Acne
How we manage Acne
Acne is a very common condition of the skin that affects most people at some time.
It usually starts at puberty, and varies in severity from a few spots on the face, to a more significant problem that can lead to scarring, and affect self confidence.
What is Acne?
Acne is a condition which affects the "pilo-sebaceous" part of the skin. The sebaceous gland is the oil-secreting gland that is found at the bottom of the hair follicle.
Sebaceous glands lubricate the hair and the skin and stop it from drying out.
In cases of acne there is an overproduction of the oily substance (known as sebum). The sebum mixes with dead skin cells and forms a plug, blocking the hair follicle.
If a blocked follicle is close to the surface of the skin it can bulge outwards, forming a "whitehead". Alternatively if the blocked follicle is open to the skin surface then a "blackhead is formed".
The normal bacteria that live on the skin surface can then infect the blocked follicles, causing papules, pustules, nodules. or cysts.
If not well managed Acne can leave the client with severe scarring. In so doing it can also be the cause of loss of self-esteem and self confidence, leading in some cases to depression.
Early treatment of Acne is important to prevent scarring and pigmentation, which can otherwise be difficult to manage.
What causes Acne?
Acne is caused by four main factors;
- Excess sebum production
- Hair follicles clogged by sebum and dead skin cells
- Bacteria (Proprionibacterium acne)
- Excess activity of a type of hormone known as androgens
The treatment of Acne
The main themes of Acne treatment are to control your Acne, avoid scarring and other damage to your skin, and make scars less noticeable.
At Orchard Mews Clinic we will discuss the factors involved in the formation of your Acne, and establish your treatment goals.
Initial advice would include to avoid over cleaning the skin (which, as mentioned above, can dry the skin and exacerbate the problems), to use oil-free skin care products, and to avoid picking and squeezing spots
Many patients with Acne who present to our clinic have tried initial therapies, including antibiotic therapy with tetracyclines such as lymecycline or doxycylcine.
Clenziderm from Obagi
At Orchard Mews Clinic we are partnered with
Obagi UK. Dr Obagi formulated the Clenziderm system specifically to treat the four causes of Acne (see above).
Clenziderm from Obagi contains the necessary ingredients to treat the bacteria, and address the inflammation. These ingredients are available to purchase in over-the-counter preparations but only the Clenziderm system (available on prescription only) contains them in a sufficiently high concentration with the active molecules specially formulated to be small enough to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin.
The salicylic acid and benzyl peroxide in Clenziderm act in the following ways
- to inhibit the production of sebum, and also reduce skin pore size
- to slough off (exfoliate) the dead skin cells
- to kill the P acne bacterium on the skin surface (and so reduce the appearance of the spots and speed up the healing time)
- salicylic acid is an anti-inflammatory and so reduces the swelling and redness associated with papules and pustules.
For clients with more severe Acne we can also prescribe a topical retinoid cream. These work by removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin (exfoliating), which helps prevent them building up within hair follicles.
Your Journey to clear skin...
We offer a free consultation to establish your own customised treatment plan.
Everyone's skin is unique we have the expertise and understanding to create a skin care regime to suit your needs.
The Clenziderm system is simple to use but very effective. In addition to the Clenziderm products we have a range of topical retinoid creams to be effective on the most difficult to treat cases.
We offer regular specialist support throughout your journey to clear skin
#journeytoclearskin with Orchard Mews Clinic.
NewLeft: One of our clients with painful facial Acne Right: Following 6 weeks treatment with Clenziderm
Frequently asked Questions
Is my Acne caused by my diet?
Although conventional wisdom suggests diet plays no role in the formation of Acne, Dr Gregor from Nutritionfacts.org has highlighted the
acne-producing effects of milk and dairy produce. Our practitioner, Claire, who is now herself a Vegan because of severe Acne, will be happy to discuss dietary changes with you.
Have I got Acne because my skin is dirty?
The reactions that lead to Acne occur beneath the skin surface so the cleanliness of your skin is not the cause of your Acne. Washing your face too often can dry out your skin and aggravate the problems.
Should I squeeze whiteheads, blackheads, and spot?
This is definitely not advisable, as it can make symptoms worse and lead to scarring.
Sunbathing and Sunlamps can improve the symptoms of Acne...
There is no evidence of this being the case. Some of the treatments for Acne make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so excess exposure could cause damage to your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer.
