Acne is a chronic skin condition in which blockage or inflammation of the hair follicles and accompanying sebaceous glands occurs. It is most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, affecting approximately 80% of people at some point in their lives, including late-onset into adulthood. 

There are four main causes of acne:

1. Increased sebum (an oily substance produced by the skin's sebaceous glands) can backlog inside when blocked from escaping the pores. This is usually a result of an increase in the hormone testosterone in both males and females.

2. Together with the increase in sebum production, abnormal keritinisation (the shedding of upper dead skin cells), blocks the pore from releasing the sebum. This creates a comedone, commonly known as a black head or white head, and is the most critical feature in diagnosing acne.

3. Bacterial infection. The collection of fatty-acid-rich sebum makes it very attractive for bacteria to live in an anaerobic environment and they migrate and proliferate into the pore shaft.

4. The presence of bacteria within the pores instigates a chain reaction of inflammatory responses from the body trying to kill off the invading bacteria. This results in red, inflamed acne lesions in the skin.

Many people suffering from acne can find themselves stuck in a continuous cycle of acne lesion formation, scarring of the skin, and the development of low self-esteem and confidence. Commonly known complications of acne, if not already present or left untreated, include:

• Scarring - present in up to 90% of people with acne but is usually mild and only visible under scrutiny with bright lights. However, significant scarring is estimated to occur in about one in five people with acne [Healy and Simpson, 1994]. We can assist in reducing acne scarring with DMK Enzyme Therapy and our CellRenew Microneedling treatment.

• Hyperpigmentation - post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may occur, especially in people with darker skin. This can add to a person's sense of disfigurement [Brown and Shalita, 1998].

• Psychological problems - the cosmetic appearance of acne, or scars caused by acne, can cause significant psychological problems, most notably anxiety and depression [Thiboutot, 2000; Layton, 2010; Dawson, 2013].

Unfortunately, the answer to this is unknown, as acne can remain present for many years in specific individuals yet can quickly be banished for others. The key to acne, however, is the successful management to prevent extensive breakouts, inflammation and scarring. Lumiere MediSpa treatment programmes will work towards achieving good skin health and acne lesion control, but unfortunately it cannot be guaranteed.