For many individuals, acne is an issue that we commonly face as part of growing up; a rite of passage as we undergo puberty and the hormonal changes that come with it. Unfortunately, for some, acne follows us well into adulthood.
Although acne mainly affects adolescents, it also happens in children and adults. One study found some degree of facial acne in 54% of women and 40% of men older than 25 years. [1]
Having acne-ridden skin can definitely be a cause for frustration and could greatly affect our confidence and self-esteem. It is an ongoing battle — to treat the blemishes on our faces and to prevent them from recurring as well.
When your skin follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, it can cause whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. As more of these follicles become clogged, it leads to Acne. It is most common amongst teenagers but will affect people of all ages. It can be a persistent problem due to the regeneration of your skin and the external stressors of the environment.
As these bumps and pimples may take time to heal, it leads to a cycle of pimples that crop up when some have healed. Depending on the severity, this can lead to emotional distress and scars on the skin.
There are six main types of acne: [2]
Whiteheads and blackheads are non-inflammatory, which means they are usually easier to treat with simple home remedies or over-the-counter medication. The other four, however, are types of inflammatory acne that are harder to treat.
Also known as white comedones, whiteheads happen when pores are completely clogged with oil, bacteria or skin cell production.
Blackheads, on the other hand, are called open comedones because the head of the pore remains open while the rest of the pore is clogged.
These are hard, clogged pores that are tender to the touch. They form when oil and excess skin cells mix with the bacteria on your skin. The surrounded tissue around the pore usually gets infected, creating an inflamed lesion.
Unlike papules, pustules contain pus. These bumps are raised above the skin with a white centre.
A more serious form of acne, nodules are bumps that can be found deep under the skin’s surface. They are usually a result of untreated acne that led to bacterial infection within the pore.
Cystic acne is the most severe form of acne and also occurs because of an infection within the skin. They are usually inflamed, painful and filled with pus. They have a tendency to burst and infect surrounding tissues.
Acne typically appears on your face, chest, upper back and shoulders as these areas have the most oil (or sebaceous) glands. These follicles are connected to oil glands. The main factors of acne are usually:
Certain aspects may trigger or worsen acne and can range from hormonal changes, medications, diet or stress.
While it is advisable to seek treatment, you can turn to certain home remedies or over-the-counter acne solutions if they are generally mild and can be fixed along with a proper skin cleansing routine you can stick to. Some of these are:
Although these are solutions that you may consider when attempting to solve your acne woes, you should also consider other forms of treatments that can help in quickening the process.
There are various home remedies for acne, but not all of them are backed by research. If the aforementioned remedies do not seem to work for you, fret not! You do not have to deal with this issue alone. Here are some acne treatments you can consider that effectively help deal with your acne woes:
LDM (Local Dynamic Micromassage) Tech uses ultrasonic energy at a significantly higher frequency, creating a strong micro massaging effect that activates protein structures on the skin. This enhances collagen production, improves skin pH levels and reduces skin laxity, tightening skin.
In skin conditions like Acne, Eczema and Dermatitis, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) appear to be involved. As such, LDM inhibits the action of these proteins to reduce its damaging effects on the skin tissues. The further activation of heat shock proteins helps improve skin immunity and improve skin tone and texture.
It is non-invasive and you will not experience any form of pain. With quick, visible results, this is suitable for all skin types and can be used in combination with other treatments.
At Cambridge Therapeutics, we believe in the “no manual extraction” policy. Instead, we achieve acne-free, brighter and radiant skin with the JetPulse Plus. It is exclusively formulated for Cambridge and tailored to Asian Skin types with Photo-Pneumatic therapy. It helps with blackheads, reduces enlarged pores, controls acne and clears oily congested skin.
It is gentle for the skin, with little to no pain. Results are visible immediately and clients can resume their normal routine immediately.
A revolutionary Plasma technology skin regeneration treatment, the NeoGen Plasma treatment uses plasma energy to regenerate and heal the skin. This treatment is exceptionally recommended for those who are sensitive to laser-based treatments.
The NeoGen Plasma even helps with severely inflamed adult acne, promoting strong skin regeneration and suppressing sebum secretion. Among other benefits, it also has a strong anti-bacterial effect that kills bacteria and inhibits their growth, making it highly effective for inflamed acne.
Regardless of the treatment that you decide to take on, it is important to remember that these skin problems are not permanent and can be solved. Ultimately, it is dependent on the type and severity of acne you have, as well as your skin type and level of comfort. If in doubt, reach out to our friendly team for a consultation and who can better educate and curate the best treatment options for your skin.