Acne vulgaris, or acne, is a skin condition that causes spots. Acne can vary from mild to severe and usually affects the skin of the face, back and chest.
About Acne
Acne starts to develop when hair follicles in your skin become blocked with the natural oil produced by your skin (known as sebum) and dead skin cells. Each follicle is connected to a sebaceous gland that lies just underneath the surface of your skin. The sebaceous glands produce sebum to keep your skin soft and supple. Normally, sebum travels up the follicle and out through small holes (pores) on the surface of your skin.
However, if your body produces too much sebum, and dead skin cells get trapped in your pores, a 'spot' will form. This can either be a whitehead or a blackhead.
Symptoms of acne
If you have mild or moderate acne, you may have greasy skin and spots (whiteheads or blackheads) on your face, back and chest. Most spots will not cause any other symptoms. Sometimes, spots that have become inflamed and infected (pustules, nodules and cysts) may be painful.
Complications of acne
Most people have a mild form of acne that usually clears up after their teenage years, but sometimes more severe complications may develop if you have moderate or severe acne.
- Scarring. Up to one in five people with acne have scarring that is socially noticeable. If you pick and squeeze your spots, you may get 'ice pick' scars. These are initially purple in colour before fading to a whitish colour. Rarely, 'keloid' (lumpy, painful and itchy) scars may develop on your chest and back.
- Hyperpigmentation (your skin becomes darker in the areas affected by acne). You're more likely to have hyperpigmentation if you have a dark skin tone.
- Psychological problems. Acne may cause you to have low self-esteem or feel angry about the appearance of your skin, especially if you have scarring.
Causes of acne
A build up of excess dead cell material
This excess build up can block sebaceous glands and hair shafts causing blackheads and congestion leading to inflammation, outbreaks and eruptions.
Poor skin conditioning and incorrect product usage
Some products can form an occlusive barrier over the excretory ducts, these then become impacted and clogged because they can’t function and acne forms again.
Hard scrubbing and over exfoliation can exacerbate the problem by being over stimulating. Many acne products are very stripping and drying and this will make the oil gland accelerate oil production and make the acne even worse.
Hormones
Hormones have the ability to change messages within our body.
An increase in the amount of Androgens that stimulate oil glands can cause acne in both males and females.
Stress
In today’s fast paced society stress is a big contributor to adult acne and many other health issues. Stress increases the body’s cortisol levels and can affect hormones and also suppresses the immune system which affects activity of Langerhans cells in the epidermis of our skin. Langerhans cells live in our skin and defend against micro-organisms and fighting against bacterial infection, which is their fundamental function.
Deficiency of Essential Fatty Acids
Skins with insufficient levels of essential fatty acids, the sebum contains more wax esters making it thicker and this means the oil sludges and doesn’t flow freely.
Acne Treatments
Most treatments aim to control the symptoms of acne by:
- preventing new spots forming
- reducing inflammation in spots that are already present
- preventing scarring
At Adore Me, we pride ourselves in treatment all levels of acne, whether its controlling the sebum level or reducing acne scars, we have the following treatments that are most effective;
- Danne Montague King Corrective Acne Removal
- IPL Blue Light Therapy
- Dermaroller with Rejuve
- Medical Microdermabrasion
Danne Montague King Paramedical Acne Facial
Each client will have an individual treatment programme worked out by their practitioner for their particular skin acne concerns. Each treatment prescribed will change from session to session as the skin is changing. All treatments will include a home prescription, which must be strictly adhered to, to obtain the best results possible.
Treatment Example:
Diagnosis – Acne containing inflammation, papules, pustules, blackheads, nodules, cysts and whiteheads.
Modalities used will consist of acids, alkaline, phenols and enzymes. Your treatment will be tailor made for you. Treatments can range from a course of 6 upwards, depending on the severity of the condition. From past experience, we can certainly say that we expect at least a 90% improvement.
Alkaline Wash combined with Enzyme therapy (Suitable for Inflamed cystic acne)
DANNÉ alkaline wash swells, softens and dissolves to remove excess cell build-up, releases the inflammation and impaction and kills the P Acne bacteria. Alkaline wash is also very effective in cleaning out impacted hair shafts and dissolving the hair at the same time. Alkaline wash plus enzyme masque #1 will dislodge the underling manifestation and rebuild the structure and function of the skin simultaneously.
Acne Removal Corrective System
With 40 years of results in acne corrective treatments, continued use of Danné Home prescriptives and regular corrective in-clinic treatment you can expect rapid results.
Danné acne corrective system
Step 1: Cleanse
Acne wash:
Proven effective for more than 25 years, acne wash works as an anti microbial agent that reduces inflammation that is predominant in acne.
Acne wash is a superior cleansing solution that can inhibit and eliminate acne and associated conditions. The solution is gentle enough to use daily, and is an excellent preventative for those skins affected by this damaging condition. Acne wash establishes a control system within the skin to minimise the occurrence of breakouts, as well as reducing the inflammation associated with acne. The ‘miracle’ ingredient is benzyl peroxide; the benzyl pulls the peroxide down into the pores and hair shafts and creates an environment where acne bacteria can’t live.
Directions:
Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry, use twice daily
Step 2: Moisturizer
Moisture balancer:
The most beneficial moisturizer for Acne, congested and oily skin, a unique formula locks maximum amounts of water beneficial for congested skins, which ensures the skin excretes properly.
Moisture balance is a botanical water based hydrating moisturiser scientifically formulated to assist acne skin from the inside out. A unique effective and efficient product to eliminate and control acne because it treats not only the symptoms, it gets to the cause.
