Acne is a common skin condition that can create pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and sometimes deeper nodules or cysts. While this is most prevalent during adolescence due to hormonal changes, acne also affects many men and women of any adult age, and can even appear for the first time in adulthood. So what causes acne? And what are the most effective aesthetic treatments for acne and breakouts?
What are the causes of acne?
There are a number of different factors that can contribute to the development of acne. These include:
Excess sebum production- Sebum, the oily material that lubricates the skin and hair, can be produced excessively as a result of hormonal changes, particularly an increase in androgens. This creates the perfect environment for acne to grow.
Clogged hair follicles- Dead skin cells and sebum can accumulate in hair follicles, forming a plug. This environment fosters the growth of acne causing bacteria.
Bacterial growth- A particular type of bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), thrives under the skin within clogged follicles and blocked pores, and this leads to inflammation and development of pimples and spots.
Inflammation- Redness and swelling, along with the spots, is one of the key symptoms of acne, and this often occurs when the wall of a clogged follicle breaks down, spilling its contents into the surrounding skin.
What are the effective aesthetic treatments for acne and breakouts?
There are a number of different and effective aesthetic treatment options that can help to improve acne and tackle this. These include:
Mesotherapy
Chemical peels
Mesotherapy for acne treatment
In order to treat mesotherapy, a combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and pharmaceuticals are injected into the mesoderm, or middle layer of skin. This method can help to combat acne in a number of different ways, including:
Reducing Inflammation- As part of mesotherapy treatment, the injected substances can include anti-inflammatory agents that can be very beneficial for reducing the redness and swelling associated with acne.
Balancing oil production- The combination of vitamins and minerals used in the injection can be highly effective for regulating the production of sebum, which helps to bring balance to the production of this oil. As such, this can help to prevent clogged pores, reducing the opportunity for acne bacteria to grow and thrive.
Improving skin health- Mesotherapy injections involve injecting a cocktail of nutrients that can improve overall skin health, improving resilience against acne.
Chemical peels for treating acne
A chemical peel is a popular treatment option for a range of different skin complaints, including acne and breakouts. This is a process that involves applying a chemical solution to the skin, which exfoliates the outer layers, allowing these to be replaced with new, fresh skin cells. This can be particularly beneficial for treating acne and acne scars.There are several different types of chemical peels, and these include:
Superficial peels- These use mild acids to provide a gentle exfoliation of the outer layer of skin, helping to address mild acne and superficial acne scars.
Medium peels- Using a stronger acid, these peels can penetrate deeper into the skin to help treat moderate acne and more pronounced scars.
Deep peels- These penetrate more deeply again by using stronger acids like phenol. These can be effective for severe acne scars, but do require a longer recovery time and pose more significant risks.
Chemical peels can help to treat acne in a number of different ways, including:
Exfoliation- Removing dead skin cells helps to unclog pores and reduce the formation of acne.
Collagen production- Chemical peels can stimulate collagen production, improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of scars.
Skin renewal- The peeling process helps to remove damaged skin, promoting the growth of new, healthy skin cells.
For more information or for professional mesotherapy or chemical peels, get in touch with Preston’s leading aesthetic practitioners today, here at The Skin and Wellbeing Clinic.
The Skin and Wellbeing Clinic is proud to provide professional aesthetics treatments for clients in Preston, Blackpool, Leyland, Chorley, Kirkham, Blackburn and the North West of England. Our key treatments and services include Anti Wrinkle Injections, Dermal Fillers, Laser Hair Removal, Acne Treatments, Injectable Polynucleotides, and much more.