Acne Clinic

1. What is acne?
Acne (or pimple) is an affliction of the oil glands of the skin. Contrary to popular belief, acne problem is not confined to teenagers only. While most people outgrow acne by late teens, yet many continue to be affected for much longer. Acne can show up as whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps or pus-filled lumps. Acne most commonly occurs on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, shoulders and neck.

2. Why is it necessary to treat acne?
Acne eruptions do come and go, but unfortunately some are left with acne scars and marks that may be permanent if left untreated. And it is impossible to predict which patient will scar. Therefore acne problem is not a trivial matter and should be treated early and thoroughly.

3. Why am I getting acne?
There is an increase in the production of the hormones (androgens) during puberty. This results in an increase in the size and activity of the oil glands (sebaceous glands), especially those located on the face, neck and upper body. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum.
Some skin cells lining the wall of the pore (hair follicle) become excessively sticky, therefore plugging up the pores and entrapping the sebum.
The increased amount of sebum and dead skin cells contribute to the growth of bacteria deep in the pores. The bacteria in turn cause an inflammatory reaction that result in red painful lumps of acne.
There is some tendency for acne to occur in the same family members. This indicates a possible genetic predisposition for this condition.
Use of inappropriate cosmetics and creams, or the oral consumption of certain medications and hormones are other causes of acne.

4. Is there any anything I can do about my acne?
Yes! You can clear acne! You can prevent acne scar formation! However there is no single one-size-fits-all acne treatment formula. Our Acne clinic is specially designed to treat your acne problem and tailored accordingly to your needs.
Nowadays we have a wide range of acne and acne scars treatment. To achieve best results, you are advised to go through the complete treatment protocol as per your dermatologist.
In short, our Acne clinic protocol consists of:
a). Clearance - Active acne must first be cleared with the appropriate washes, medicinal creams, skin care routine, and/or oral medication and sometimes microdermabrasion, fruit peels and laser treatment.
b). Control - Once clearance is achieved, continuous control with the appropriate products and skin care routine are essential to prevent or minimize future relapse.
c). Correction – Red marks, brown marks, raised acne scars and depressed acne scars left behind by acne can be treated with a wide range of clinic procedures and lasers without unnecessary downtime.

5. What else do I need to know about managing acne?
a). Do not squeeze or scratch pimples. Avoid facials, scrubs, masks and exfoliants when your acne is inflamed.
b). Do not wash with harsh soaps. Wash away the surface oil with a good gentle soap.
c). Have a well-balanced diet.
d). Use reliable water-based, oil-free cosmetics.
e). Stick close to your doctor’s prescription. Feel free to check with your doctor if you have any doubts about the treatment or side effects or for some reasons you are not improving.
f). Stress and lack of sleep may aggravate acne.

In summary,
a). Acne is treatable.
b). Acne scar is preventable.
c). Seek treatment early.
d). Sometimes your acne may worsen initially before it gets better.
e). Occasionally it may take a few months to see definite results.

Discuss with your doctor if certain treatments are seemingly not working for you, or you are not comfortable with the medications prescribed for you because there are other alternatives available that would help.

Exercise patience - you will be pleasantly surprised how much you can improve.