Skin
Teenage Acne Treatments
- Duration
- 45 mins
- Downtime
- Minimal. Mild pinkness usually settles quickly.
From £40
Skin concern
Acne & Breakouts
Persistent breakouts are a biological process, not a hygiene problem. Clinical treatments address the root causes that over-the-counter products cannot reach.
Understanding the cause
What's happening in your skin
01
It's not about cleansing harder
Breakouts form inside hair follicles, several layers below the surface, beyond the reach of any cleanser.
Acne is a biological process, not a hygiene failure. Excess sebum, dead skin cells and Cutibacterium acnes bacteria combine inside follicles, triggering an inflammatory response below the surface, where cleansing cannot reach. The impulse to scrub more often is understandable, but it disrupts the skin barrier and frequently worsens the problem rather than resolving it.
02
Why the pharmacy shelf falls short
Retail products work at the skin's surface. Breakouts don't start there.
Over-the-counter products work at the skin's surface, removing oil and dead cells but not reaching the follicular conditions where breakouts originate. Retail products are not designed to penetrate that depth, so even a consistent routine rarely interrupts the process. If you have kept to a routine and still break out, the routine is not the problem.
03
Treatment that reaches the right depth
Each course is matched to your acne type, because one protocol rarely works for a condition this variable.
Clinical treatments work at the depth where acne forms. LED light therapy targets bacteria within the follicle. Chemical peels clear congestion at a level retail products cannot reach. HydroFacial combines deep-pore cleansing with targeted serum infusion. Each plan is matched to your presentation, whether comedonal, inflammatory or cystic.
Recommended treatments
What we use for acne & breakouts
Skin
High Frequency Therapy
- Duration
- 30 mins
- Downtime
- None
From £35
Skin
LED Light Therapy
- Duration
- 30 mins
- Downtime
- None
From £30
Skin
Chemical Peels
- Duration
- 45 mins
- Downtime
- Varies by peel level, from little or none to several days of redness, dryness or flaking
From £100
Skin
HydroFacial
- Duration
- 60 mins
- Downtime
- None
From £100
Skin
Facials
- Duration
- 60 mins
- Downtime
- Usually minimal
From £70
Skin
Observ Skin Analysis
- Duration
- 30 mins
- Downtime
- None
From £50
Clinical perspective
The most common thing I see is people who have spent years and hundreds of pounds on skincare and still break out. That is not a failure of effort. Acne has a biological cause, and for most people the products available in pharmacies cannot interrupt that process effectively. When we assess the skin properly and match the treatment to the type of acne, the results tend to be quite different.
Retail products fall short A biological root cause Assessment changes outcomes
In their own words
My sons skin is showing a good improvement after just 2 visits of acne treatment. Jaz is always efficient and professional.
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Common questions
Frequently asked about acne & breakouts
What causes adult acne?
Adult acne has the same root causes as teenage acne: excess sebum, blocked hair follicles and Cutibacterium acnes bacterial overgrowth. Hormonal fluctuations, stress, diet and certain skincare products can all be contributing factors, which is why a clinical assessment is more useful than a one-size approach.
Why have over-the-counter products not worked for me?
Most retail skincare products are formulated to work on the skin's surface. Clinical treatments use professional-grade acids, wavelengths of light and technologies that work deeper in the follicle, where breakouts actually start. The difference is not the ingredients on the label but the concentration and delivery method.
Which treatment is right for my skin?
That depends on your skin type, the nature of your acne (comedonal, inflammatory, cystic) and your lifestyle. We always begin with a consultation and, where appropriate, an OBSERV skin analysis before recommending a treatment plan. There is no universal first step.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people see measurable improvement over a course of treatments rather than after a single session. The number depends on the severity and the treatment chosen. Your clinician will outline a realistic timeline at consultation.
Can you treat teenage acne at the clinic?
Yes. We offer a dedicated teenage acne programme designed for younger skin. Parental or guardian consent is required for clients under 18.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a consultation
Your clinician will assess your skin, review your history and design a treatment plan matched to your specific presentation, not a generic protocol.
Medically reviewed by Dr Shahe Boghossian, Medical Consultant, GMC 5204600 . Last reviewed 21 May 2026.
