The physical and psychological morbidity associated with acne scarring and pigmentation change has significant psycho-social effects and potential remedial costs for patients.
Long considered to be a self-limiting disease of adolescence affecting 90% of teenagers, acne vulgaris and sequelae can continue later in life, with 1% of men and 5% of women reporting ongoing lesions at 40 years of age.
Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, with multiple causes and manifestations, both short and long-term. The higher propensity for inflammatory involvement, hyper/hypopigmentation and hypertrophic scarring in patients with skin of colour has specific impacts for diagnosis, treatment and management.
Acne is mostly due to the way skin reacts to hormonal changes. The skin contains sebaceous glands that naturally release sebum, an oily substance that helps protect it.
During puberty, raised levels of the hormone testosterone can cause too much sebum to be produced. This happens in both boys and girls. The sebum can block hair follicles. When dead skin cells mix with the blockage, it can lead to the formation of spots. Bacteria in the skin multiply, which can cause pain and swelling (inflammation) beneath the blockages.
There are different kinds of spots which in term lead to acne: Blackheads are small, blocked pores, Whiteheads are small, hard bumps with a white centre, Pustules are spots with a lot of pus visible. Nodules are hard, painful lumps under the skin.
Treatments for Active Acne At the London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic, we combine our expertise with the latest technology to treat active acne and deep acne scars.
Obagi and ZO Skincare.
We offer a wide range of skin care products including Obagi and ZO Skin health care products, which are medically prescribed as they are very powerful and effective and they must be used under the supervision of a doctor.
Obagi Nu-Derm system is a doctor prescribed strength skin care system that can transform skin at a cellular level. It restores the function of the skin cells and is clinically proven to result in clearer, younger and healthier-looking skin. By stimulating skin cell renewal, improving circulation and rebuilding collagen, the unique Obagi system works breathes new life into unhealthy skin. Obagi Nu-Derm combines a skin care product with a day moisturiser, eye cream and spot fader. Utilising all four products ensures maximum skin rejuvenation.
Obagi Clenziderm penetrates the root of acne to clear skin quickly. It contains a patented, solubilized for of 5% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) to penetrate deep into the follicle to treat acne where it starts. Obagi treatments are clinically proven to better penetrate the follicles for effective P. acnes bacteria reduction and rapid lesion reduction. Dermalroller Dermalrollers can significantly improve the appearance of acne scars, as it can act as a collegen stimulation therapy, which can be done on all areas of the face and body and is suitable for all skin types on both men and women.
Dermal roller Therapy provides advanced micro-medical skin-needling, a procedure that stimulates the skin to regenerate and repair itself naturally and safely. It harnesses the body’s natural powers of healing to achieve smoother, healthier and younger looking skin. A specifically designed device which contains numerous micro-needles is used to create thousands of microscopic channels in the lower levels of the skin. This ensures minimal bleeding and induces regeneration via the wound-healing process.
Sculptra For Deep Acne Scars
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi has revolutionised the treatment of deep acne scars through the use of Scuptra over the last 15 years. Sculptra is a long lasting, clinically-proven, non-invasive, injectable treatment designed to smooth and soften the skin and restore facial volume in a natural way.
The unique collagen replenishing treatment gradually reduces acne scars once the scar has been subsided with a very fine needle. By replenishing the body’s own facial collagen and restore lost volume, it can give a fuller, more natural look that can last for up to 3-5 years in facial volumisation and permanent results in scar treatment. Poly-L-lactic acid, the main ingredient of Sculptra has been used successfully in surgical procedures for more than 60 years.
Sculptra works within the deep dermis, the skin’s structure, and replaces lost collagen. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness of shallow to deep facial scars that have been left after acne
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi says: Sculptra can be used for Scars, Facial Asymmetry and Aging Hands. Advanced Microablative CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing The Performa SmartSkin fractional CO2 micro ablative laser skin re-surfacing treatment is a safe and effective way to treat acne scars. Performa CO2 laser is the most sophisticated laser in tissue rejuvenation and skin resurfacing technology with fast, visible results.
The procedure has minimal downtime and post-treatment the skin will be smoother, fresher and more youthful. Laser skin resurfacing uses a specially crafted beam of thermal energy that breaks down and removes only the very outer layers of the skin. This leaves the skin more even as well as encouraging new skin to grow, resulting in a healthier and fresher look.
The small areas treated by the Performa fractional micro beams, called micro treatment zones, cause sufficient laser injury to promote new collagen production and resultant facial skin rejuvenation.
SmartSkin is a minimally ablative laser, which means it removes the outermost top layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum. The heat from the laser light also reaches the dermis, however, where it remodels the skin by stimulating the formation of new collagen, the protein that gives skin youthful, healthy-looking volume. The principle causes of acne-related morbidity in dark skin are the sequelae of hyperpigmentation and scarring, which can be remediated. In patients with a dark skin tone an increased susceptibility to inflammation can lead to long lasting pigmentation change and scarring.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi explains that, certain treatments may exacerbate the development and severity of these conditions. When treating acne in patients with skin of colour, it should be treated timeously and with appropriate levels of aggression.
To read more about treatments for scars, please click here.
