MEDICAL ADVICE FOR MANAGING ACNE

Dr Feeney would like to share some of the most common advice he gives to his patients suffering with acne.

Acne is the one of the most common skin disorder in the world. Nine out of ten people are affected at some point in their lives. Acne is an inflammatory skin condition which ranges from a mild form with whiteheads and blackheads to a severe form which causes cysts and scarring. Areas commonly affected are the cheeks , jawline and chin however in severe cases the whole trunk can be effected. Standard acne treatments include antibiotics, the contraceptive pill and Roaccutane which are all very effective options in severe acne, however that are not without their side effects. We thinks it is always useful to consider alternatives first.

A patients lifestyle including their nutrition, supplements, sleep pattern, exercise and stress levels contribute to the condition of their skin. Our gut contributes significantly to our immune system and is involved largely in activities such as digestion , metabolism, nutrient absorption and detoxification. If our gut is not functioning optimally, this can lead to poor skin conditioning.

By introducing lifestyle changes that reduce stress you can reduce inflammation in the skin. We recommend regular exercise, time spent outside and time away from digital devices. We also encourage patients to keep a food diary and try eliminate certain food items that can act as triggers for acne such as dairy, gluten, caffeine, alcohol and sugar.

At The Skin Studio, we like to keep patients skincare simple as this is the best way of achieving compliance and consistency. We recommend a good gentle exfoliation , an cream containing both salicylate acid and glycolic acid and finally Vitamin A.