Skin Solutions

Acne is a chronic skin condition that causes inflamed spots on the face. Typically it is prominent in adolescent years because this is when the sebaceous glands become active. However, acne can occur at any time of life. Acne usually affects the face, neck, shoulder, back, chest and upper arms.

Acne is an annoyance in the lives of many people, especially in our teenage years. Sometimes acne can be so aggressive that scarring occurs which can be particularly distressing when this appears on the face, knocking our confidence.

Put simply, blackheads are a type of spot that forms on the skin. These small bumps often appear dark (hence the name Blackheads) or yellowish in colour. Contrary to popular belief they are not black because the pores are filled with dirt. Instead, they appear in this colour because the inner follicle produces pigmentation.

Cellulite is an unfortunate fact of life for many people and its appearance can happen regardless of size or weight. It is more common in women but can also be a problem for men. Cellulite is characterized by a dappled appearance on the skin commonly around the thighs, buttocks and hips. This is due to the way fat cells are distributed under the skin and is a perfectly normal part of the human body.

It is often thought that capillaries in the face and other parts of the body become broken, however, the capillaries (Small blood vessels) actually become dilated or enlarged, causing them to be visible on the surface of the skin. The condition is actually quite common with many people not noticing dilated capillaries until several vessels dilate in the same area, making the condition appear more noticeable.

Pores, those tiny dots you see on the surface of your skin, are actually the openings of hair follicles. They are completely normal and everyone has them, however, occasionally pores can enlarge to create unsightly ‘pits’ particularly around the facial area.

Fine lines begin to appear in our thirties and are the first step before full-blown wrinkles. Fine lines mostly appear around the eyes and mouth. If preventative measures are not taken early then these fine lines will eventually become deeper set wrinkles.

Rosacea is a common skin complaint that mainly affects the face. It causes redness of the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. The redness can increase over time leading to blood vessels being visible under the skin. The condition can increase and decrease in severity. It is also possible for people with rosacea to form red bumps on the skin or pimples around the affected area.

Rough or dry skin is characterised by the skin cracking, scaling and itching. The skin condition can appear on any part of the body but is often found on the face, hands, arms or legs. Dry or rough skin can occur for a variety of reasons and although uncomfortable, it is often temporary.

Stretchmarks often first appear during puberty, pregnancy or when a person puts on weight/loses weight fast. It is characterized by silvery or purple stripes on the skin that appear when the body grows rapidly. The marks are caused by the sudden stretching of skin and class as a type of scaring.

Skin pigmentation (or hyperpigmentation as it is clinically known) is the result of overproduction of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the substance that is responsible for colouring both the skin and hair. When we overproduce melanin in some areas of our skin more than others this can create dark patches and the appearance of an uneven skin tone.