Acne Awareness
Learn about Acne with Skin Practitioner, Clare from our York clinic
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions that we come across in our clinics, affecting millions of people in the UK.
We want you to know about what causes acne and how you can treat it.
WHAT IS ACNE?
Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that’s hot or painful to touch.
Acne most commonly develops on the:
• face – this affects almost everyone with acne.
• back – this affects more than half of people with acne.
• chest – this affects about 15% of people with acne.
ACNE CAUSES
Acne is most commonly linked to the changes in hormone levels during puberty, but can start at any age. Certain hormones cause the oil-producing glands next to hair follicles in the skin to produce larger amounts of oil (abnormal sebum). This abnormal sebum changes the activity of a usually harmless skin bacterium called P. acnes, which becomes more aggressive and causes inflammation and pus. The hormones also thicken the inner lining of the hair follicle, causing blockage of the pores.
Acne is also known to run in families. If both your mother and father had acne, it’s likely that you’ll also have acne.
There’s no evidence that poor hygiene or physical contact play a role in acne.
WHO IS AFFECTED BY ACNE
Acne is very common in teenagers and younger adults. About 95% of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by acne to some extent.
Acne is most common in girls from the ages of 14 to 17, and in boys from the ages of 16 to 19.
Most people have acne on and off for several years before their symptoms start to improve as they get older. Acne often disappears when a person is in their mid-20s. In some cases, acne can continue into adult life. About 3% of adults have acne over the age of 35.
Most people have acne on and off for several years before their symptoms start to improve as they get older.
WAYS TO IMPROVE ACNE
• Try not to wash affected areas of skin more than twice a day. Frequent washing can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse.
• Wash the affected area with a suitable cleanser and lukewarm water. Very hot or cold water can make acne worse.
• Squeezing spots and blackheads can cause scarring, leave it to the professionals in clinic.
• Avoid make-up, skincare and sun care products that are oil-based (sometimes labelled “comedogenic”). Use water-based non-comedogenic products, as they’re less likely to block the pores in your skin.
• Completely remove make-up before going to bed.
• Regular exercise cannot improve your acne, but it can boost your mood and improve your self-esteem. Shower as soon as possible once you finish exercising as sweat can irritate your acne.
• Wash your hair regularly and try to avoid letting your hair fall across your face.
Although acne cannot be cured, it can be controlled with treatment and skincare, and we offer many different options at Skin Doctor Clinics.
We offer free consultations in clinic to analyse your skin and discuss the options that suit you best.
Treatments can take several months to work, so do not expect results overnight. Once they do start to work, the results can be life changing.
HOW WILL WE TREAT YOUR ACNE
• We will start your journey with a free of charge skin consultation, to analyse your skin using our UV skin scanner and to discuss your concerns.
• Together we will create a treatment plan – this could be a tailored facial, bespoke Hydrafacial, one of our chemical peels, laser or LED light therapy.
• We will discuss how to help treat acne from the inside; taking supplements from the Advanced Nutrition Programme (backed by science).
• We will design a bespoke skincare regime specific to your concerns, offering advice on medical grade skin care. At Skin Doctor Clinics we highly recommend Zo Skin Health by Dr Zein Obagi – Prescribed Medical Grade Skincare and SkinCeuticals – Advanced Professional Skincare.
Please remember that there is never a quick fix to acne. Treatment requires patience and consistency is key!