Treatment for Acne, Pimples & Spots

We deal with all different types acne on a daily basis and have a catalogue of products and treatment options to help address this concern. Acne scarring as a consequence of unaddressed acne, is something we also see everyday and and we have a dedicated page for this concern. Please follow this link directly to our acne scarring page.

Acne – medically known as acne vulgaris – is a very common skin condition that affects around 85% of people at some stage in their life. It generally begins in adolescence as teenagers, but can appear in adults where it is known more commonly as adult acne.

What causes acne?

There is no single factor that causes acne but congestion of pores always plays a role. It is not caused solely by bacteria, or oily foods, or poor diet, or hormones, or because of a hydration issue, but each of these may contribute, often in combination.

Congestion is a blockage issue – acne is caused when pores become physically blocked at the same time as an excess of oil or sebum is produced by glands in the skin.

This ‘plug’ allows bacteria and sebum to build up in the pores, causing unsightly whiteheads, blackhead, pimples or cysts. There is an inflammation event involved with this blocking and unsightly blemishes form, develop and rise from the skin. In the case of cysts, the inflammatory event is deeper and travels down into the skin leaving a raised red lump at the surface.

Are there different types of acne?

Yes. Acne is a blanket term that covers all of the consequences of pore blockages and linked inflammatory responses. There are also different reactions that can occur during inflammation. Collectively, the body’s reaction to oil and sebum blockage have different commonly used names which are familiar to us all like whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and cysts.

Acne and makeup – Does makeup cause acne?

Improper use of inferior or unsuitable makeups (like excessively heavy creams) and not properly removing your makeup fully every night is a trigger for a sub-type of acne known as acne cosmetica.

Acne cosmetica is characterised by small little bumps all across the surface of your skin – as a category of acne they are known as comedones and if they have a distinct whitish appearance are termed milia. These are not inflamed and will not be accompanied by pain the way some pimples and cysts are.

Identifying the culprit product is the key to addressing acne cosmetica.

What are the major factors in an acne breakout?

There is no single cause but a combination of some of the factors listed below are thought to contribute to acne breakouts and blemishes:

How do we treat acne at Amara?

Knowing what likely causes your acne is the key to treating it. Like every treatment we offer at Amara, once we understand your desires, your lifestyle, and your current skin care practices, we can effectively design a treatment journey to restore your skin health and leave your skin looking great. With great skin comes greater confidence.

At consultation one of our Skin Health Specialists will lead a discussion that explores the likely reason for your acne. Following a full skin analysis a treatment programme will be designed specifically for you. This usually begins with a treatment to decongest your skin and repair any barrier damage that might exist. From there we can explore the use of medical grade acne skin care which works by targeting acne at the depth it occurs. This is sometimes done in parallel with other machine led treatments. We have many options and it’s about finding a regime that works for you.

When should I start treating my acne?

The degree to which people are affected by their acne varies greatly and like acne itself, is linked to a number of factors. We get asked when people should start treating their acne all the time and the answer is simple: when it bothers you, that’s the time to do something about it.

For people with more moderate to severe acne concerns, we recommend treatment as early as possible and strongly recommend continued attention to minimise scarring. Often scarring that looks very mild in teenage years can develop into more prominent scarring as an adult. This is because the structural components of your skin deplete as you get older resulting in volume loss. This volume loss can bring out pre-existing scar tissue.

Daily Care for Acne

Most acne products will contain some potent ingredients which target sebum production or the bacteria that flourishes in the environment. These may include acids and other compounds that actively work to reduce the overproduction of the oils that are blocked in pores and result in inflammation.

Truth be told there is no daily skin care regime which can absolutely guarantee prevention of an acne breakout. There are too many factors involved. However, our Skin Health Specialists have nearly 20 years experience in finding the right regime and products for your skin so that breakouts are infrequent, resolve quickly and and have minimal impact on your skin health.

Treatments for Acne

A wide range of treatments are available. We would always recommend a skin consultation with one of our specialists before undertaking any further steps. This consultation will allow you the opportunity to discuss your treatment options in full. All acne programmes at Amara will seek to address the following to some degree or another –

• Lifestyle impacts on your skin (environmental factors, diet)
• Correct cleansing and a daily skin care regime to suit your skin (daily practices)
• Opening the pores of your skin to minimise blockage (machine led extractions to correct active breakouts)
• Reducing oil and sebum production in your skin (glycolics, salicylics, peroxides)
• Reducing bacteria that contribute to acne formation (acidic and sulphur based disinfectants)

Acne treatment at Amara