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Acne / comedone treatment
Acne
All acne starts with a hair follicle. Each hair follicle is made up of three main components: A follicle shaft, a hair and an oil producing gland, known as the sebaceous gland.
The skin cells that line the follicle shaft are replaced by new ones every twenty-eight days. In acne, the cells lining the follicle wall produce too much keratin (a substance that helps to protect the skin from damage). This excess of keratin can cause the dead skin cells to stick together, making them harder to expel.
Cells that are not expelled mix with the flow of oil that is produced by the sebaceous gland and can form a blockage in the hair follicle. This plug of cells and oil is how most acne begins. Although, sometimes the blockage can come from outside of the hair follicle, when substances (such as make-up, sweat and oil on the skin’s surface) enter into the follicle’s opening and become trapped.
These early blockages are known as microcomedones and are too small to be seen with the eye.
There are various treatments for acne: hydrofacial, skin peels, microneedling etc and are carried out at our sister clinic Wellness Solutions Clinic Ltd.
For a more medical approach including (as necessary), book a general consultation on the appointments page. Treatment options include variations of:
- Manual Comedone Extraction
- IPL/Diode Laser Treatment
- CO2 Fractional Laser Treatment
- Carbon Laser Facial
- A range of at home products to purchase and use in conjunction with treatment
- Prescription medication (oral or topical) as necessary
- Blue LED Proton Light Therapy
PRICES
Dependant on treatment plan discussed at consultation
Types of Acne
Blackheads
Solar Comedones
Blackheads
Caused by oil, dead skin cells and other debris blocking in a hair follicle.
Oxygen reacts with pigment in the oil, causing the blockage to turn a dark colour.
Whiteheads
Solar Comedones
Blackheads
When oil, dead skin cells and other debris continue to add to a blockage in a hair follicle then the blockage will grow and force the opening of the hair follicle, known as a pore, to close around it.
Solar Comedones
Solar Comedones
Papules and Pustules
A form of acne that can form on areas of skin that have received relatively high levels of exposure to the sun, such as the cheeks. and can be a combination of either/both blackheads and/or whiteheads.
Papules and Pustules
Papules and Pustules
Papules form when bacteria multiply within a blocked hair follicle.
Pustules normally form a few days after a papule due to the pocket of pus rising to the surface of the inflammation and are often, mistaken as whiteheads.
Nodules and Cysts
Acne nodules and cysts are generic terms that are used to refer to particularly large papules or pustules.
If contents of the blockage and bacteria leak into the surrounding tissue white blood cells will react causing inflammation and is known as an acne nodule.
When this area becomes filled with pus, it is referred to as an acne cyst or cystic acne
Acne Vulgaris
Acne can occur as a single spot or as a variety of the lesions described here. When someone has multiple lesions, either the same type or a mixture of types, it is known as acne vulgaris (with the vulgaris meaning ‘common’).