When we’re in our teens, raging hormones can send our oil glands into the overdrive. Alas, pores that are clogged with oil and dead skin cells are the perfect playground for the bacteria that causes acne. Later, our oil production tends to become more regulated but, for many, that doesn’t automatically translate to spot-free skin.
Many of the patients we treat for acne at Skin and Health Renewal are adults. More often than not, when someone starts to struggle with acne in adulthood, it’s a symptom of another underlying health concern. Happily, our doctors take a holistic approach to everything they do, so they’re very experienced at getting to the root cause. When you treat the cause, you lose the symptom.
From the inside out
The state of your gut health and the condition of your skin are so inextricably linked. It’s often the first thing we’ll look at when it comes to acne-related health testing. Many people struggle with undiagnosed gastric conditions that range from dysbiosis (a gut that’s overgrown with more bad bacteria than good), leaky gut, constipation and low stomach acid. Regardless of what’s causing your unhappy tummy, the result will always be inflammation. If left unchecked, you’ll experience a high level of inflammation in every part of your body, including your skin, and this creates the perfect environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive.
To beat gut-related acne, you first need to diagnose it. This is is why most of our adult acne patients presenting with moderate breakouts are treated by a doctor and not a therapist. A series of tests will give us a clearer picture of your gut health and, if need be, we can put you on the path to healing. Every patient’s treatment plan will be different, but it could include nutraceuticals like probiotics, a specialised diet and even IV infusion therapy.
Bring back the balance
Much like your gut, your hormones can also have a massive effect on your skin. In fact, any kind of hormonal flux as well as an imbalance, be it due to menopause or a condition like polycysticovarian syndrome (PCOS), can result in acne.
Again, making the right diagnosis will be vital to ensuring you get the right treatment. This is why our doctors will run a simple panel of blood tests to reveal your hormonal profile. There’s no “right level” of any particular hormone you need to have, it’s all about how they relate to each other. If anything’s too high or too low, they’ll be able to help you bring back the balance.
From the outside in
Acne-prone skin will always require a specialised skincare routine, something our highly-trained therapists can help you create. You’ll want to use products that cleanse your skin gently without dehydrating it or, ironically, it’ll produce more oil to compensate. You’ll also need specially formulated hydrators and treatments that make use of proven spot-busting ingredients like salicylic acid. Unlike alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) that exfoliate the surface of your skin, salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA). Beta-hydroxyl acids that can cut through oil and penetrate deep into your pores, keeping them clean from the inside out.
We also offer a variety of in-office acne treatment solutions that can help you clear existing breakouts as well as improve the damage they can leave behind. Treatments include deep-cleansing facials, peels, laser and light treatments, as well as carboxytherapy.
Ultimately, the kind of acne you’ll experience as an adult is a lot more complex than that you might battle as a teen. Fortunately, at Skin and Health Renewal, we can treat patients of any age. Still, everyone’s journey to clear skin will be unique so. It is best to make an appointment with a doctor if it’s moderate to severe acne. Together, we can identify the underlying cause and put you on the path to spot-free, radiant-looking skin and help you get your confidence back.