Dr Ellie Cannon

Acne is mostly associated with teenagers but we have a lot of mid-life customers who are struggling; what causes acne in later adulthood?

I see people of all ages with acne although of course it’s
most commonly seen in teenagers. We can see it with other hormonal changes like menopause and also when the skin is affected by hair and skin products, and even shaving. Adults tend to get acne if it runs in their family and also at times of stress which we know affects the oil glands in the skin.

Why is having a regular skincare routine important when you have a skin condition?

I’ve noticed over the years that if I’m giving someone
treatment for their skin like a cream or a tablet they often think the skincare routine is no longer important. But that’s wrong, it really is. When we give creams for acne for example, cleansing and moisturising the skin are just as important, in fact even more so. The prescribed creams are often quite harsh and are treatments, not designed to nourish the skin but treat the condition. Your skin care routine is still very much needed to nourish and hydrate the skin particularly as treatments can be quite drying.

If someone is using prescribed products but would like to try natural skincare, how should they make that transition?

Natural skincare absolutely has a role in the treatment of
skin conditions. Obviously I would not recommend stopping prescribed products if they are working! But natural skincare can be used alongside or instead of It always makes sense when you are trying something new to try one product at a time. Then you can see how it feels and if it is helping, before adding in the next product. When we want an answer to skin woes it can be tempting to try everything all at once – don’t do this as you won’t know what is working!

If someone is anxious or depressed because of their
skin condition, which symptoms do you tackle first?

This is such as important question. Skin issues are really commonly linked with mental health issues because our skin is so visible so any problems are out there for all to see. I would always suggest tackling both together. Some days will be better than others for your mood. And some days will be better than others for your skin. But if you tackle both you’re giving yourself the best chance.

As a GP you’re very familiar with prescription
medicines to tackle serious skin problems; what is your view on people trying natural products first?

I am a GP and I prescribe medicines every week for a whole host of conditions. But I would always prefer it for any condition if my patients could be treated without medicine. Medicine can come with side effects and can be inconvenient if you can only get it on prescription. It’s far better if you can treat a skin problem with natural safe products that are easily available.