Acne is a perplexing skin condition which affects many young people and adults.
Yet the cause is shrouded in myth. Understanding why it occurs is helpful to finding the right treatment.
The Science Bit!
Acne affects the pilosebaceous unit in the skin. This is made up of a sebaceous gland, hair follicle and hair. These are found nearly everywhere over the whole body and most concentrated on the face, neck and upper chest, which is why acne sufferers tend to have the worst symptoms on these upper body areas.
Areas with no follicles such as the palms of the hands or soles of the feet therefore do not get affected by acne.
The purpose of the pilosebaceous unit is to protect the skin by delivering sebum to the skin’s surface along the hair shaft. The sebum is designed to hydrate and coat the skin.
Where acne occurs there are potentially a number of biological factors which cause the pilosebaceous functioning within the skin to be problematic:
- Enlarged sebaceous glands in response to higher hormone levels
- Hyperkeratinisation – a disorder of the cells lining the hair follicle, where excess keratin combines with dead skin cells to block the follicle or sebaceous gland in a process known as comedogenesis
- Development of comedones (blackheads or whiteheads) which develop and grow, building up keratin and sebum in the follicle which ruptures the comedo wall and becomes inflamed. This is where pustules, papules, cysts or nodules develop
Understanding the nature and cause of acne helps to determine the right treatment priorities and programme. For some clients, understanding the hormonal causes may be the best approach. For those with hyperkeratinisation, tackling the blocked follicles with professional exfoliation or laser treatments may be the best starting point. Where there is a major inflammation, then calming the redness and dealing with acne cysts may be the biggest priority.
Often it is a combination of treatment approaches that will give the best results and this may require short term resolution of inflammation followed by medium and long term treatment of the skin to make it healthier and more balanced.
Timely treatment of acne can not only boost the patient’s confidence, but also reduce the risk of longer term issues such as acne-related pigmentation/discoloration and/or acne scarring.
Treatment Options at ClinicbeAcne
A number of skin treatments are available at ClinicbeAcne based in London, which specialises in treating severe acne:
- Microdermabrasion or Chemical Peel for an extra level of intense exfoliation to whisk away dead skin cells/excess oil and improve the skin tone and texture
- Laser/IPL to target acne troubled areas killing bacteria, reducing redness and promoting healing
- Plasma Shower to kill acne bacteria on the skin and in pores
- At-home customised acne skincare treatment plans for daily use at home
At ClinicbeAcne, consultations are carried out with Dr Barbara Kubicka. As a fully trained doctor who has pursued additional qualifications in skin treatments, she is fully qualified to consider and understand the medical aspect of acne before treating it.
ClinicbeAcne
London Acne Treatment Centre
ClinicbeAcne is a specialist skincare centre based in Knightsbridge, London – easily accessible from Chelsea, Belgravia, Mayfair and Kensington.
The clinic is fully registered for treating patients from the age of 13+, but many of our patients are adults who struggle with acne on a daily basis.
Dr Kubicka takes a holistic approach to treating acne, offering a host of doctor-led acne treatments together with vital advice on nutrition and lifestyle factors for best results. We also offer a range of medical facials and customised acne treatment plans for daily use at home alongside professional treatments.
To learn more or book an appointment, please contact our team:
- Telephone: 0207 125 0521
- Email: info@clinicbe.com.
