Acne
Despite what we're often told, acne is not just limited to our teenage years.
Acne can happen at any time in your life, and when it does - it can really knock your confidence.
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Facial acne is one of the more common skin conditions we treat - and although it can be challenging, it's one of the most rewarding things we get to work on.
The game plan.
We always begin with a skin consultation. This allows us to sit down and chat with you about your skin, take a history, and explain all the treatment options available to you. We perform a skin assessment, test your skin sensitivity and barrier function, and go through your skincare routine with you to make sure everything you are using is beneficial for your skin in its current condition.
Sometimes we'll recommend introducing things into your routine, and often we'll recommend removing things from your routine. In our experience, when it comes to an acne-routine - simple is best.
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When treating acne, step one is to reduce inflammation and support healing within the skin - we do this by prescribing topical nutrients (in the form of serums) and through optimising the rest of your routine.
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Once the skin is well-prepped with an optimised routine at home (usually for at least 2 weeks), we can begin clinical treatments. Usually these are peels (we tend to use retinol/retinaldehyde, mandelic acid, and salicylic acid the most), to control and clear up active acne.
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We also utilise Skin Pen, an FDA approved skin needling device that is indicated for the treatment of active acne. Microneedling induces a normal wound healing response in the skin, resulting in reduced inflammation over time, and reduced acne lesions.
Why acne happens.
Contrary to what some acne pamphlets may tell you, acne is almost never caused by having unclean skin...
There are many different causes of acne, but ultimately it usually comes down to hormones and/or your genetics.
Some factors that can trigger or worsen acne include:
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Diet (high GI foods, inflammatory foods)
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Stress levels (more specifically, cortisol)
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Recent change in hormonal contraceptive (beginning or coming off birth control)
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Change in climate or environment (eg. moving city/country/even just house)
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Using incorrect skincare products or using skincare incorrectly
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Pregnancy/Menopause/Hormone therapy (things that cause a shift in our hormonal state)
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Genetics
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Acne is usually multi-factorial - meaning there are several of these factors at play. Every case of acne is different - because every skin is different.
Our approach.
We recognise that often the root causes of acne are internal, and sometimes more than just topical management is needed.
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In these cases, we'll refer our clients to see appropriate specialists, alongside our work - including nutritionists, dermatologists, GPs, and naturopaths.
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If we ever feel that a case of acne is beyond our scope and requires medical intervention, we will always refer on - because ultimately, we're about doing what's best for you.
Where do we start?
Start by booking a skin consultation with us - we'll take it from there.
Acne is a difficult thing to go through, but with professional guidance and clinical care, acne doesn't have to be something you go through alone, and the healing process can be a lot faster.
Our skin therapists are highly trained and undergo regular continued education to ensure we are giving our clients the best possible care, every time.