Getting rid of Acne

The types of acne we treat

Acne can come in different forms, from early, teenage onset, to hormonal breakouts and then adult onset acne which can be particularly upsetting. Maybe you’ve been through your teenage years and still getting acne?! Or you have never really got in control of your spots and breakouts since teenage acne years? 

Grade 1 – Minor breakouts, a few open and closed comedones (blackheads and whiteheads)
Grade 2 – Many closed comedones, more open comedones and some papules and pustules (so more inflammation) Scarring is possible in this type of acne.
Grade 3 – Numerous comedones, papules and pustules, spreading to the back, chest and shoulders, which occasional cysts or nodules. Scarring more common.
Grade 4 – All of the above lesions plus cysts/nodules (spots under the skin that don’t surface).
 

Initial consultation – making sure all treatments are right for YOU

Initially we can have a face-to-face or online/facetime consultation to discuss the following:

  • Your skin concerns
  • Your current situation with acne/breakouts
  • Medical status
  • Current skincare routine/medical products
  • Budgetary and time constraints
  • Put together a full homecare prescription that we can order for you, or you can take more time looking at on our personalised area on the portal.
  • Put together a treatment routine for you, to start when you feel you are ready. It is usually worth treating acne
  • Arrange regular follow up appointments depending on what we need to do
Acne treatment lichfield

What in-clinic treatments will help my acne?

There are many potential approaches to treating acne. In some cases you may be referred back to a GP or dermatologist for treatments such as short courses of antibiotics, but often we can work alongside those referrals for best results for your acne. The most effective treatments for acne will depend on everyone individually. However, once we have the right homecare in place, the quickest way to get started is to use the Celluma LED blue light therapy. Ideally we would use this twice a week initially. Other treatments that would be used regularly, would be chemical peels and facials. The initial priority is to get the skins own hydrolipid barrier (it’s own protective layer) functioning at its’ absolute best, to give your skin the best chance at protecting itself. Regular treatments are crucial, and this protocol would be designed on a personalised basis.

Alongside in-clinic treatments and topical skin care treatments for use at home, we strongly recommend treating with a range of supplements from Advanced Nutrition Programme, specifically a product called Accumax, and we usually pair this with a high quality vitamin complex and probiotic preparation. These alongside physical treatments and products are shown to increase results of improving acne significantly. –Later, once the skin has improved, other treatments could be added, such as Wow! Fusion, or SkinPen Precision Microneedling, which is amazing at reducing inflammation and scarring and helping to prevent further outbreaks of spots and pimples.

Beware!

It is always possible that embarking on skin products and treatments for acne can trigger ‘purging’ – this can be very distressing for someone, as they have come for help and it initially may feel like it is getting worse before it gets better. The new products are essentially causing the skin’s upper layers to shed off (exfoliate) while forcing all the gunk, oil, and bacteria in your skin up to the surface. The spots and cysts that would otherwise have come to the surface over the following weeks and months start to come out much more quickly and all at once. Together, the effects trigger an immune response in your skin—essentially an overreaction of the body to “send help” to the skin. This causes an increase in inflammation, which intensifies the new and existing breakouts. Purging is more common in people with severe and cystic acne. But don’t worry, it is temporary, trust the process, stick with the advice and it will be possible to overcome it!