Acne Treatment in Southend-on-Sea, Essex at JR Medical
The team of medical professionals at JR Medical is dedicated to creating effective acne treatment packages that can genuinely make a difference in a patient's skin and help them feel more confident and content in their own skin. Our expert dermatologists and skin care professionals are dedicated to guiding you through this journey, providing ongoing support and adjustments to your treatment plan as needed, to ensure optimal results. We specialise in providing effective and personalised acne treatments to help you achieve a complexion you'll love and the confidence you deserve.
Understanding Acne
Almost everyone experiences acne and spots to some extent during their lives. For some, it's a matter of waiting for them to pass, while others continue to struggle with them even into their 40s and 50s. However, for those with severe acne, it can be disheartening and damaging to one's confidence when their skin doesn't improve despite various efforts. Additionally, acne often leaves behind scarring that can persist long after the active acne has cleared.
Acne can develop at any age, but it's most common during puberty due to hormonal fluctuations. These hormonal changes can lead to increased oil and sebum production in the skin's oil glands near hair follicles, making the normally harmless surface bacteria more aggressive. This results in inflammation both on and beneath the skin's surface. Hormones also thicken the inner lining of hair follicles, making blocked pores more prevalent. Most people experience some form of acne, especially during adolescence, as a result of these hormonal shifts. Acne comes in various types and severity levels, including:
- Blackheads: Small black or yellowish bumps on the skin.
- Whiteheads: Similar to blackheads but won't pop; both are generally painless.
- Papules: Small red bumps that can be tender or sore.
- Pustules: Similar to papules but with a white centre due to pus buildup.
- Nodules: Large, hard lumps beneath the skin's surface, often very painful.
- Cysts: The most severe type, resembling boils, with a high risk of scarring.
- Popping or bursting acne can lead to skin injury and scarring, as it causes the skin to split and rupture. Acne scarring can be as frustrating and long-lasting as active acne, taking a toll on one's confidence. It's important to treat acne before considering scar revision.
Mesotherapy for Acne
Mesotherapy offers a breakthrough solution to combat acne and its lingering effects, providing you with a revitalised complexion and renewed self-confidence. By nourishing and rejuvenating the skin from within, Mesotherapy promotes healing and speeds up the natural healing process, resulting in a clearer, smoother complexion and giving you a more even, glowing skin tone.
Mesotherapy for acne involves creating a cocktail of various ingredients that serve as a safe base for acne medications. For instance, Roaccutane, one of the most effective acne treatments, is included in the Mesotherapy cocktail. The cocktail is injected very superficially into the skin, typically reaching the epidermis to mid-dermis level. This method minimises side effects and eliminates the need for frequent blood tests, as only a minimal amount of medication is required. Mesotherapy also stimulates collagen production through recurrent needling. It can be performed using precise techniques such as a Mesotherapy injection gun, which minimises discomfort.
Mesotherapy is ideal for treating acne scars, offering targeted wound repair and skin regeneration. It can soften various types of scars, including ice-pick scars, rolling scars, boxcar scars, atrophic scars, and hypertrophic or keloid scars. At JR Medical, we use Mesotherapy to treat active acne.
Isotretinoin Capsules (Roaccutane):
Isotretinoin capsules, commonly known as Roaccutane, are highly effective for severe acne treatment. Derived from vitamin A, they employ a multi-pronged approach:
Reduce sebaceous gland oil production to lubricate the skin, decreasing bacterial growth and inflammation. Success rates are high, with 4 out of 5 people achieving clear skin after treatment. The effects usually take a few months to manifest and may require continued use for a while, but they persist even after acne treatment is discontinued.
However, Isotretinoin is reserved for more severe cases where other acne treatments like creams, antibiotics, laser therapy, or other skin treatments have not been effective or where scarring is likely. It should be prescribed by experienced dermatologists, as it can have side effects, including dry skin and lips, sun sensitivity, and less commonly, dry mouth, headaches, joint or muscle pain, and more serious issues like skin rashes and stomach or bodily pain. In rare cases, it may be associated with increased anxiety or depression, especially in individuals with a history of depression.
IPL Acne Treatment
What is IPL acne treatment?
IPL acne treatment (Intense Pulsed Light) has been described as the most significant advancement in acne treatment for decades. It is a safe, fast and effective procedure designed to control existing acne outbreaks and reduce future acne outbreaks.
How does IPL acne treatment work?
An IPL system generates high-energy pulses of light that are filtered to emit specific frequencies of light. One of these frequencies causes porphyrin, a naturally occurring molecule in the oil glands, to release oxygen. The acne bacteria are anaerobic and are killed by the oxygen. A second frequency disables the overactive oil glands, causing them to shrink. This controls the overproduction of sebum (oil) to help prevent later outbreaks.
What can I expect during IPL acne treatment in Essex at JR Medical?
During the acne treatment, you will be asked to put on protective eyewear. A layer of chilled gel is applied to the area to cool the skin and allow the light to easily penetrate the skin's surface. The IPL handpiece is placed against the skin and a short pulse of light is released. The handpiece is moved to the neighbouring area and the process is repeated until the entire area has been treated. Most clients describe the sensation of the pulses as a small, relatively painless snap. The gel is removed and acne-fighting products are applied to complete the treatment.
Who are the best candidates for IPL treatment?
This treatment works best for people with light-coloured skin because the pigment in our skin (melanin) also absorbs light energy. Darker skin can be treated but the light energy must be delivered at a lower power to prevent burning the skin. As a result, darker skin will likely require more treatments. This includes skin with tans resulting from exposure to the sun, tanning beds, or the application of tanning lotions. IPL treatments should not be performed if you are pregnant or if you have taken Accutane within the past twelve months.
What results can you expect from IPL treatment?
Clinical studies have shown IPL acne treatments to be comparable to prescription antibiotics for the treatment of acne. Results are normally seen within two weeks with continued improvement over the following three months. IPL treatments also stimulate collagen production to help repair the damage caused by the acne infection. As a result, the treatment provides a long-lasting improvement in both acne and the overall skin texture.
How many IPL treatments do you need for acne?
We recommend two treatments per week for four weeks (a total of eight acne treatments). Single treatments are available for maintenance and topical products for home use may be suggested by us.
What are the side effects of IPL acne treatment?
Side effects are rare and limited to the treatment sites. They include the possibility of mild burns or blistering, discomfort, scabbing, bruising, pigmentation changes, scarring, and infection. In the hands of an expert practitioner, normally the side effects are very rare.
How much time is required for IPL treatment?
Each appointment is normally 30-45 minutes.
Other things you should know
Acne is unpredictable and one of the toughest skin conditions to treat. Because there are so many variables related to acne (bacteria levels, hormone fluctuations, whether your skin is dry or oily, stress, medications, etc), there are no guarantees that this or any other acne treatment can completely or permanently stop the production of blemishes. However, these acne treatments, combined with following the regular facial treatment and home care recommendations of your practitioner, should provide a significant reduction in blemishes, inflammatory pigmentations, and oil production.
JR Medical is a clinic based in Southend-on-Sea, offering acne treatment in Essex, with over 25 years of professional experience in the cosmetic industry. All acne treatments are administered by an experienced professional.
Call JR Medical now on 01702 314497
All of our services cover the whole of Southend-on-Sea including Westcliff-on-sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Rochford, Hadleigh and Benfleet. We also cover a wider area of Essex, including Rayleigh, Basildon, Grays and Thurrock.