Moisture balance does not strip the skin; it enhances water retention in tissue by binding to the surface of the skin to prevent water loss and promotes wound healing while helping to kill the acne bacteria.
Unique characteristics and ingredients
Azelaic acid is a potent inhibitor of 5a-reductase. An enzyme that influences sebum production, a big contributing factor in hormonal mediated acne. Being able to inhibit this enzymes activity is of great benefit in eliminating acne.
Panthenol vitamin B5 helps to make co enzyme A which is required to properly metabolise skin oil
Allantoin soothing and calming
Directions:
Cleanse skin before applying a thin layer of moisture balancer over the skin, to be used daily.
Step 3: Spot treatment
Benzoyl peroxide 10% :
Kills acne-causing bacteria through oxidation. The Benzoyl helps to pull the peroxide down into the pores and voids of the skin. Controls oil, breakouts and infection.
BP lotion has been proven effective for more than 20years in the treatment of acne. BP uses the same ‘miracle’ ingredient as the acne wash but in a much more concentrated dose. BP 10 % is to be used after cleansing with Danné acne wash and applied only to the breakout area. The lotion can be applied morning and evening and virtually eliminates breakouts overnight. This is a serious solution designed purely as a corrective tool that clients can use at home to control and stop the acne condition. A more effective home prescriptive combination has yet to be discovered.
BP creates a flushing effect increasing blood supply to the infected area to speed up the healing.
Directions:
Apply thin layer twice a day on acne areas cleansed with Danné Acne Wash. You should then apply a thin layer of Danne Moisture Balancer to entire face
Step 4: At home treatment
Acu Masque:
A take home paramedical face masque takes the frustration and time out of eliminating stubborn blackheads and blemishes as this mask absorbs oils and dissolving dead skin cells. Acu masque is a diverse and versatile application, beneficial for problematic skins and ideal for blemish prone and oily skin.
This take home paramedical face masque is highly effective and results orientated. This masque takes the frustration and time out of eliminating stubborn blackheads and blemishes as this mask absorbs oils and dissolving dead skin cells. It purifies ducts plugged by dead cells and sebum on the surface of the skin and prevents pimple eruptions. Tightens pores, purifies, heals and soothes inflammation and irritation.
Directions:
After cleansing apply a generous coat of acu masque to entire area being treated. Allow to dry for approximately 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Once to twice weekly is recommended.
Danné paramedical skin corrective procedures work with the internal function and structure improving skin functioning and addressing the deeper concerns. GETTING to the CORE of the problem. All treatments and products are designed to compliment the skins chemistry. Danné works with the skin rather than acting on it.
IPL Blue Light Therapy
The IPL machine sends light through your skin that is set to a specific wavelength, which targets the bacteria associated with acne and the overactive oil glands, while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed. There is little or no recovery time and most patients return to work immediately after the treatment session.
How does Intense Pulsed Light Work?
The Intense Pulsed Light system releases yellow, green and red light that is emitted in a series of short pulses. The yellow/green light destroys the bacteria that live in the skin and cause acne, while the red light directly targets the overactive sebaceous glands that cause outbreaks of pustules. This targeted heat deep in the skin causes shrinkage of the inflamed sebaceous glands and helps to prevent over-production of excess sebum.
How is the treatment carried out?
You will be asked to put on goggles to protect your eyes. A layer of gel is applied to the area to cool the skin and guide the light. The light applicator is placed onto the skin and a short pulse of light is released.
The applicator is then moved to the: neighboring area and the process is repeated until the whole area is treated. The gel is removed and the area is moisturized.
Each pulse of light treats a large area of skin and so the duration of the treatment is very short.
Am I suitable for treatment?
Almost everyone can be treated, apart from very dark skinned or tanned individuals. Pregnant women or anyone taking the acne treatment Accutane should not be treated.
How does the treatment feel?
The light energy is absorbed by the skin, and heats it up very quickly, creating a sharp, short-lived pinprick sensation.
No anesthesia is required, other than cooling the skin; most patients describe the discomfort as moderate and acceptable.
What should I expect after the treatment?
Redness and a slight warming sensation are normal after treatment. A cooling pack will be applied to the skin to ease these symptoms. It will be necessary to avoid sun exposure or use a high protection sunscreen for two weeks after the treatment.
What are the side effects?
The treated area can become quite red immediately after treatment. However, most patients experience no side effects and the redness usually disappears within a couple of hours. Very rarely the skin may become lighter or darker, or a small blister may form. If is possible that some hair loss will occur in the area treated, so men should consider this possibility before agreeing to treatment of their beard area.
How long does each treatment take?
A typical treatment session will take in the region of 15 minutes. Typically Intense Pulsed Light treatment is combined with enzyme peel treatments for maximum results.
How many treatments are necessary?
The number of treatments necessary varies from person to person, but typically five Intense Pulsed Light and five enzyme peel treatments will result in significant improvement, depending on the severity of the condition.
Dermaroller with Rejuve
Derma Roller is a skin-needling treatment that stimulates skin regeneration and repair without causing unnecessary damage to the top layer of your skin. The aesthetican will use a barrel-like roller over your skin to trigger new collagen and elastin synthesis. This treatment is ideal for acne scarring.
Medical Microdermabrasion
This medical treatment combines a powerful stream of fine crystals that gently erases epidermal layers, whilst at the same time the infrared laser emits a pulsing light which is able to penetrate into the skin tissue. The unique combination stimulates sub dermal activities, cell renewal and increases the absorption of fluid into the capilillaries. This treatment will assist in clearing out of congestion, bacteria and assist in the healing of the skin.