{"a8216afd-a278-431d-9241-249a8482c463":"Doctor-Led Aesthetic Medicine","7139eaa1-a3c8-41e6-8bea-bbf2be110df9":"Acne","8f4ed747-6538-42b3-9204-10e4e72f859a":"<p>You have tried every cleanser, every serum, and every piece of advice the internet has to offer, yet the breakouts keep coming. They may flare around your chin before your period, or perhaps they have been with you since your teenage years and never truly gone away. Acne is one of the most common skin concerns I see at Aesthetics by Dr Rachel, affecting people well into their twenties, thirties, forties and beyond. Understanding why acne develops is the first step towards finally gaining control of it.</p>","9551510c-7e7c-4050-86b6-7d7743d053b7":"ebd5cb","fb812f21-7614-47e0-b55a-8ed5607b5f4b":false,"c38db626-85ba-4201-9240-e8c2b19beb5e":"<h2><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:hsl(203,34%,27%);\"><i>What Is Acne?</i></span></h2><p> </p><p>Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that develops when hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin cells. It is not just the occasional spot before a big event. For many people, it is a persistent medical condition that can last for months or even years, affecting not only your skin, but often your confidence and how you feel day to day.</p><p> </p><p>Acne can present in several different ways, and most people experience a mixture of these at the same time. You might notice blackheads, where blocked pores remain open at the surface and appear dark due to a reaction between oil and air, alongside whiteheads, where the blockage sits just beneath the skin as small flesh-coloured bumps. Some breakouts appear as papules, which are small red inflamed spots that can feel sore to touch, while others develop into pustules, the more familiar spots with a visible white or yellow centre caused by inflammation within the pore. In more persistent or severe cases, acne can also form nodules or cysts, which are deeper, more painful lumps beneath the skin that can last for weeks and may increase the risk of scarring if not properly managed.</p><p> </p><p>Acne most commonly affects the face, but it can also develop on the chest, back and shoulders. The location, pattern and type of breakouts you experience often provide important clues about what may be driving your acne. Understanding this is what allows me to recommend treatments that are not just effective, but also appropriate for your skin.</p>","7509c6f1-b682-433b-9708-0d83e83f3a1f":[7014]}