Acne

Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots to develop on the skin, usually on the face, back and chest.

The spots can range from surface blackheads and whiteheads – which are often mild – to deep, inflamed, pus-filled pustules and cysts, which can be severe and long-lasting and lead to scarring.

Symptoms of Acne

Acne causes spots and oily skin, and sometimes skin that is hot or painful to touch.

Acne most commonly develops on:

the face – this affects almost everyone with acne

the back – this affects more than half of people with acne

the chest – this affects about 15% of people with acne

Types of spots

There are six main types of spot caused by acne:

blackheads – small black or yellowish bumps that develop on the skin; they are not filled with dirt but are black because the inner lining of the hair follicle produces pigmentation (colouring)

whiteheads – have a similar appearance to blackheads, but they can be firmer and will not empty when squeezed

papules – small red bumps that may feel tender or sore

pustules – similar to papules, but have a white tip in the centre that is caused by a build-up of pus

nodules – large hard lumps that build up beneath the surface of the skin and can be painful

cysts – the most severe type of spot caused by acne; they are large pus-filled lumps that look similar to boils and carry the greatest risk of causing permanent scarring

When to seek medical advice

Even mild cases of acne can cause distress. If your acne is making you feel very unhappy or you cannot control your spots with over-the-counter medication, see your GP.

Also see your GP if you develop scarring, nodules or cysts. Scarring is more common with deep nodules and cysts, but can occur after spots nearer the surface.

Acne Treatment

At Arcadia Care, we combine expertly formulated products with clinically proven treatments to provide you with an individual plan for clear skin. Upon your consultation, your clinician will advise you of the best option for your particular acne type and individual means.

Skin Peels – At Arcadia Care Clinic we are using AesthetiCare Exfoliating Peels which uses a highly advanced combination of glycolic acid and taurine. The high levels of glycolic acid act as the peel agent while the taurine is there to soothe your skin and counter-act some of the negative effects commonly associated with skin peels. Taurine is an amino acid that helps reduce redness and irritation, without impacting on the positive work that the glycolic acid is doing.

Glycolic acid is one of the most effective, clinically proven Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) peels available. It increases exfoliation to produce outstanding results such as rejuvenating your skin and leaving skin softer, with a more youthful appearance.

Glycolic acid peels are also effective at addressing more specific skin conditions such as pigmentation and acne by:

Clearing and closing pores, and reducing the appearance of spots.

Reducing the amount of melanin in skin cells. Melanin darkens the skin’s pigmentation, so reducing it will help lighten darker areas.

Related Conditions

 Spots

 Whitehead

 Blackhead

Related Treatment(s)

 Dermastamp