The truth about Acne

 

Let’s talk about the heart-breaking truth of Acne.

 

I was at the supermarket the other day and the young man who served me was attentive and polite. He enquired after my day, packed my shopping with swiftness and care and bid me a kind farewell. He also used his long fringe to strategically cover his face. He avoided my eye contact and at one point, when he lifted his head to speak with a colleague and his hair moved, he frantically stuck in back down onto his acne covered skin.  His embarrassment and shame was heart-breaking and I desperately wanted to touch his hand and say, I can help you, I can fix your skin for you, but I didn’t. The moment passed so quickly and I didn’t want to offend him. I have thought about that young man a lot since then and often hope that one day soon, I will see him in my clinic, or that he saw his GP the very next day and is now receiving the help he needs to clear his acne.

 

If you have ever had acne, you know how debilitating it is for your self-esteem and confidence. If you are one of the lucky ones who has had clear skin all your life, you will know someone who has been hugely affected by this common skin condition. It can start in childhood or adolescence, it can continue into adulthood, it can even start for the first time in adulthood.

 

Acne is surprisingly common and disturbingly it affects those of you who suffer with it, terribly. A study in The British Journal of Dermatology found that those affected by acne, have a 63% higher risk of developing major depression than those of you without acne. These are some startling results. Something needs to be done about it.

 

 

Facts about Acne.

• It is inflammation of a hair follicle and oil gland
• Can cause long term raised and flat scarring
• Is classified as mild, moderate or severe depending on the presence of pustules, nodules and scarring

 

What causes Acne.

Even though the exact cause is unclear, these are the common contributors.

• Increased oil production
• Changes in the natural skin cell shedding process
• Bacteria inundation of the hair follicle
• Family history, often Mother or Father suffered from acne too
• Onset of puberty
• Smoking
• Occluding the skin surface with; greasy and hot working environments, makeup, hair, heavy non-breathable skin creams

 

How to treat Acne.

There are many theories and many price variations about what methods work best to treat acne, but the current therapeutic guidelines are clear and consistent. This is the skincare system that I recommend to my patients who have acne and best of all, it doesn’t cost the earth.

 

A.M – click here to see your morning products

1. Use a gentle foaming cleanser. Your skin should never feel dry and stripped after cleansing – $44
2. Never, ever, ever use an abrasive exfoliant as it will spread the acne bacteria to non-affected areas of your face. Use Anita East Medispa compounded BHA lotion as an anti-inflammatory and chemical exfoliant after cleansing – $50
3. Use Anita East Medispa Blemish Gel on affected areas – $35
4. Use a non-comedogenic sunscreen like Serve and Protect- $40

 

P.M – click here to see your evening products

1. Use the same gentle foaming cleanser from the morning. You may need to double cleanse to get all the sweat, pollution, sunscreen and makeup off from your day
2. Use Anita East Medispa compounded BHA from the morning
3. Depending on the severity of your acne, use either Anita East Medispa Retinol Night Cream – $65, or Prescription Vitamin A cream – $77.50, or Anita East Medispa Prescription Acne cream – $110
4. Finish with Anita East Medispa Hyaluronic Acid serum for gentle hydration – $44

 

For more severe acne, in conjunction with the skincare above, I would normally commence my patients on an oral medication and where necessary, refer to a dermatologist for specialist oral medication. Don’t let someone who isn’t adequately trained in skin medicine, recommend skin products to you.

 

* BHA, Vit A, Acne cream and Retinol not suitable if pregnant or breastfeeding. Prescription Vitamin A and Acne cream require a phone consult with Anita East. Click here to arrange.

 

Do you feel like acne is getting the better of you or someone you care about?

If so, see the difference that using recommended products can have on your skin too.

 

Here is a patient of mine after only 3 days of using our Acne skin care products.