Acne

From blackheads, to comedones, acne comes in various forms. At Continental Skin Clinic, our aestheticians are fully equipped to effectively tackle whichever one it takes on your skin.

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Can be treated by…

Microneedling Fractional RF Microneedling Laser Toning IPL Chemical Peel Carbon Laser Peel

Can be treated by…

Microneedling Fractional RF Microneedling Laser Toning IPL Chemical Peel Carbon Laser Peel

Acne

At Continental Skin Clinic, we understand that acne can negatively affect your life in different ways. It can impact your self-esteem, your self-confidence, your social life, and the way you interact with others. It’s more than just a skin condition; acne can affect the way you feel about yourself. Treating acne is often a long journey that can take its toll, but our aim is to help you regain confidence and feel happy with the way your skin looks.

For severe acne, we start with a medical skin consultation with our in-clinic doctor. The doctor usually requires a set of blood tests to be had before they prescribe any necessary medication, that will target the problem from its source.

Whether you are suffering from teenage acne or hormonal breakouts in your adult life, our experienced team of specialists can help you find the best course of treatments, to manage & treat your acne and significantly improve your skin’s appearance.

For this concern, you can use one of our standalone or combined in a personalised treatment plan procedures:

– Laser Toning

– Chemical Peels

– Medical Camouflage

– Fractional RF Microneedling

And others depending on the skin state and are of concern. Please bear in mind that finalised treatment plan can be chosen only after face-to-face assessment for the best result.

What is acne?

Acne, also known as “acne vulgaris”, is a common skin problem that occurs when your hair follicles which are connected to oil glands become clogged with dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria and oil, resulting in pimples. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages. The most common areas that acne where acne can develop is on the face, back, chest and shoulders because these areas of skin have the most oil (sebaceous) glands.

Certain hormones cause the oil-producing glands next to hair follicles in the skin to produce larger amounts of oil (abnormal sebum). This abnormal sebum changes the activity of a usually harmless skin bacterium called P. acnes, which becomes more aggressive and causes inflammation and pus. The hormones also thicken the inner lining of the hair follicle, causing blockage of the pores, and sometimes cleaning the skin alone isn’t enough to remove this blockage.

Acne Symptoms

Non-inflammatory

  • Blackheads: Small black or yellowish bumps that develop on the skin; they’re not filled with dirt, but are black because the inner lining of the hair follicle produces colour.
  • Whiteheads: They have a similar appearance to blackheads, but may be firmer and will not empty when squeezed.

Inflammatory

  • Papules: Small red, tender bumps.
  • Cystic lesions: Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin.
  • Nodules: Large, solid, painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin.
  • Pustules: Which are similar to papules but have a white tip in the centre, caused by a build-up of pus.

Early treatment of acne will prevent subsequent problems such as enlarged pores, scarring, hyperpigmentation, and post-inflammatory pigmentation.

How we can help

During your consultation you will be provided with a treatment plan that will correct and prevent visible skin damage such as pigmentation, scarring, enlarged pores and redness. These will be necessary to improve the overall quality and appearance of your skin.

In-clinic treatments may include any or a combination of the following:

  • IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): This treatment is very effective for all types of acne for skin types I-IV. It kills acne causing bacteria, while also heating up capillaries and reducing blood flow to the sebaceous glands and decreasing over production of oil.
  • Laser Toning: Nd:Yag 1064 (Revital) is a very effective treatment for seborrhea with enlarged facial pores and inflammatory acne lesions with seborrhea. It may be combined with Carbon Laser Peel. Both are suitable for skin types I-VI.
  • Fractional Microneedling RF: Traditional microneedling can not be used in the treatment of active acne, however, fractional microneedling RF effectively reduces oil production in sebaceous glands, which decreases the chances of breakouts.
  • Chemical Peels: This treatment is effective on its own, but can also be combined with any of the other treatments listed to achieve a more enhanced result. The choice of the peel and the strength with depend on individual cases and be decided during consultation.
  • Deep Cleansing Facials: Having regular deep cleansing facials reduces the build up of dead skin cells which results in clogged pores, that lead to breakouts. These treatments are great to have every 4-6 weeks especially for patients with oily skin.
  • Healite II Therapy: Blue light eliminates bacteria found in oil glands in the skin. The added presence of infrared light (heat) in causes oil glands to shrink in size. The result is less oil in the skin and less bacteria, leading to the resolution of acne in the treated areas.

Regular in-clinic treatments will enhance the efficacy of medications and home care while improving the appearance of your skin. Our specialists will also recommend what products and home care practices you must adopt. Remember treating acne is a through process which require consistency and dedication.

How to prevent acne

  • Keep your face clean by cleansing twice daily
  • Change your bed sheets regularly
  • Use exfoliating products that contain Salicylic acid twice or three times a week
  • Keep your skin moisturised with a hydrating cream
  • Practice sun safety and wear broad spectrum sunscreen daily
  • Use makeup sparingly and use non-comodogenic products, meaning it doesn’t clog pores. We recommend mineral based products.
  • Keep your hands and hair off your face
  • Nourish your skin from the inside – drink more water and eat healthy fruits and vegetables.
  • Avoid dairy and foods high in processed sugar as it may trigger acne
  • Don’t pick your spots
  • Do what helps you to relieve stress like yoga, trying a relaxing facial or deep tissue massage

Treatments for Acne

Face & Body

Carbon Laser Peel

Becoming an increasingly popular treatment amongst Hollywood celebrities in the lead up to red carpet events, a Hollywood Carbon Laser Peel .

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Skin Aesthetics

IPL Skin Rejuvenation

IPL skin rejuvenation is a non-invasive skincare procedure that uses high-powered pulses of light to improve the appearance of the skin.

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Face & Body

Chemical Peels

A chemical peel uses an acidic solution that breaks down the top layer of skin and exfoliates the skin by removing the dead skin cells.

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Face & Body

Healite II Led Light

Add radiance and rejuvenation to your skin with an LED treatment. It is a gentle alternative to chemical peels for those who have very sensitive skin.

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FAQ

Yes, we offer multiple products in-clinic that can help to effectively treat your acne and its symptoms.

As with all treatments, there is a slight chance for side effects and risks associated with treatment. Our therapists and doctors are fully qualified to give you the best treatment with minimal side effects.

Yes, a healthy diet and lifestyle can help you manage your acne and make sure the results after in-clinic treatments are maintained.

Yes, because stress increases the inflammation in skin, it can also lead to acne breakouts.

It takes skin cells 28 days to renew itself, so you can begin to see a reduction of acne from between 4-6 weeks.

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Where to find us

Continental Skin Clinic in London is conveniently located just a short walk from Kings Cross, St Pancras International Station. In close proximity are also the stations for Euston, Farringdon and Russel Square.

 108-110 JUDD ST, KINGS CROSS, LONDON, WC1H 9PX

020 3940 8402

Nearest car parking

Opening Hours

Monday: 10am – 8pm

Tuesday: 10am – 8pm

Wednesday: 10am – 8pm

Thursday: 10am – 8pm

Friday: 10am – 8pm

Saturday: 10am – 7pm

Sunday: Closed

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