Get Rid of Acne for Good: Causes and Treatments

For anyone who has had to suffer through the embarrassment and pain of having acne, it can seem like an impossible condition to cure once and for all. Fortunately, there are many treatments available that are designed to help you get rid of acne both short-term and long-term, so you can look and feel your best again. Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of acne.

How Acne Forms: 

Acne is a common and chronic skin disease involving inflammation of the sebaceous glands. It happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged. Sebum oil, that stops the skin from drying out, and dead skin cells clog the pores, which leads to outbreaks of lesions, called pimples or zits.

Acne affects 80% of teenagers and many adults, especially women. Most of the outbreaks occur on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders. The acne scarring that can remain after acne outbreak is often just as distressing and can be permanent if not treated. Thankfully, with good acne treatments and at-home care it’s possible to reduce acne scars considerably.

Which acne treatment is the best? 

NHS acne treatments can often be limited to benzoyl peroxide prescriptions by GPs and Roaccutane (Isotretinoin) by dermatologists.

There are many other options available to patients that can be offered privately by medical aesthetic clinics such as Dr Paulina Charlesworth in Sevenoaks that complement NHS acne treatments. These can include salicylic acid chemical peels, complexion clearing masks, radiofrequency microneedling skin treatments or simply using good quality medical grade acne skincare products that prevent oiliness, irritation and the spread of bacteria. Dr Paulina Charlesworth recommends and prescribes ZO Skin Health Acne face creams.

ZO Skin Health Acne skincare are medical grade products and officially the Number one skincare brand for Aesthetic Doctors' in Europe. Medical grade skincare has 4 x stronger specialist prescription ingredients to what is available on NHS. For example, NHS maximum strength Benzyl Peroxide is 2.5% and ZO® Skin Health strength offers Benzyl Peroxide 10%. Prescription skincare also also use the latest technology and also are molecular in size to target specific cells to change their function.

As part of a consultation with Dr Paulina Charlesworth at her clinic in Sevenoaks, you will receive a personalised ZO® Skincare routine and acne treatment plan. She recommends starting off with ZO® Skin Health Anti-Blemish Face Cream SPF 30 which contains clinically proven Zinc Oxide to help fight breakouts from the first day. It's recommended that this cream is applied daily during an intensive skin care programme, twice daily after cleansing for those suffering from mild acne and three times daily for those who need more intensive acne treatment.

Are acne scars permanent? 

No, acne scars can be treated using using medical grade quality acne skincare products alongside some suggested aesthetic treatments such as chemical peels or microneedling mesotherapy.

Chemical peels: Medical grade Salicylic acid or Glycolic acid face peels allow the depth and strength of the treatment to be adjusted to not only improve the condition of your outer layer of skin, but also to address acne scarring and the discolouration that it causes.

DermaPen® microneedling mesotherapy: 

DermaPen® microneedles trigger skin's own healing mechanism to regenerate cells and heal acne. They also help to physically break up acne scars and subsequently heal the skin with body's own growth factors and collagen.

Dr Paulina now offers Radio Frequency Microneedling which is the latest in Aesthetics treatments. The new added Radiofrequency (RF) element adds gentle heat to the deep layer of your skin called the dermis. This further stimulates the production of collagen.

If you combine Radiofrequency & Microneedling (RFM) together you have a dual effect on the tissue improving a host of textural and ageing concerns including acne scars. 

Skin care should be incorporated into everyone’s daily routine regardless of their skin type and the skin should never go without protection from sun exposure. Natural and non-toxic sunscreens are often preferable because they are designed to stay put all day without being absorbed into the skin so that they provide complete coverage. Regular use helps protect against wrinkles, early signs of aging, dark spots, uneven tone, blemishes and pigmentation caused by acne scaring.