Mild acne should usually go away after using over the counter products from the chemist for six weeks.  These products contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.  Some over the counter products from the chemist are simply not suitable for your skin and may even cause more severe breakouts to occur.  Your doctor will be able to prescribe more powerful drugs such as topical (applied to the skin) retinoids which can help to unblock clogged pores and reduce oil production.  Oral Therapies such as the birth control pill (for women), antibiotics, and isoretinoin can be prescribed to treat more serious deeper acne and hormonal breakouts.

As a guide, if you have oily skin then try to wash your face two times daily with salicylic acid face cleanser.  Conversely, if your skin is dry then use a gentle foaming cleanser.  It is always a good idea to allow the cleanser to sit on your skin for a few minutes before washing off.  This allows the active ingredients time to penetrate deeply into your skin.  Salicylic acid helps to unclog pores and it does not kill the bacteria or have any effect on oil production. After cleansing try using a benzoyl peroxide cream. It is the Benzoyl peroxide cream that will kill the bacteria that cause acne and inflammation.This is an essential part of the acne-treating regime.

Rest assured you are not lone in your plight against acne. 85% of teens are affected by acne. Acne can also extend into adulthood with 25% of men and 50% of adult women suffering from acne.

As a teen or even as young adult, acne can be a difficult condition to cope with emotionally.  However, no matter what your age it can still lead to anxiety disorders and depression.

Pimples occur when the pores in your skin become clogged with dead skin cells.  When bacteria get trapped inside the pores, this will cause the area to become red and swollen.   Cystic acne occurs when the infection extends deep into the skin, creating a very tender bump which is full of puss.  The follicle wall can become damaged and rupture, leading to acne scarring.  Cystc acne is the hardest type of acne to treat without the help of a skin specialist, like Dr Rahma Targett.  Over the counter acne treatment will never be enough to treat this type of acne.

Always avoid squeezing or popping cystic acne as this will cause severe scarring to your face.

When it comes to acne treatment, there is definitely no such thing as “one treatment suites all”.

At Advanced Cosmetic Medicine we realise that it is often a combination of treatment which works best.  This is why we offer other treatments as well as medical treatment.

Other treatments which are beneficial in treating active acne include: Chemical Peels, Excel V 1064nm Laser, and Blue Light LED Treatment.

There is virtually no downtime following the procedure, although it is not unusual to experience mild tenderness and in some cases light bruising in the injected areas following treatment. These effects generally subside shortly after. It is not uncommon for a top-up treatment to be performed two to four weeks following the initial treatment as this ensures the accuracy and longevity of the desired effects.

Common side effects of muscle relaxant treatments for excessive sweating include redness, swelling, tenderness, and bruising in the armpits. They dissipate in under a week. Avoid rubbing or touching the underarms for 12 hours following the injections, as this can make the muscle relaxant migrate to nearby areas and cause unintended muscle weakness. Serious complications are rare following muscle relaxant injections but may include infection or long-term numbness of the muscle in the treated area.