Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point, and is caused by various factors, whether it be genetics, hormones or lifestyle. Most commonly affecting the face, acne can also often be found on the chest, back and neck.
Acne is an inflammatory skin condition, caused by a disorder of the hair follicle and sebaceous gland unit. Most commonly, hormonal factors drive oil, or ‘sebum’, production, such that the overproduction and blockage by sebum then causes bacteria to colonise the pores, in turn driving inflammation.
Whilst acne is most active in young people in their teens or twenties, due to hormonal changes outbreaks of acne can recur from your 20’s-40’s, hence this condition can be detrimental to your confidence and self-esteem for many years.
It is vital to treat acne effectively, and acne and acne scar treatments in London are provided by London City Skin clinic to prevent scarring, the marks left by acne.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a skin consultation, where we can assess your skin and formulate a bespoke treatment plan to help you overcome your acne. A plan will need to suit your individual needs and skin type, and will depend on the severity of your acne.
London City Skin Clinic can help to eliminate the effects of acne, and can discuss a range of different treatments:
Skincare regimen – Dedicated regime for cleanse, exfoliation and skin care
Topical Treatments – These are directly applied to the affected area in the form of a gel or cream. We recommend these for those who have mild or moderate acne. These may include products to regulate sebum production, and retinols to improve cell turnover and unblock pores.
Oral antibiotics – These usually take two to six months to provide you with any visible results
Contraceptive pill – This is used to block hormones and reduce oil production. It normally takes up to 3 months to see acne improvement
Acne scars – Microneedling with Dermaroller or Dermapen. Microneedling uses needles to create columns of micro-injury to the skin, stimulating a natural healing response creating new collagen and elastin, remodelling scars, improving skin quality, tone and texture.
Isotretinoin Capsules (Roaccutane) - This is a powerful acne treatment which can only be prescribed by a Consultant Dermatologist and will not be available via this clinic
Unfortunately, despite the impact of acne on you, it does take time to improve. On average a skin cycle – the time it takes from new cells to mature and rise to the surface of the skin takes approximately 6 weeks. The process of controlling acne takes time, even for mild acne, and make take up to 2 skin cycles. This means a timeframe for 12 weeks would need to be considered, to see the true effects of your treatment. Our team will recommend the most appropriate treatment and ensure adequate follow up and management is maintained to help keep your acne under control.
Acne can be a long-term skin condition. There may be periods of acne breakouts and times when it resolves. It can be a frustrating and distressing skin condition.
Acne usually begins in the early teens around the time of puberty (10-12 years of age) and lasts for several years until the age of 18 or 19.
Acne sometimes persists into the 20’s and 30’s.
A relatively small number of women – 5% – have acne through the 40’s.
Skin dermatology consultations for acne are £50 per appointment. These are undertaken by Dr Robby Bajaj.
