Is Acne Being Taken Seriously?
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi: Acne is not taken seriously enough by some medical professionals. It is not life threatening and therefore it is often overlooked. It is common to have misperceptions about the causes and triggers of acne and those with the condition find that they are often blamed for it.
For many sufferers, their quality of life can be affected, including their personal life, education and career. Acne and its scars have been shown to be associated with severe social difficulties that can last well into adulthood.
Psychological impacts
Acne can be responsible for a number of psychological irregularities, including depression, anxiety, embarrassment and lack of self-esteem, self-image and self-confidence. Relationships with family, friends and work colleagues can be affected as the afflicted person may become withdrawn and socially isolated because of feeling a lack of support.
Treatments Options
Obagi Skincare – Obagi has developed a three-step acne treatment. This range is uniquely developed to combat the active disease and give much clearer and healthier skin. Obagi also has a range of tretinoin products which can be prescribed by one of our medical professionals at London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic; these remove dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin which prevents a build-up in the hair follicles and help clarify the skin texture.
Sculptra – Sculptra can give powerful results when used to treat acne scarring. Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi has developed his own advanced Sculptra techniques to treat acne scars. He uses a micro-needle to break up fibrous tissue that is depressing the acne scar. Sculptra is injected during the procedure to restore the facial scar volume by stimulating collagen production.
C02 Laser Resurfacing – Laser skin resurfacing is also very effective in treating acne scarring. The machine uses a beam of thermal energy that breaks down and removes only the outer layers of the skin to reveal a more even skin tone. The procedure also encourages new healthy skin to grow. Most patients require one to three treatments usually four to six weeks apart.
Chemical Peels – Chemical peels can be very effective for softening the look of acne scars. The chemicals remove dead skin cells and excess oils from the top layer of the skin. By doing this it unblocks pores and hair follicles which reduce the appearance of pimples and spots and improves the overall skin texture.
At London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic we offer a wide range of treatment options for the treatment of the active condition and to treat the resulting acne scars.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi: There is a lack of education and awareness of the long-term effects it can have on a sufferer. There needs to be a multidisciplinary approach to ensure patients are receiving adequate treatment. More attention needs to be given to treating acne and to treating the deeper issues that are caused by the condition.
