June marks Acne Awareness Month, a time to shed light on this common skin condition that affects millions.
At Elite, we understand the emotional and physical challenges acne can bring, with most of our therapists having gone through the condition themselves! Our mission is to provide compassionate, professional, and personalised care to help you achieve clear, healthy skin. Let’s walk through our comprehensive approach to treating acne, beginning with understanding its causes.
What is Acne?
Acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. This leads to the formation of various types of blemishes, including whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts, and nodules. Acne commonly appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders because these areas have the most oil (sebaceous) glands. Acne can range from mild (occasional breakouts) to severe (persistent, inflamed cysts and nodules that can cause scarring). Understanding the type and severity of your acne is essential for effective treatment.
Understanding the Causes of Acne
Acne is a multifaceted condition influenced by a combination of internal and external factors:
- Hormonal Changes: Hormones, particularly androgens, play a significant role in acne development. During puberty, pregnancy, or menstrual cycles, androgens increase the size and activity of sebaceous (oil) glands, leading to excess oil production. This excess oil can mix with dead skin cells and clog pores, creating an environment conducive to acne.
- Genetics: Your genetic makeup can influence how your skin responds to different stimuli, including hormone levels and inflammation. If your parents or siblings have had acne, you may be more prone to developing it due to inherited traits affecting oil production, skin cell turnover, and inflammatory responses.
- Diet: Emerging research suggests that high-glycemic diets and dairy products can exacerbate acne. Foods with a high glycemic index (like white bread, sugary snacks, and sodas) can cause spikes in blood sugar, which may increase inflammation and sebum production. Dairy products, especially skim milk, have been linked to acne due to hormones and bioactive molecules that may interact with androgen receptors in the skin.
- Stress: Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can increase oil production and inflammation, both of which contribute to acne. Additionally, stress can lead to behaviors that worsen acne, such as poor skincare habits or picking at the skin.
- Skincare Products: Comedogenic products (those that clog pores) or products that irritate the skin can contribute to acne. It’s important to use non-comedogenic, skincare products that are appropriate for your skin type (this is where our recommendations come in!).
- Medications: Certain medications, such as corticosteroids, lithium, and some birth control pills, can trigger or worsen acne by altering hormonal balances or causing direct skin irritation.
- Environmental Factors: Pollution and high humidity can exacerbate acne. Pollution particles can clog pores and irritate the skin, while humidity can increase oil production and sweating, creating an ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria.
- Bacteria: Certain bacteria naturally live on the skin but can multiply rapidly in clogged pores. This leads to inflammation and the formation of acne lesions. Managing bacterial growth through proper skincare and treatments is crucial in controlling acne.
Personalised Skin Analysis Consultation
Our journey together begins with a thorough skin analysis consultation. This step is crucial as it allows us to understand your unique skin type, the severity of your acne, and any underlying causes. This individualised approach ensures that your treatment plan is tailored specifically to your needs.
Effective Homecare Solutions
Proper homecare is essential for managing acne. We recommend a combination of Environ and Alumier MD skincare products. These brands are known for their scientific formulations that help clear the skin without causing further irritation. During your consultation, we will prescribe the right products for you, including cleansers, toners, serums, moisturisers that target acne and support overall skin health.
Nourishing the Skin from Within
Healthy skin starts from within, which is why we emphasise the importance of supplements. Our top recommendations are from the Advanced Nutrition Programme:
These are also the favorite supplements of our skin therapist, Niki, who has seen amazing results with her own skin, as well as her clients! She says the two together help to control her oil production and keep her breakouts at bay:
- Skin Clear Biome | £61 for two months supply : This supplement supports gut health and helps reduce inflammation, which can significantly improve acne.
- Skin Accumax | from £83 : Packed with vitamins and plant nutrients, this supplement helps clear the skin and maintain its health.
Professional Treatments for Acne
To accelerate the results of your homecare routine, we offer a range of professional treatments, each selected based on the type and severity of your acne:
- Clinical Environ Facials: Bespoke facials that use advanced Environ products to deeply cleanse and rejuvenate the skin with the ingredients it needs to combat breakouts
- Alumier MD Skin Peels: Effective skin peels that exfoliate the skin, unclog pores, and reduce inflammation, see this blog post from Alumier with everything you need to know about chemical peels.
- Dermalux LED Phototherapy: Uses light therapy to reduce redness and promote healing.
- Lynton Excelight IPL: Intense Pulsed Light therapy targets acne-causing bacteria and improves skin texture.
Our treatment path for you often comprises a number of different modalities, and we usually will see you in the Studio once a month for your Bespoke Skin Sessions, until your skin is in a more controlled state.
Ongoing support through your journey
As your dedicated skin therapists, we are here to support you every step of the way. The journey to clear skin is not always linear or quick, and depending on the extent of your acne, it may take months to see significant improvement. Patience and dedication are key, but clear skin is achievable with the right care and commitment.
At Elite, we believe in the power of personalised, professional care. If you’re struggling with acne, know that you don’t have to face it alone. Contact us today to start your journey towards clear, healthy skin.
Book A Skin Analysis Consultation here to start your journey
