Acne
Taking care of teenager's skin will help avoid problems caused by improper teen skincare. If you're in your teens, you are at the right time to start taking care of your skin. If acne is your skincare problem, here are some things that you may need to know about acne.
Acne vulgaris is a skin condition characterised by areas of scaly red skin, blackheads and whiteheads, pinheads, pimples, cysts and possibly scarring. Acne commonly appears on the face, upper part of the chest and the back, but may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks. Acne occurs most commonly during adolescence, and often continues into adulthood well into their thirties, forties, and beyond. For most people, acne diminishes over time and tends to disappear or decrease by the age of 25. Aside from scarring, its main effects are psychological, such as reduced self-esteem and depression, therefore early treatment is highly recommended to lessen the overall long- term impact to individuals.
FAQs
What causes acne?
Acne develops as a result of blockages in the follicles. Each pore opens to a follicle. The follicle contains a hair and an oil gland. The oil (sebum) released by the gland (sebaceous glands ) helps remove old skin cells and keeps you skin soft, smooth and supple. Acne is caused by overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete the oily substances on to your skin. When the glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked. Dirt, bacteria, and cells build up. The blockage is called a plug or comedone, open comedone (blackhead) or closed comedone (whitehead or milia). In these conditions, the naturally occurring bacterium Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) can cause inflammation, leading to inflammatory lesions (pinheads, pimples, cysts) in the dermis around the comedone. Also hormonal activity, genetics, psychological (increased stress levels), may contribute to formation of acne.
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What are the different types of acne?
Acne can appear on the skin as any of the following:
MILD ACNE - comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) early treatments and regular skincare can reduce mild cases of acne.
MODERATE ACNE - Papules (pinheads) - inflamed lesions that usually appear as a small raised reddish/pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to touch. Breakouts last longer than in mild acne and if not treated early enough, it can leave permanent scars on the skin.
MODERATE ACNE - Pustules (pimples) - papules topped by white or yellow pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base. Breackouts last longer than in mild acne and if not treated early enough, can leave permanent scars on the skin.
SEVERE ACNE- Nodules - large, painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin.
SEVERE ACNE - Cysts – deep, painful, pus-filled lesions that can cause scarring. The breakouts cover large area of the face or body and last longer than in moderate acne, often not going away for months or years.
Management / Treatment of acne
The main focus when we treat acne is:
Unblocking pores of current acne spots
Prevent further blockages of pores
Kill bacteria
Prevent scarring
Procedures
Medical microdermabrasion
Hydrobrasion
Chemical peels (Mandelic acid/ Salicylic acid)
Oxy Mist treatments
LED light therapy
Medical skin needling
Many different treatments exist for acne including benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and retinoid.
You may be prescribed a topical or oral antibiotic and/or topical or oral retinoid by your GP or your dermatologist. A combination of treatments prescribed by your GP and treatments offered by our clinic may help you to improve the condition of acne.
Skin care advice
There are a few key steps to good skin care, which is important for everyone with acne.
Cleanse
Treat
Protect
Follow these skin care steps and recommendation from your skincare specialist to achieve greater benefits and avoid acne treatment problems.
Price Guide
This is a customised treatment and price according to treatment prescribed.
