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What are blemishes?
Blemishes, or spots, appear for a number of reasons – factors such as your skin type, diet, hormones and lifestyle habits can increase their occurence. They are usually temporary. Hormone fluctuations (during puberty, menstruation and menopause), sugary foods, lack of sleep and having sensitive or problematic skin can result in spot outbreaks. Acne is extremely common, and it is not unlikely that you may suffer as an adult too.
What is acne?
According to the NHS, over 95% of people will experience acne at some point in their lives, which makes finding a way to manage it even more important. Although acne is considered a chronic condition, a lot of people can effectively control it’s severity with a combination of treatments and skincare.
It stems from the overactivity of your sebaceous glands that are responsible for keeping your skin lubricated, where this overproduction of sebum can cause congestion, leading to sore, sensitive skin and aggressive outbreaks and different types of breakouts.
These are the three categories of acne, which type do you suffer from? Slide to see.
Mild Acne
Otherwise known as Comedonal Acne which is one of the most common types of acne effecting the largest number of people. It can present itself in small clusters of blackheads or whiteheads, or be identified through the sight of one or two affected areas. You can often find this type of acne on regions of the face such as the forehead, nose, and chin.
Some triggers are thought to be hormones, genetics, changes in diet or stress levels. However, the area where you have your breakouts can give a good indication of why you have acne – such as if spots gather on the chin or hairline, the cause is commonly thought of as hormonal.
Inflammatory acne
This is when blemishes become worsen and infected. The affected area appears visibly inflamed, or may feel hot and tender to the touch. Typically occurs when bacteria infects the blocked pore and could be a sign that you skin is making too much sebum (oil).
Severe acne
Severe acne can be recognised as ‘cystic acne’ and is accompanied by capsules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Severe acne is often extremely temperamental and can be aggravated easily when touched or picked at, so it’s key to let your skin breathe when you have a breakout so not to exacerbate any symptoms. Picking or touching the infected areas can also spread the bacteria and cause scarring so try not to be tempted.
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How can I treat Cystic acne?
If you are suffering with cystic acne the first step is to approach your doctor or dermatologist. They might advise a course of antibiotics or retinoids. In some cases they may advise stronger creams such as Isotretinoin or Roaccutane but these should be approached with extreme caution as they have been linked with severe depression and other extreme side effects. Isotretinoin also carries the risk of scars, as whilst the drug treats the underlying problem it also impairs the skin’s ability to heal.
Or, you could visit our clinic for some alternative methods and light-based therapies which are widely effective in treating cystic acne. Some of our methods include Lightfinity Express, ClearSkin and Potenza.
ClearSkin
Not to be confused with our anti-ageing treatment, ClearLift, the acne-fighting ClearSkin treatment is one of a kind. It combines a non-ablative laser (meaning it’s atraumatic to the skin), has a cooling mechanism and vacuum system to soothe skin, target active acne – such as papules and cysts – and remove bacteria that contributes to angry flares of acne.
This treatment employs a non-fractional laser and vacuum technology to deeply unclog pores and lastingly destroy bacteria. ClearSkin also helps to reduce sebaceous gland activity to keep your skin oil-free for longer. The perfect, no-downtime-needed treatment to deeply cleanse and clear your skin, for radiance every time.
Senior Aesthetician Rachael, can treat the whole face or concentrate on individual blemishes, depending on your concern.
She says, “The best thing about ClearSkin is that it’s painless, doesn’t cause any redness and combines really well with a Chemical Peel.”
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Lightfinity Express
Using LED light, Lightfinity Express helps treat acne scars and rejuvenate the skin’s surface. A gentle and quick photofacial that is suitable for all skin types and pregnant women. Blue light wavelengths wash over your complexion meaning you’ll reap both its anti-bacterial and redness-reducing benefits. Then, a pass of red light will help stimulate collagen renewal and encourage the removal of debris and help improve the appearance of acne scars.
Potenza
Potenza has outstanding results that can be used on individual acne lesions or target post-active acne scarring. Using different tips and single-needled hand pieces to deliver shallow and deep treatments precisely, expect dramatically improved skin texture and an overall clearer, clarified complexion.
We highly recommend that you book a consultation with us to help create a bespoke programme for your acne skin needs.
Our Patient Advisors are available to chat on WhatsApp, speak to them now on: 07931834599
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