Overview
Acne is a very common disorder involving which occurs when the hair follicle and sebaceous gland become blocked, expanded and inflamed. There are several variants and degrees of acne.
Symptoms
Around 80% of people between 11 and 30 years of age will experience acne. Most of us will have so called spots at some point in our lives. These usually appear on the face, chest and back and can show as a small pimple or blackhead to a severe outbreak and may cause scarring. Severe acne affects around 15% of people.
Acne is most common during adolescence, but women may be affected in their mid-thirties. Its cause is linked to our hormones, which is why we are likely to experience it during changes in our life, such as puberty, or with hormonal disorders that affect women such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Diagnosis
Acne is mostly diagnosed during a clinical examination. A dermatologist will assess your skin in detail and grade your condition. They will thereafter explain all available treatment options and together you will decide on the most appropriate treatment for your acne.
Treatment
Acne management starts with self-care, including using appropriate cleansers and avoiding picking or touching acne-prone areas. Other topical agents include creams, lotions or gels containing acids, vitamins, or antibiotics, are also frequently part of your treatment plan. Your dermatologist will advise you on the appropriate agent for your specific case.
Oral antibiotics, or in most severe cases oral Vitamin A, may be recommended. This medication can cause side effects, so our dermatologists will discuss this option with you in detail, should they feel that this is the best treatment for you.
Most treatments need to be taken for several months to be effective and your dermatologist will recommend close monitoring during that time to evaluate subtle changes in your skin.
Why GMI
At the GMI, a dedicated team of highly specialized and sub-specialized dermatologists will address your skin concerns, guiding you through your entire journey, from your consultation and diagnostic work-up to your treatment and post-treatment care.
The GMI team will never offer a simple “one size fits all” approach to any patient. We believe each patient’s case is as individual as they are and strive to find the best treatment plan for each of our patients, taking their case and diagnosis, their lifestyle, and choices into account. To determine the best course of action, each patient’s case is discussed in a multidisciplinary board, where indicated, where several experts with different specialties come together to create your comprehensive treatment plan.
We have invested in advanced technology for the early diagnosis, monitoring, and management of your skin condition. Some of these include digital dermoscopy, artificial intelligence mole mapping, laser treatments as well as tools used in minimally invasive approaches. Any further investigation you may require can also be performed at the GMI, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans and positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET / CT), , histopathology (for biopsies) or blood investigations done in our laboratory, and more.
Our specialized doctors offer a full spectrum of treatment options including minimally invasive procedures, skin surgery, laser treatments, but also radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and advanced systemic therapies, and new treatments such as immuno/chemo-therapy treatments for advanced cases.
We believe each of our patients is more than their diagnosis. We therefore offer dedicated teams supporting our patients by offering more than just expert medical care, through a wholistic approach. These services include psychological help, integrative medical services (including yoga classes, and acupuncture) physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services, as well as a GMI Patient Advocacy Program.
Adhering to our passion for innovation, and desire to progress the medical field, the GMI Department of Dermatology both initiates and participates in several clinical trials in which the most modern and advanced treatment concepts are tested.
