ClinicbeAcne - Specialist Acne Treatments

There are a number of triggers which can cause acne breakouts or flare ups.

• Picking or squeezing – this is tempting, but can make spots worse as well as increasing the risk of scarring. Squeezing spots causes an eruption of sebum and bacteria into surrounding skin tissues leading to more swelling and redness and possibly infection
• Over washing – excessive scrubbing, exfoliating, or the wrong cleansers/toners products can strip the skin and irritate it, which can lead to more acne
• Sweating – sweating can clog pores, especially if trapped under clothing, thereby leading to more acne breakouts
• Medications – certain medications have a side-effect of causing acne
• Hormones – for many teenagers, hormonal changes are at the root cause of acne. For girls/women, acne can become worse closer to menstruation
• Physical pressure – tight clothing p, phone receiver, sports helmet, headband, guitar strap, bra strap and other tight clothing can lead to localized acne that develops at the point of skin contact.

There are various terms that describe different forms of acne, such as comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.

• Comedones (plural for comedo) are the name given to plugged follicles: an open comedo is called a blackhead because the surface is visible and turns “black” when it’s exposed to air. A closed comedo is a whitehead, which is like a blackhead, but is closed at the surface.
• Plugged follicles can become irritated and swollen ‘spots’, affecting surrounding tissues which can look inflamed and red
• A plugged follicle erupting above the skin’s surface, it becomes a pimple; when it erupts below the surface, it forms a red lump, such as a nodule or cyst.

The clinic is registered for patients age 13 and over and shares Clinicbe®’s holistic approach to skincare, which is to treat the person as a whole.

Severe teenage acne should never be seen as “just part of growing up” – it’s worthy of medical attention and can respond well to medication.

The principle behind ClinicbeAcne is to provide a specialised service offering professional skincare accessible to younger patients. ClinicbeAcne has a team of staff who are able to provide treatments normally only available privately for adult patients.

All staff are DRB checked and are fully trained in dealing with younger patients, recognising how the skin and needs may differ.

However, certain treatments such as injectables are not administered to those under 18 years of age.

Acne is often associated with teenage skin, but the issue is far more complex than that.

In the teenage years, skin is going through enormous changes which can be especially challenging for the patient. Puberty causes the body to increase its production of sebum (oil secreted by the sebaceous glands). This can lead to blocked pores and spots, rashes, inflammation and even pigmentation.

Severe teenage acne is not “just part of growing up” – it’s worthy of medical attention and can respond well to the right treatment. Getting on top of acne as early as possible is recommended to avoid risk of long term damage (scarring or pigmentation).

Yet young skin is still relatively delicate so harsh and abrasive products are not always the answer. Indeed, some young people find that dry skin or combination skin are a real issue.

While the skin is maturing, it can also be especially susceptible sensitivities.

Making the effort to understand your skin and getting a good skincare routine put in place can make all the difference, and sets you up well for the coming decades.

However, as skin and hormones are changing, the skincare approach needs to be continually reviewed and adjusted for best results.

ClinicbeAcne offers a range of treatments for young skin with a team who are equipped and trained to recognise the needs of younger patients.

Most clinics can only treat patients over the age of 18, by which time the skin can already be quite damaged, leaving a lifetime legacy of difficulties. Acne scarring and pigmentation are renowned as being particularly difficult to treat.

Tackling difficult skin issues at a younger age means that the patient is able to avoid much of the long-term damage which acne can cause.

It can also be very beneficial to self-esteem and wellbeing.

When treating patients under 18 we require a parent or guardian to be present during consultation and to give consent for treatment.

One of the main reasons that patients visit ClinicbeAcne is to find alternatives to medication. Acne medication may be the first port of call for many doctors, but it can carry unpleasant side effects, so patients and parents are often keen to explore other avenues.

ClinicbeAcne offers a range of skin treatments which can be chosen, tailored or combined to suit the patient’s needs. Dr Kubicka’s holistic approach to skincare also means that diet, hydration and lifestyle are taken into account.

However, within a programme of care, medication may still have a part to play – particularly at the outset of treatment. It can be useful in bringing particularly aggressive outbreaks back under control quickly. In such cases, the long-term goal for acne management is to limit the lasting damage that the condition can cause.

Medication may be supplemented by professional skin treatments and/or skincare regimes; and the goal is generally to use medication in the short term only, moving onto a maintenance programme once the acne has been brought under control.

As Dr Kubicka is not a Dermatologist, in case of a need of a Skin Specialist review the suitable referral will be made.

However, the Doctor’s experience and array of treatment options means that the vast majority of patients can expect to see very satisfactory results.

If scarring has already developed as a consequence of acne, it can be very difficult to disguise, especially if the acne is still active, where red pustules appear adjacent to pitted scars.

However, modern aesthetic medicine can help with a range of treatments to disguise the scars and improve them for the long term too.

Read more about acne scarring treatments.

Nutrition often plays an important role in treating acne. This isn’t just about ‘avoiding chocolate’ – there are a range of foods that can trigger acne breakouts. Making changes to dietary choices can deliver a radical improvement.

Consultations with Dr Barbara Kubicka include a review of lifestyle and diet. Patients are surprised by the calibre of advice and delighted to see how a few simple changes can improve acne.

Read more about acne nutrition and diet advice.

If you are worrying about acne you’re not alone. It can have real repercussions on your state of wellbeing.

Research has shown that skin concerns are just a physical issue. A visible skin condition such as acne can give patients quite significant confidence, emotional and social difficulties too, which should not be underestimated.

A survey by the British Skin Foundation (2015) found that:

• Almost a third of acne sufferers who had sought treatment for the condition by medical professionals were left unsatisfied
• 78% had experienced verbal abuse from friends, family and acquaintances due to the condition
• A fifth of respondents claimed that that the disease had caused a relationship to end.
• 10% reported being unfairly dismissed at work due to acne
• 20% had thought about attempting suicide due to the condition

Don’t suffer in silence, as there are treatments that can help.