Concern
Acne & breakouts in Reading
Active spots, congestion and hormonal breakouts along the jaw. Treated at our salon in Caversham, Reading.
What causes it?
Adult acne is not teenage acne that failed to leave. It is usually hormonal, concentrated along the jaw and chin, inflammatory rather than blackhead-driven, and it flares on a cycle. Treating it means reducing the inflammation, clearing the congestion and calming the oil production. Scrubbing harder makes it worse. A planned approach over time is usually more useful than a single facial, and we will tell you at consultation if what you actually need is a GP and not us.
A spot forms when a follicle blocks with oil and dead skin, bacteria multiply in the sealed environment and the surrounding tissue inflames. Hormones drive oil production, which is why adult breakouts track the menstrual cycle and why they cluster along the lower face.
The instinct is to strip the skin. That damages the barrier, the skin over-produces oil to compensate, and the cycle worsens. Effective treatment works on inflammation and turnover while keeping the barrier intact.
Signs to look out for
Most people who come to us about acne & breakouts recognise several of these. You do not need all of them, and you do not need to know which treatment you want — that is our job.
- Spots concentrated along the jaw, chin and neck
- Flares that arrive at the same point each month
- Deep, sore lumps that never come to a head
- Skin that is oily and tight at the same time
- Marks left behind that outlast the spot by months
How we can help
These are the routes we would talk through at consultation, in the order we would usually consider them. Which one is right depends on your skin, your history and your budget.
Calm the inflammation
Dermalux LED is a light therapy used to calm inflammation. It does not hurt, has no downtime and is often the first thing we add because it makes everything else more tolerable.
Clear the congestion
Chemical peels lift the dead cells and oil blocking follicles, at a depth we choose based on how reactive your skin is. Your practitioner will recommend a course that suits your skin.
Treat it as a planned course
Our acne programme combines the above with in-salon extraction and homecare that does not strip the barrier. It is a course, not an appointment.
Not sure which of these is you?
You do not have to decide before you come in. Bring the problem and we will talk you through what could help and what it costs. The consultation is free and there is no obligation to book anything.
What to expect over time
A realistic guide, including the stretch in the middle where it may not look like much is happening. Everyone responds differently, so your practitioner will talk you through your own timeline.
Weeks 1 to 2
Often a purge as congestion surfaces. This is normal and expected, and it is the point people give up.
Week 4
Inflammation visibly reduced. New spots fewer and less angry.
Week 8 to 12
Genuine change in the pattern rather than the individual spots. This is when the course starts paying off.
Beyond
Maintenance. Acne is managed, not cured, and the interval between treatments stretches as it settles.
Good to know
Severe cystic acne needs a dermatologist and possibly prescription medication, not a facial. If that is what we see, we will say so and you will not be charged for a course that was never going to be enough. Peels are also a poor choice while you are on isotretinoin. We will ask, and we will wait.
Treatments that can help
Listed strongest match first. All of them are done at our salon on 3 Prospect Street in Caversham, Reading.
Common questions
Will treatment make it worse before better?
Often, briefly, in the first fortnight as congestion clears. We warn you beforehand so it does not come as a shock.
Can I wear makeup afterwards?
After LED, immediately. After a peel, we ask for twenty-four hours bare and then mineral makeup only for a couple of days.
Do I need to change my skincare?
Almost always, and usually to less. Bringing what you currently use to the consultation is genuinely useful.
How much does a course cost?
It depends entirely on what your skin needs, which is why the consultation is free and comes with a written plan before you commit.
Other concerns we treat
Ready to talk it through?
Bring the problem, not the treatment name. Consultations are free and carry no obligation.
