Acne Treatment

Acne is treatable

Concern:

Unsightly acne, irritation, redness, scarring

Solutions:

Oral and topical medication, prescription medication, laser therapy, LED light therapy, acne Facials

What is acne?

Acne is a persistent skin condition that appears as an outbreak of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads or cysts. It’s caused when excess oil and dead skin cells block the pores, but of course, is not quite that simple! Hormonal influences, inherited skin type, and even diet all contribute. Many people don’t understand that there are now many treatments available for acne; not just the condition itself, but also the scarring.

Treatments

We will discuss options with you and help you understand those options, so that we can tailor a treatment program to your needs and preferences. Dr Holmes and our Skin Therapist’s Jasmine and Brodie are always available throughout your treatment program for follow-up consultations and monitoring progress.

Efficient topical products will be recommended to best control skin issues and minimize drying of skin. Deep oil control and surface dryness are two distinct issues that often need addressing individually. If prescription products are required, Dr Holmes will provide those.

Facials – Rationale Acne Facials by Jasmine & Brodie are an amazingly-effective addition to managing acne-affected skin. Following these with a Photonsmart LED series (currently the world’s strongest LED) can dramatically reduce active acne, skin inflammation, and improve skin quality.

Broadband Light can improve redness from scarring, as can Cold laser, which over a series will improve acne scarring with no downtime. Resurfacing Fractional Laser, Halo Pro or Microneedling/ Dermapen treatments can also be used to significantly improve acne scarring.

Whatever your treatment, we aim for changes that are effective.

Our supportive and professional team will lead you through managing a difficult and stressful condition, in our boutique clinic.

If you’re concerned about acne, then come and talk to us about acne treatments.

Call us on 02 4954 5044 to make an appointment.

Acne FAQs

At The Mayah Clinic we treat a wide variety of skin concerns. Our goal is to teach clients how to look after their skin – to achieve true skin wellness. One of the common concerns coming to the clinic is acne. Here are some frequently asked questions, answered by Dr Holmes.

If you just leave it, won’t it usually go away?
“If you leave acne untreated it can result in permanent scars and marks on the skin. As well as that, acne is painful making skin tender and more sensitive. This then can make a person feel less confident in themselves and even depressed.”

Do many people suffer from acne?
“Acne is much more common than some people think! It affects 85%of teenagers, 50% of adult women and a smaller percentage of adult men. All our lives, skin goes through a process of shedding dead skin cells and producing oil. This shedding process is affected by our hormones, genetics, diet and environmental factors. Clogged pores and pimples start when these elements come together in a particular way. Then pores get clogged and particular skin bacteria can flourish, causing inflammation in the pore and the surrounding skin. Blackheads, pimples and cysts are all part of acne.”

Does Dirt cause pimples?
“Not really. It’s dead cells and oils in the skin that are involved. In fact, if we over cleanse our skin, or scrub it too hard with rough scratchy scrubs, our oil producing glands will be triggered to make MORE oil. This just makes everything worse! Drying out the surface of the skin with alcoholic toners will cause this too. The result will be dry flaky skin on the surface and heaps of oil being produced from deeper down.”

Is the sun good for acne?
“NO! UV light messes with the skin’s immune system and barrier function. Not only will it make acne worse, it will often darken scars and marks caused by the acne. Finding a light textured sunscreen that will not block pores but is SPF 50+ should be a priority for acne sufferers.”

Can anything I eat affect my acne?
“There is now evidence that dairy products in the diet can trigger acne or make it worse. The current idea is that the hormones in milk might be the culprit, but this is still being investigated. Remember that a lot of protein shakes can be like concentrated milk products.
Also there is evidence now that foods that make our blood sugar spike can make acne worse. This means that high-fibre, whole grain foods, nuts and pulses are best, instead of simple refined sugar and white flour. For chocolate lovers – well- there is generally no solid evidence. It would make sense that the spiking of the blood sugar would still be an issue, but dark chocolate is full of anti-oxidants that skin loves.
Greasy food like pizza, and chips don’t directly create oil on the skin, BUT saturated dietary fat can cause inflammation in all our body organs, including the skin.”

What can be done then?
“A treatment plan will de different depending on skin type, age, and severity of the acne. There is a wide range of options, from active effective home skin care, active facials, LED light, Broadband Light and Laser, Micro needling, and prescription medications. My advice would be not to waste money on products with a lot of marketing hype. See a professional that you trust, and who will listen to you, understand your needs and recommend a reliable solution.”