked or squeezed, the more likely it is to scar.
What is the best make-up to use if I have acne?
The best make-up to use if you suffer from acne is mineral based make-up as these don’t include parabens, fragrance, talc, preservatives, oil, or other harsh chemicals, so they are ideal for sensitive or breakout-prone skin types that often become irritated with heavier formulas. While traditional cosmetic products provide good coverage, they prevent the skin from breathing and prolong or worsen any redness, dryness and blemishes, whereas mineral make-up doesn’t sit on your skin, it works into it which allows your skin to breathe.
Why shouldn’t I squeeze spots?
Squeezing spots, whether blackheads or whiteheads, can force the bacteria deeper and cause inflammation and scarring.
Why do I have acne as an adult?
Almost all of us suffer from acne at some point, and while the scientific cause (hormonal-driven excess oil production) remains the same, break-outs can vary between the genders, particularly in adult life. Beyond teenage years, male acne can occur right into the 40s. Men tend to have thicker and oilier skin than women on the chest and back due to the presence of male hormone androgen. Women, on the other hand, will probably be used to the odd break-out – maybe it’s just one blemish – at their time of the month and can expect it through pregnancy. Female acne can also occur at other times, the result of hormone level fluctuations or through taking various contraceptives. Take heart in the fact that adult acne is common – in fact, it’s on the rise. Leading dermatologists blame poor diet, increased stress and choosing the wrong skincare regimes.
How does acne form?
Acne is a condition which mainly involves the pilosebaceous gland. This is the oil gland in the skin that is attached to a hair follicle – which then appears at an opening in the skin. Acne is a condition where there is excessive sebum production from the oil gland, accompanied by inflammation and bacteria which leads to clogging up of the pores, producing a pimple.
Does acne run in families?
There is no one cause of acne. There can be a familial tendency in certain severe cases, but it’s not actually a genetic disease. Typically, hormonal influences can trigger the sebaceous glands to be more active than usual, causing acne.
Can acne be caused by stress?
Stress doesn’t cause acne directly; however heightened levels of stress can cause the adrenal glands to go into overdrive. Adrenal glands are in charge of regulating stress and can stimulate sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum (oil). This excess oil can cause acne.
Does chocolate cause acne?
There is little evidence that chocolate specifically causes acne. However certain diets can predispose an individual to acne, such as high milk and dairy intake or high calorie intake because these diets can encourage certain growth hormones that can stimulate the oil gland and when the oil gland is more active, acne tends to form.
Why do I get acne on different areas of my face?
An interesting fact is that the sebaceous glands associated with acne, are a genetic remnant from the pre-historic days when humans had complete facial hair! Therefore, different areas can be affected by acne, and where it appears on the face comes down to the number of sebaceous units a person has in that area. Some people might have a very high number of sebaceous units on the cheek, so they may see more acne on the cheeks. The concentration, distribution, and activity of these sebaceous units varies from person to person. That’s why some people might suffer with acne more on their forehead compared to others who might have it more on the chest.
Do topical treatments work for acne scarring?
Unfortunately, topical treatments are not particularly useful for most types of acne scarring. However, they do work for a subtype of acne scars, called macular scarring. This is essentially small patches of intense redness or pigmentation that is a very early form of scarring. Using Vitamin A preparation in all various concentrations and forms can help prevent acne scarring and in some mild cases reverse this macular type of scarring. However, for the atrophic scars, such as box scars, ice pick scars and rolling scars, the best treatments are slightly more invasive such as micro-needling; derma-stamping and injectable gels such as Profhilo.
Does my period cause acne?
When a woman is on her period, the hormonal changes can trigger your sebaceous glands to secrete more oil or what we call sebum, this can cause pores to block and result in a breakout of acne – this often occurs a few days before your period starts. When you’re having hormonal skin changes, usually making your skin oilier, you should wash your face regularly in the morning and evening, and even consider using a different cleanser containing Salicylic Acid (BHA) during those days. Make sure you reduce the chances of getting blocked pores, so remove makeup before going to bed.
Does sweat cause acne?
Excessive levels of sweating from exercise for example, can lead to clogging up of the pores which can in turn affect people that are prone to acne. It can also trigger acne in milder forms for those that don’t have a pre-existing condition. That said, although sweat can negatively impact the skin, exercise is good because it increases the blood flow, which washes away the toxins, leading to more healthy skin. It also reduces the oxidative stress and counteracts the reactive oxygen species between the oxidative sweat, which is good for the skin.