You have already tried things.
That is usually where this starts. Not at the beginning — somewhere in the middle. After the chemist range. After the facial that was supposed to fix it. After the friend who swore by something that did nothing for you.
By the time most people sit down with us about acne, they are not hopeful. They are tired. And they have usually spent more than they would like to admit getting nowhere.
So before anything else: we believe you. Acne is not a hygiene problem. It is not a willpower problem. And it is not something you have brought on yourself.
What we will not do
We will not promise to clear your skin in six weeks.
We will not sell you a package before we have properly looked at your skin.
And we will not start you on a plan you cannot afford to finish — because a course abandoned halfway through is money wasted, and we would rather you did not waste it.
Sometimes that means recommending treatment. Sometimes recommending less. And sometimes recommending you see a doctor before you see us at all.
Why your skin might not be clearing
Acne is not one condition. It is a category. And the reason so many people cycle through product after product without progress is that they are treating the wrong version of it.
Congestion is not acne
Blackheads, whiteheads, and that rough, bumpy texture across the forehead, nose or chin. Blocked follicles without significant inflammation. It is extremely common, it is often mistaken for acne, and it usually responds well to consistent professional treatment and the right home care.
Inflammatory acne
Red, raised, tender lesions. There is an inflammatory process happening, which means aggressive scrubbing and stripping the skin tends to make it worse rather than better. This is the group most likely to have damaged their barrier trying to fix things at home.
Hormonal acne
Typically along the jaw, chin and neck, often flaring in a recognisable monthly pattern. It can appear for the first time in your twenties, thirties or forties, and it frequently coincides with coming off or going onto contraception, or with perimenopause.
Cystic acne
Deep, painful lesions that sit under the skin and can last for weeks. This is the type most likely to scar, and the type most likely to need medical management rather than clinic treatment alone. If this is you, please read the section further down on when we would send you elsewhere.
Acne in your thirties and forties
Adult acne is not a teenage problem that stayed too long. It is its own thing, and it often behaves differently — fewer lesions, but deeper, slower to resolve, and more likely to leave a mark behind.
It is also more common than most people realise, which matters, because a lot of the distress attached to adult acne comes from feeling like the only person your age dealing with it. You are not.
How we assess your skin
Every acne client starts with an assessment, not a treatment. We look at what type of acne you have, how long it has been going on, what you have already tried, what you are currently using at home, and whether anything in your health history or medication is contributing.
Our clinicians hold Bachelor-level qualifications in dermal science and nursing. That is a deliberate choice, and a checkable one — you can meet the team here.
Often the first recommendation is to take things away rather than add them. If your barrier is compromised, no treatment we perform will hold.
What treatment might involve
There is no single acne treatment, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. What we recommend depends entirely on what we find. Options we commonly draw on include:
- DMK Enzyme Therapy — works with the skin’s own function rather than stripping it, and is often a cornerstone of longer-term acne programs.
- BioRePeel — for congestion, uneven tone and texture, without the downtime of a traditional peel.
- Hydrating Boost Facial — deep cleansing and extraction for congestion and blackheads.
- LED Light Therapy — commonly added to support inflamed skin.
- Medi Facials — tailored clinical facials built around your specific presentation.
- Medical-grade home care — what you do between appointments matters more than what happens in the chair.
You can see the full range of skin treatments we offer, though we would rather you booked an assessment than tried to diagnose yourself from a menu.
Acne scarring and marks left behind
Two different things are often called scarring, and they are treated differently.
Post-inflammatory marks are the flat red or brown patches left where a lesion has healed. They are pigment and vascular changes, not true scars, and they will often fade with time and sun protection. Laser Genesis and our pigmentation treatments can help address them.
True scarring is a change in the skin’s texture — indentations, rolling or pitted areas. This does not fade on its own. SkinPen microneedling and laser resurfacing are the treatments most often used here, usually over a course rather than a single session.
One important point: we generally do not treat active scarring while acne is still significantly inflamed. Settling the acne comes first. Doing it in the wrong order wastes your money.
When we would send you somewhere else
This is the part most clinics leave out.
Moderate to severe acne — particularly cystic acne, or acne that is actively scarring — often needs prescription medication, and that sits with your GP or a dermatologist, not with us. No facial, peel or laser is a substitute for medical management when medical management is what is required.
If that is what we think you need, we will tell you at the assessment, and you will not be charged for a treatment plan we do not believe in. We can absolutely work alongside your doctor to support your skin through medical treatment, and often that is the best combination available to you.
Common questions about acne
Why do I still have acne in my thirties?
Adult acne is common and is usually driven by a combination of hormonal fluctuation, inflammation and barrier disruption rather than by anything you are doing wrong. Changes to contraception, stress and perimenopause are all frequent contributors. It is a different presentation from teenage acne and generally needs a different approach.
How do I know if it is acne or just congestion?
Congestion tends to be blackheads, whiteheads and rough texture without much redness or tenderness. Acne involves inflammation — lesions that are red, raised and sore. The distinction matters because they respond to different treatment, and treating congestion as though it were inflammatory acne often makes skin worse.
Can facials make acne worse?
Yes, if they are the wrong facial. Over-exfoliating, aggressive extraction and heavily fragranced products can all inflame acne-prone skin and damage the barrier. This is one of the main reasons we assess before we treat rather than booking you straight into something.
How long before I see a difference?
Skin turns over roughly every four to six weeks, so meaningful change is generally measured in months rather than weeks. Congestion often shifts sooner. Inflammatory and hormonal acne take longer. Anyone promising you clear skin in a fortnight is not being straight with you.
Do I need to stop using my current skincare?
Possibly, at least temporarily. Bring everything you are using to your appointment, including the things you have stopped. It is very common to find that a well-intentioned routine is contributing to the problem, and simplifying it is often the first step.
Is acne caused by diet?
The evidence linking specific foods to acne is limited and highly individual. There is some research around high-glycaemic diets and dairy for certain people, but diet is rarely the whole picture, and we are cautious about restrictive advice that adds guilt without adding results.
Should I see a doctor instead of a skin clinic?
If your acne is severe, cystic, painful, or already leaving scars, start with your GP or a dermatologist. Prescription treatment may be the fastest route to settling it. We are glad to work alongside medical treatment to support your skin, and we will tell you honestly if we think that is the order things should happen in.
Will my acne scarring ever go away?
Flat red or brown marks left behind after a breakout usually fade over months, and treatment can help that along. True textural scarring does not resolve on its own, but its appearance can often be meaningfully improved with a course of microneedling or resurfacing once the acne itself is under control.
Where to start
A skin assessment. Not a treatment, not a package — an honest look at what is actually going on and a plan you can afford to finish.
If we can help, we will tell you how. If someone else is better placed to help you first, we will tell you that too.
How long have you been trying to fix this on your own?
ANO Cosmetics & Skin, 36 Welsford Street, Shepparton. Contact us if you would prefer to ask a question first.