Acne Treatments

Many individuals who suffer from acne are only too familiar with the ongoing distress that results from this recurring problem. Pimples, whiteheads and blackheads are all symptomatic of someone who has acne-prone skin. They affect your appearance and public image which in turn can lower a person’s self-esteem and confidence. Finding the right acne treatment is easier than you may think. At Me Clinic, our aestheticians are specially trained to treat most underlying causes of acne. Read on to find out more.

What Causes Acne

Acne is caused when the hair follicles in the upper layer of our skin become blocked. To understand more about acne, we first learn there are tiny glands found near the epidermis. These glands, also known as sebaceous glands attach themselves to the hair follicles. The opening of the hair follicles then becomes blocked by dead skin cells and oil from the oil gland. As the gland continues to produce oil, the follicle then proceeds to rupture, releasing more oil and dead skin cells into the top layer of the skin. This reaction causes inflammation which then results in redness and swelling. The build-up of bacteria in the hair follicle creates an infection that causes the familiar white breakouts known as the pustule.

The different types of Acne and Breakouts

To understand if you suffer from acne, it pays to evaluate how often you experience pimples on your skin. If you are someone who gets a few blemishes now and then and they disappear with time, then you’re likely experiencing the occasional breakout. On the other hand, if you have a consistent blemish on the skin that doesn’t fade, you are likely to be dealing with acne.

Acne is an ongoing skin condition that comes with a myriad of symptoms. It’s caused by different factors and there are varying solutions to deal with acne depending on the underlying reason itself.

For this purpose, you must understand your skin condition and the nature of your skin as well as your surrounding environment as they play a key role in the effective management of acne-prone skin. Excess oil and built up sebum are factors that contribute to acne-prone skin.

Symptoms of acne

Pimples are a common symptom of acne. Someone who has acne-prone skin will experience pimples as part of their condition. It is worth noting that not everyone who struggles with pimples has acne-prone skin.

What are pimples? They are blemishes that emerge when a pore becomes blocked. They are also known as closed or open comedones, more commonly known as blackheads and whiteheads. These blemishes appear closer to the surface of the skin in the epidermal layer. The main difference is that whiteheads are closed comedones and are covered by a very thin layer of skin. Closed comedones are blackheads and they are dark in appearance from being exposed to the air.

When someone suffers from acne, they struggle with an ongoing skin condition that’s more than just a random pimple. The pimples make their appearance repeatedly, and they can sometimes be followed by more prominent and more striking lesions such as papules, pustules, and cysts of nodules (cystic acne). These are formed in the deeper layers of the skin.

Adult Acne

While there are main reasons that cause acne, there are also contributing factors that amplify the acne problem. Adult acne stems from excess oil (sebum) production. As mentioned before, hair follicles are clogged by oil and dead skin cells.

Other triggering factors that worsen acne include:

  • Changes in hormone levels. As women experience menstruation and age, they experience fluctuations in their levels of estrogen etc. These changes in hormones especially in androgen, increase the amount of oil their skin produces, hence causing acne production.
  • Medications and their side effects. It’s a widely known fact that the contraceptive pill comes with numerous side effects that have affected many women over the world. Regardless of whether it’s the oral contraceptive or the contraceptive pill, side effects include breakouts and acne scarring.
  • Diet. It’s no surprise here that a healthy diet with plenty of exercise certainly plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin.
    Stress and the environment. High-pressure work induces stress which in turn causes pimples and breakouts. Seeing a dermal aesthetician is the first step in your journey to healthier skin

Acne Scars

For some people these blemishes transform into acne scars., Getting to the root of the problem is key to maintaining good skincare. Acne scars are caused by the inflammation of acne blemishes. Most acne blemishes are small and when treated in a timely fashion, they can heal quickly to reveal smooth clear skin. Other times, however, blemishes cause deep scars. Some scars are not only deep, but they can also be permanent if not treated in time.

Preventing acne

While it’s not entirely possible to prevent acne, there are a few handy tips you can follow to reduce the occurrence and severity of breakouts. We recommend:

  • Maintaining a good skincare regime. This means washing your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser and keeping your hair clean.
  • Avoid intense scrubbing on your face. A facial scrub can cause small tears in the skin which may lead to acne if infected by bacteria.
  • Do not pop your pimples. Not only do you risk infection by popping the zit, but this can also lead to inflammation.
  • Apply non-comedogenic cream. Using the right topical creams is particularly effective in preventing acne formation. They contain ingredients that won’t clog or block the pores on your skin.

What to expect after acne treatment

Once you have had a skin rejuvenation treatment for acne, you must maintain and care for your skin to prevent blemishes and future breakouts.

Avoid exposure to too much sun. Use sunscreen for maximum protection. Another key addition to your skincare regime is ensuring the skincare products and lotions are non-comedogenic, so your pores will not be blocked.

Preparing for your appointment

To achieve optimal results from your acne treatment, it is incredibly beneficial for you to adopt certain healthy habits as well as make a few changes so you can obtain the best results from your treatment.

  • Do not apply acne medication to your blemishes at least 1 week before your acne treatment
  • Avoid hopping from one acne treatment to the next without giving enough time to see results.
  • Never share your make-up products including make-up brushes and applicators.
  • Remember to remove your make-up and wash your face before bed. It is noteworthy to mention too much washing and scrubbing can also irritate the skin causing dryness and skin irritation.

Which treatments (or combination of) can be used effectively on Acne?

Your treatment options including combination therapy

The acne treatment option that is right for you will depend on the type of acne and severity of your acne problem. There are three main options for acne treatment. For mild acne, you can use medical skin care, moderate acne calls for antibiotic treatment while severe acne will require the use of therapies and other acne treatments available at Me Clinic. In many instances, it is not uncommon to use a combination of treatment options for best results.

  • Topical treatment. Topical creams with the right active ingredients like, topical retinoids, salicylic acid and azelaic acid are particularly effective for moderate acne. They aid in the treatment of blackheads, whiteheads and pimples. Side effects from acne include redness like rosacea and acne vulgaris. The anti-inflammatory medicines are useful in keeping inflammation down. Use creams if you have dry skin or suffer from dryness as a result of acne.
  • Oral medications. Your dermal aesthetician can recommend antibiotics to reduce infection and bacteria. There is a range of oral antibiotics available for the effective treatment of acne. These include clindamycin to treat infections, minocycline, isotretinoin, erythromycin and doxycycline. There are both topical antibiotics and oral antibiotics available.
  • Therapies. Last but not least, light therapies have shown success in treating acne. These can be stand-alone treatments or combined with other procedures such as chemical peel. Other treatments recommended are steroid injections.

How do I find out more about Acne treatments?

Please contact the team at Me Clinic. With over 35 years of Cosmetic Medicine experience, we are confident in providing the best quality treatments specific to your needs. We want you to be fully informed about the treatments available at our clinic so you can look your best every day.

A no-obligation consultation with one of our Cosmetic Physicians or Aestheticians is essential so your skin can be examined and assessed for the most suitable Acne treatments. Contact us today to begin your journey today.

Surgical Warning: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Read more on the Risks of Treatments

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