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Managing acne from the start is crucial to preventing long-term skin damage and scarring.

Acne isn’t just a cosmetic issue—it can significantly impact self-esteem and, if left untreated, may lead to permanent changes in the skin.

Understanding the causes, treatments, and how to take control of acne early on is essential for achieving clearer skin and preserving your confidence.

Here’s everything you need to know about preventing and treating acne effectively.

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is more than just a skin nuisance—it’s a battle that unfolds when hair follicles become clogged with a dangerous mix of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. This often manifests as blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or cysts, wreaking havoc on the face, chest, back, and shoulders.

Though it’s most common during the tumultuous years of adolescence, affecting up to 95% of teenagers due to hormonal shifts, acne can continue to haunt well into adulthood, especially for women. Driven by genetics, hormonal imbalances, diet, and environmental factors, acne doesn’t just attack your skin—it assaults your confidence.

Left unchecked, it can lead to painful inflammation, stubborn scarring, and a lasting blow to both your skin health and self-esteem.

So what exactly causes acne?

• Hormonal Imbalances: androgens increase oil production, contributing to acne, especially during adolescence and adulthood.
• Genetics: family history plays a role in the likelihood of developing acne.
• Diet: diets high in fat, dairy, and processed foods can worsen acne for some people.
• Health issues: dysbiosis, leaky gut syndrome and imbalances in the gut, lead to inflammation which can manifest as acne on the skin
• Environmental Factors: pollution, humidity, and certain cosmetics may aggravate acne.

The Science Behind Acne

Acne results from the interplay of four key factors:

1. Blocked Pores: dead skin cells clog hair follicles.
2. Excess Sebum Production: hormonal changes, especially increased androgens, stimulate more oil production.
3. Bacterial Growth: propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria thrive in blocked pores, causing inflammation.
4. Inflammation: the body’s immune response leads to redness and swelling, which can escalate into cysts in severe cases.

Plus, improper and incorrect use of Skin Care products or inappropriate skin care ingredients may exacerbate acne.

Skin Renewal provides a range of treatments designed to tackle acne at its core. Their approach combines multiple therapies to achieve lasting results, targeting the root causes of acne. By focusing on factors like excessive oil production, bacteria, and inflammation, these treatments not only address existing breakouts but also help prevent future ones, offering a more holistic solution for clearer skin.

Effective Acne Treatments at Skin Renewal:

• Superficial Chemical Peels: helps exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog pores.
• Limelight™: reduces redness and pigmentation caused by acne.
• Laser Genesis®: stimulates collagen production, reducing the appearance of acne scars.
• Carboxytherapy: enhances circulation to support the healing process.
• PDT with Red and Blue Light: blue light destroys acne-causing bacteria, while red light reduces inflammation.
• Contact YAG: targets deep acne lesions and scars for long-lasting results.

Preventing and Managing Acne

While acne can be persistent, certain lifestyle adjustments can significantly reduce outbreaks.

• Implement the 5 R’s of gut restoration to tackle the problem internally; Remove (get rid of the “bad bugs” in the gut), Replace (rebalance the stomach acid), Reinoculate (get the good bugs to repopulate the gut), Restore (repair the walls of the gut lining) and Retain (control inflammation and maintain a healthy gut).
• Avoid excess sun exposure: the sun can worsen acne and cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
• Use non-comedogenic cosmetics: opt for breathable, oil-free makeup to avoid clogged pores.
• Gentle cleansing: wash your face with unscented, oil-free cleansers twice daily.
• Avoid scrubbing: scrubbing inflamed skin can worsen acne by spreading bacteria.

At Skin Renewal, experienced doctors take a thorough approach to understanding all the factors contributing to your acne. Conditions like low stomach acid, dysbiosis, or hormonal imbalances can play a role in acne development, and Skin Renewal carefully assesses these during your consultation. With a focus on holistic care, they create a personalised treatment plan that not only targets acne but also supports long-term skin health.

With Skin Renewal‘s comprehensive approach, you can take control of your skin’s health and your overall confidence for the long term.