What Causes Acne?
Acne is a really common skin condition, but there isn't always one simple reason for why it develops. It happens when the hair follicles in the skin become blocked with excess oil and dead skin cells, which can lead to blackheads, whiteheads and red, inflamed spots.
Hormones are one of the biggest influences, which is why acne commonly appears during puberty and can also flare during periods of hormonal change. Genetics can play a role too, and some people find that certain skincare products, medications or lifestyle factors can affect their skin.
One thing acne isn't caused by is having dirty skin. In fact, repeatedly washing, scrubbing or using harsh products can irritate already-sensitive skin and potentially make things feel worse.
Understanding what you're dealing with is important before choosing a treatment. In out Hamphire clinic, we look at your skin as a whole - including whether you're experiencing active breakouts, congestion, post-acne marks or scarring - before recommending appropriate next steps.
What Type Of Acne Do I Have?
Acne doesn't look the same on everyone. You might experience mostly blackheads and whiteheads, which develop when pores become blocked, or more inflamed spots such as papules and pustules. More severe acne can involve deeper, painful nodules or cysts beneath the surface of the skin.
The type of acne you're experiencing matters because different concerns require different approaches. Someone dealing with occasional congestion and post-breakout marks, for example, may need something very different from someone experiencing persistent, painful cystic acne.
It's also possible to have several types of spots at the same time, as well as redness, pigmentation or scarring from previous breakouts.
If you're unsure what you're dealing with, a skin consultation is a good place to start. We can assess your skin and talk through your concerns before recommending whether a Secret Skin treatment is suitable or whether we'd advise speaking to your GP or another medical professional first.
How Can Acne Be Treated?
Microneedling
Microneedling is one of our go-to treatments for skin that has been left with acne scarring, uneven texture and enlarged pores.
The treatment uses ultra-fine needles to create controlled microchannels in the skin, triggering its natural repair response and stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin. Over time, this can help to soften the appearance of certain acne scars and create smoother, more even-looking skin.
A course of treatments may be recommended depending on your skin and the type and extent of scarring.
Morpheus8
For more established acne scarring and uneven skin texture, Morpheus8 may be recommended.
It combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy, delivering controlled energy into deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This makes it particularly useful where acne has left the skin looking uneven or textured.
As with Microneedling, Morpheus8 isn't suitable for every type of acne or scarring, so we'll assess your skin first at a consultation to determine whether it's the right option for you.
Dermoregen Facial
For acne-prone, congested or post-breakout skin, a Dermoregen Facial can be incorporated into a personalised skin plan.
Rather than focusing on deeper acne scarring, this treatment is designed to support overall skin health and renewal, helping to improve the appearance of texture, congestion and dull or compromised-looking skin.
We can tailor your facial according to what your skin needs at the time, making it a useful option for clients who want to improve their overall complexion alongside addressing specific concerns.
LED Light Therapy
LED light therapy can be a useful addition to a treatment plan for acne-prone and inflamed skin.
Different wavelengths of light are used to target different skin concerns, with blue light commonly used in acne-focused LED treatments and red light used to support the skin's repair processes and help calm inflammation.
It's non-invasive and requires no downtime, so it can also work well alongside other treatments where appropriate.
Skin Analysis
Sometimes the most useful treatment is knowing what your skin actually needs first.
A professional skin analysis allows us to look more closely at concerns such as congestion, oil production, inflammation, pigmentation and overall skin health before recommending a treatment plan.
This can be particularly helpful if you've tried multiple treatments without success, or you're unsure whether you're dealing with active acne, post-acne marks or scarring.
Finding The Right Acne Treatment For You
There’s a reason we don’t offer a one-size-fits-all acne treatment. Two people can both describe their concern as acne while having completely different skin, symptoms and treatment needs.
Your starting point might be active breakouts, persistent congestion or enlarged pores. Or your acne may have cleared years ago, but you’re still left with scarring and uneven texture that you’d like to improve.
Your skin can also change over time, which means the treatment or products that worked for you previously might not necessarily be what it needs now. That’s why we always look at the bigger picture rather than recommending a treatment based on one concern alone.
A consultation gives us the opportunity to properly assess your skin, understand what’s bothering you and talk about what you’d realistically like to achieve. From there, we can recommend the treatments and skincare options we think are best suited to you.
And sometimes, the right recommendation isn’t a treatment with us. If we think your acne would be better assessed or treated medically, we’ll let you know and advise you to speak to a GP or another appropriate professional.
Book a consultation at one of our Hampshire clinics to learn more about treatments for acne.
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