Most of us have experienced the effects of acne upon our skin at some point throughout our lives. Commonly defined as a ‘teen’ problem – acne is, in fact, not. Unfortunately acne can, and often does, present itself at any age and sometimes despairingly without prior indication.

Acne is a long-term skin condition that can have debilitating consequences on self-confidence, take away the freedom to feel oneself and cause potentially damaging effects on mental health, as well as leading to possible scarring. It is usually characterised by the on- gong presence of skin inflammation – either as, or a combination of: spots, blackheads, pimples and nodules making skin feel irritated, tender, sore, dry and/or oily. Acne is not the result of a poor diet or sub-standard skincare regime but can appear through predisposed genetics, hormonal changes or imbalance, stress, anxiety, and even specific ingredients within skincare products and makeup.

Physically, acne is usually caused by the hair follicles becoming blocked by sebum and dead skin cells trapped around the sebaceous glands on the surface of the skin. Bacteria is then unable to escape and can become infected, thus causing the skin lesions we know collectively as symptoms of acne. This can happen anywhere on the body, but is most generally known to affect the face, back, shoulders and chest.

Acne is a condition that can be managed effectively in a number of ways. You may be advised by your GP or dermatologist to tailor your skincare regime specifically or to undergo a course of medication to reduce breakouts and prevent or manage future flare-ups. We often recommend a course of Morpheus8 treatments to improve the appearance of lasting effects of acne upon the skin, such as large pores or scarring, in a way that resurfaces the skin and stimulates the production of collagen.