Acne Treatment

Acne can run in families but its representation in the population is extensive, and it can occur in anyone.

• Cleanse your skin and remove make-up with a mild soap or a gentle cleanser and water, or an oil-free soap substitute
• Eat a balanced diet including fresh fruit and vegetables
• Wear oil-free, water based 'non-comodogenic' or 'non-acnegenic' makeup
• Do not pick or squeeze existing acne, as this can aggravate the condition or encourage scarring
• Seek immediate medical advice if you see acne starting to form

The visible signs of acne are actually caused by issues that develop underneath the skin.

In this layer of the skin there are tiny structures called sebaceous glands that produce an oily substance called sebum that lubricates the surface of your skin and hair.

Sebum usually passes through the hair follicle out into the surface of the skin. When the follicle becomes blocked, however, the sebum begins to build up inside, leading to the formation of pimples and spots on the surface of the skin.

This blockage can happen for a variety of reasons: most frequently, it is caused by an excess of sebum being produced, or dead skin cells or makeup blocking the exit point onto the surface of the skin.

Once the blockage has been created, sebum continues to be produced, making the issue worse.

Yes all types of acne can be treated, however severe. The more severe the case, the sooner you must seek medical advice.

Outcomes and results vary by case and the status of the existing acne, when treatment is sought. It is most common for your acne to be fully cleared, although some particularly stubborn cases can require ongoing treatment.

During the teenage years it is common for acne to disappear on its own. Adult acne is much less likely to clear on its own without treatment.

Given the material risk of scarring, we always recommend you get your acne looked at by a professional dermatologist or seek medical advice.

There are highly effective treatments for reducing the appearance of acne scars, sometimes completely. This depends on the type of scarring, however.

To find out more, visit our dedicated Acne scars treatment page.

Yes, IPL treatments can be used to treat the appearance of acne. By undergoing a number of treatments, varying depending on the patient and the severity of the condition, IPL can help to destroy the bacteria that create acne, therefore reducing its appearance on the skin.

Cystic acne is one of the most severe types of acne.

It is caused when sebum and puss begin to build up inside the skin, and instead of breaking through the surface or being healed by the immune system, the acne continues to grow deep into the skin, sometimes even rupturing the sebaceous glands that produce the sebum in the first place in some cases.

This is the most difficult type of acne to treat, because it is too deep for most topical medications to be effective.

The difference between whiteheads and blackheads relate to variations in the skin follicles and whether they are closed off from the surface or not

• Whiteheads are white to the eye, and occur when the follicle becomes closed off at the surface of the skin. The sebum, dead cells and bacteria therefore build up underneath the follicle inside the pore, causing the white coloration
• Blackheads are black to the eye and form when the follicle becomes clogged. This material is not blocked off from the surface, but the clogged build up causes the edges of the follicle to expand, causing the pore to appear larger. The dark coloration is the visible sebum, dead cells and bacteria in the pore, not dirt as is commonly held

The Cadogan Clinic is based at 120 Sloane Street in Chelsea, just off Sloane Square and the Kings Road.

Our address is 120 Sloane Street, Chelsea, London, SW1X 9BW.

We are accessible by all major bus routes that pass through Sloane Square and Sloane Street, as well as Sloane Square tube station.

Local pay parking is available just around the corner from the Clinic on Cadogan Gate, Cadogan Square and Cadogan Gardens. Our local residential parking zone is the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.