01 Jul Acne Treatment in Bromley
When it comes to treating acne, there are several routes you can go down, from basic acne skincare products like creams, gels and serums, to more advanced solutions like our IPL acne treatment in Bromley. Which acne treatment is best depends on a number of factors, such as your age, the severity of your acne and your skin type. The cause of your acne can also determine the best course of treatment.
In the first post of our skin issues blog series, we’ll look at what causes acne, how you can improve your skin and the various acne treatments available.
What is acne?
Acne is caused when the tiny holes in your skin, known as hair follicles, get blocked. It’s usually down to the glands producing too much sebum, which mixes with dead skin cells and plugs the follicles. Acne often appears in the form of white heads, black heads and in more severe cases, infectious pustules and cysts.
You are most likely to get acne on areas of the body where oil glands sit – most commonly, the face, chest, shoulders and back.
Acne causes
Teenage acne
What is likely to be causing your acne can depend on your age. It’s fairly common in teenagers going through puberty and is thought to be caused by an increase is testosterone. The sebaceous glands are very sensitive to hormone changes, therefore an increase in testosterone levels may influence the glands to produce an excessive amount of sebum, causing acne.
Hereditary acne
Acne can run in families. This means if your parents had acne, there’s a higher chance you’ll get it too.
Acne in women
Women are more likely to have acne than men and again, it’s linked to fluctuating hormones. Many women experience a flare up of acne just before their period or when they are pregnant. Some women also get acne as a side effect of a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Other possible acne causes
- Reaction to certain cosmetic products
- Steroid medicines and epilepsy drugs
- Smoking
- Regularly wearing items that put pressure on a sensitive area of skin
- Stress
Dermaquest Acne Management Kit – £79.00
How to improve acne-prone skin
Taking care of your skin can improve both teenage and adult acne. While it may be tempting to try every acne skincare product out there, we’d encourage going back to basics. A simple morning and evening cleansing routine, finished with a clearing serum, will improve the condition of your skin long term.
Choose gentle, alcohol-free skincare that has been developed for your skin type. Natural ingredients, like tea tree, have anti-septic qualities and are therefore effective in treating inflamed spots. Watercress and nettle are also great for regulating sebum production and preventing acne. Mineral makeup is preferable to oil-based makeup but the best thing you can do for acne-prone skin is go makeup-free.
Try to avoid over-touching your face (it spreads bacteria) and picking your acne spots, as this can cause scarring.
Weekly exfoliation will help to remove dead skin cells, which can mix with sebum and block pores. This can be carried out at home, using a gentle face scrub. Alternatively, you may want to consider an exfoliating salon treatment, such as dermaplaning for acne or a chemical peel.
Acne treatment – when to see a GP
If you’ve had no luck treating moderate or severe acne with tailored skincare and over-the-counter treatments from a pharmacy, we’d suggest booking an appointment with your GP. They will examine your acne and may prescribe a topical treatment or antibiotic tablets.
Additionally, they may refer you to a dermatologist for on-going acne treatment.
IPL acne treatment in Bromley
While it’s most commonly associated with hair removal, IPL is an effective treatment for acne. Performed as a medical therapy, with a medically-certified system, IPL destroys the bacteria on the skin, preventing new spots from forming. It can also reduce the production of sebum and inflammation long-term.
Acne sufferers often experience scarring and poor skin texture as a result of their spots and nodules. The good news is that our IPL acne treatment in Bromley stimulates collagen production, which in turn reduces the appearance of scarring and improves overall skin texture.
For best results, we recommend clients undergo 2-3 IPL acne treatments, spread over 2-3 weeks.
A full consultation is carried out prior to IPL acne treatment.
We hope you have found the tips and recommendations in this post useful but if you have any questions about acne treatments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.