Acne Vulgaris Treatments
Nearly all of us have acne at some time or another. It mainly affects adolescents (and can start as young as 8 years old), but acne may persist or start in adulthood and leave longterm impact.
While acne is most common in adolescents, acne can affect people of all ages and all races.
It may have profound social and psychological effects, particularly during puberty and adolescence, when physical appearance and fitting in with one’s peers are particularly important.
It usually becomes less of a problem after the age of 25 years, although about 15% of women and 5% of men continue to have acne as adults. It may also start in adult life.
Acne most often affects the face, but it may spread to involve the neck, chest and back, and sometimes even more extensively over the body.
Acne may be classified as mild, moderate or severe.
We are unable to treat severe acne but can help organise referral to a dermatologist for this.
Treatment for acne depends on the patient’s age and sex, the extent and the severity of the acne, how long it has been present, and response to previous treatments. Treatment takes time, and it is important you are prepared to be patient and to maintain results longterm.
- Treatment for mild acne includes topical anti-acne preparations, lasers and lights
- Treatment for moderate acne adds acne antibiotics such as tetracyclines and/or antiandrogens such as birth control pill
- Treatment for severe acne may require a course of oral isotretinoin via a dermatologist.
At Skin Essentials, we focus on a holistic treatment plan for your acne, involving some or all of the above, depending on time, expectations and budget.
- Personalised skincare with actives
- Prescription medications
- LED light treatment weekly for 6-10 weeks
- IPL to target spots
- Chemical peels designed for acne – a course of 3-6 is usually required.
Options will be discussed with you based on your assessment at the consultation and a plan devised for you. Realistic expectations are important – undoing years of a skin disease takes time and requires ongoing care to maintain results.
It may seem minor, but it’s well known that the longer you suffer with acne, the more interventions needed and the higher the likelihood of longterm complications such as scarring and pigmentation.
While acne is most common in adolescents, acne can affect people of all ages and all races.
It may have profound social and psychological effects, particularly during puberty and adolescence, when physical appearance and fitting in with one’s peers are particularly important.
It usually becomes less of a problem after the age of 25 years, although about 15% of women and 5% of men continue to have acne as adults. It may also start in adult life.
Acne most often affects the face, but it may spread to involve the neck, chest and back, and sometimes even more extensively over the body.
Acne may be classified as mild, moderate or severe.
We are unable to treat severe acne but can help organise referral to a dermatologist for this.
Treatment for acne depends on the patient’s age and sex, the extent and the severity of the acne, how long it has been present, and response to previous treatments. Treatment takes time, and it is important you are prepared to be patient and to maintain results longterm.
- Treatment for mild acne includes topical anti-acne preparations, lasers and lights
- Treatment for moderate acne adds acne antibiotics such as tetracyclines and/or antiandrogens such as birth control pill
- Treatment for severe acne may require a course of oral isotretinoin via a dermatologist.
At Skin Essentials, we focus on a holistic treatment plan for your acne, involving some or all of the above, depending on time, expectations and budget.
- Personalised skincare with actives
- Prescription medications
- LED light treatment weekly for 6-10 weeks
- IPL to target spots
- Chemical peels designed for acne – a course of 3-6 is usually required.
Options will be discussed with you based on your assessment at the consultation and a plan devised for you. Realistic expectations are important – undoing years of a skin disease takes time and requires ongoing care to maintain results.
It may seem minor, but it’s well known that the longer you suffer with acne, the more interventions needed and the higher the likelihood of longterm complications such as scarring and pigmentation.