Acne is one of the most common and battled skin concerns, affecting men and women alike. You don’t have to be a teenager to suffer from acne, this stubborn skin woe can be as fierce during adulthood as it is during puberty, causing your skin to breakout in blemishes, pimples or zits. Whatever you call them, acne spots can have significant physical and psychological consequences, including permanent scarring, poor self-image, and even depression and anxiety.

So, what’s acne and what causes it in first place?

Acne is caused by a combination of increased oil (sebum) production, the pores on your skin becoming blocked with dead skin cells, dirt, oil, and bacteria. An excess of hormones is also a common reason why acne persists.

Although acne can be found almost anywhere on your body, it most commonly develops on your face, back, neck, chest, and shoulders.

There are also other factors, such as genetics, stress and diet which can also affect whether your skin develops acne or not. On top, your daily habits can also be a cause in the development of acne in your skin. Sweating too much when working out, exposing your skin to the sun without SPF, not washing your face regularly, sleeping on a dirty pillow case, smoking, touching your face regularly and using aggressive exfoliators and pore-clogging beauty products, can make your skin more susceptible to acne.

It is, therefore, important that you don’t only treat pimples when they pop up but also put measures to prevent them.

What can you do to get rid of acne for good?

Spots can be debilitating to live with, causing you emotional distress and leaving you with scarred skin. If you regularly wash your face, exfoliate, moisturise, and wear sunscreen every day, and your skin is still experiencing frequent breakouts, whether in the form of a rash of whiteheads or the cystic, under-the-skin kind, you don’t have to suffer any longer.

To help you beat blemishes, banish zits, restore a healthy complexion and get the skin of your dreams, we offer the following treatments at ERA:

1. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Treatment

IPL works be sending short, intense bursts of broad spectrum light from a special handpiece into your skin. Specific wavelengths are used to target the bacteria which are responsible for inflaming the sebaceous glands in the skin which contribute to acne breakouts.

IPL is also helpful in reducing acne scarring, the small dents that are left in the skin as a result of regular breakouts. The energy from the IPL light reduces pigmentation and creates a more even skin tone. Whilst IPL doesn’t actually smooth acne scars, the overall effect of creating a more uniform skin tone, greatly improves the look of the scars.

IPL treatments are quick – generally lasting between 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area to be treated – and relatively painless. At most, you should experience only slight warming and pinprick sensation as the IPL energy enters the skin and heats up the affected area.

Side-effects of IPL treatments are very rare, with the most common side-effect being limited to redness in the treated area. This redness is generally temporary, and resolves quickly.

A course of 3-6 treatments is recommended, depending on the severity of your acne.

2. Skin Peels

Chemical peels are brilliant to brighten your complexion and solve common skin problems, including acne.

Chemical peels target the topmost layers of dead skin cells, gently removing them and revealing new skin underneath. The “peeling” effect is very gentle and there is no downtime.

At ERA, we love Epi Peel (40% glycolic acid) to treat acne. The peel not only soothes pimple-prone skin but helps keep breakouts at bay and remove acne scars. It also contains Vitamin C, a topical antioxidant, which is also a great anti-ageing and brightener for dull complexions.

The peel is applied onto your face by our trained therapists, exfoliating and removing abnormal cells and leaving your skin with better colour and texture. When the peel is washed off, your skin will be left feeling clean, soft and revitalised.

For best results, we recommend a course of 5 treatments every 3 weeks.

3. Topical skincare products

At ERA, we offer two different ranges of skincare products to deal with acne: DCL and prescription-only Alumier®. Both ranges have a specific acne protocol and deliver exceptional results.

From the DCL range, we have three different products to fight blemishes and help acne-prone skin:

Anti-blemish Hydrator

This clinically proven, multi-faceted moisturiser penetrates deep into the skin’s pores to help control the appearance of acne and achieve a clearer, healthier-looking complexion. It is formulated with 2% Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid to wash away impurities, unclog and clear pores, and target bacterial infection, clearing existing blemishes and preventing future breakouts. Buy Now

Active Mattifying Cleanser

This little wonder gently purifies problematic skin without making it feel dry or tight.

Its active ingredients Salicylic Acid (2%), Papaya Extract and Lactic Acid go deep within the pores of your skin to remove dead cells, debris and excess sebum, reducing the risk of breakouts.

It also contains vitamin B5 to calm your skin and reduce redness and inflammation, plus a high dose of soothing botanicals and antioxidants to further cool and repair the skin, leaving it feeling properly clean but comfortable every time after use.

It can be used once or twice a day for best results. Buy Now

Prescription-only skincare

If you suffer from more severe acne, you can book a consultation with Dr Arora, our aesthetic doctor, who works with Alumier®. Their professional range of acne-relief products include moisturisers, cleaners, exfoliators, peels and sunscreens, designed to remove build-ups under clogged pores, balance sebum production and keep your skin moisturised.

If you suffer from regular breakouts and acne-prone skin and would like to find out more about how our treatments at ERA can help you transform your complexion by restoring its radiance, health and youth, we’d love to hear from you. And remember, your first consultation is always free.

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