While acne appears on the skin, the reasons it develops and persists are often far more complex. Genetics, hormones, inflammation, skin barrier function, stress, nutrition, sleep, blood sugar balance and essential fatty acid status can all influence how your skin behaves.
Acne affects around 95% of people at some point during their lifetime, making it one of the most common skin conditions worldwide. Although it's often associated with teenagers, acne can affect people of almost any age and is increasingly common in adults.
At Alchemy Clinic, we believe that successful acne treatment starts with understanding why your skin is behaving the way it is. Rather than recommending the same treatment for everyone, every acne journey begins with a consultation, allowing us to understand not just your skin, but the wider picture too.
No two people experience acne in exactly the same way, so no two treatment plans should be identical.
Some clients visit us needing straightforward advice on skincare and professional treatments. Others have struggled with acne for years, have tried multiple prescription medications, or feel there may be more contributing to their skin than blocked pores alone.
That's why we don't offer one-size-fits-all acne treatments. Instead, we begin by listening, assessing your skin in detail and creating a personalised plan based on your individual needs.
Depending on your skin and your goals, you can choose from four consultation options.
Perfect if you're looking for expert skincare advice but aren't ready for in-clinic treatments or you simply can't get to the clinic.
Together we'll assess your skin, current routine, lifestyle and concerns before creating a personalised homecare plan.
£50 redeemable against the purchase of two or more products within four weeks.
Request an Online Homecare Consultation
Ideal if you're looking for professional skincare advice, help building an effective routine or recommendations for suitable in-clinic treatments.
Request an In-Clinic Skin Consultation
Our most popular consultation for clients with persistent, recurrent or adult acne.
During your appointment we'll explore your skin history, previous treatments, lifestyle, nutrition and other factors that may be influencing your skin. You'll leave with a personalised treatment and homecare plan designed specifically for you.
Included:
Request a Deep Dive Consultation
Our signature programme is designed for clients who want a more comprehensive approach to long-term skin health.
This is our most recommended programme for anyone who feels they've “tried everything” and is looking for a more in-depth, personalised approach. If you've already worked your way through countless skincare products, prescription treatments or courses of antibiotics without achieving lasting results, The Skin Reset is designed to help us step back, build a more complete picture and create a plan that's tailored specifically to you.
Alongside ongoing support and personalised recommendations, the programme includes both an Omega-3 Balance Test and an HbA1c (blood sugar) test, allowing us to better understand factors that may be influencing your skin and support your progress over time.
Acne develops when several processes occur together.
These include:
While these processes are well understood, the reasons they occur can vary enormously from person to person.
This is why two people with acne that looks very similar may respond completely differently to the same skincare products or treatments.
Most of us now recognise that acne isn't simply a skin problem, but understanding what that really means can feel overwhelming.
You may have heard that hormones, stress, gut health, inflammation or even your diet can all play a role, but knowing which of these are actually relevant to your skin is far less straightforward.
The truth is that acne is rarely explained by a single factor. For some people, genetics play the biggest role. For others, hormones, stress, disrupted sleep, nutrition, blood sugar regulation, nutrient status or changes to the skin barrier may all influence how their skin behaves.
At Alchemy Clinic, we don't assume these factors are relevant to everyone, and we don't believe there's a single “root cause” of acne. Instead, we take time to explore the factors that may be influencing your skin, so that any recommendations we make are as personalised as possible.
Where appropriate, we may discuss additional testing to help build a more complete picture of your overall health and identify areas that may be supporting, or hindering, your skin's ability to heal.
Testing isn't necessary for everyone, but in some cases it can provide valuable insights that help guide your treatment plan.
Depending on your consultation, we may recommend:
These tests are never used in isolation or as standalone solutions. Instead, they're considered alongside your skin assessment, lifestyle and medical history to help us make more informed recommendations.
Because every skin is different, treatment recommendations are made following your consultation.
Many clients achieve the best results through a combination of professional treatments, carefully selected homecare and ongoing support, rather than relying on a single procedure.
Depending on your skin, your personalised plan may include:
Professional chemical peels help exfoliate the skin, reduce congestion, improve post-inflammatory pigmentation and encourage healthier skin renewal.
Learn more about Chemical Peels
Laser Genesis gently heats the skin to help reduce inflammation, calm redness and support the skin's natural healing processes.
Learn more about Laser Genesis
Dermalux LED is a relaxing, non-invasive treatment that helps reduce inflammation, supports healing and complements many acne treatment plans.
Whether you're dealing with teenage acne, adult acne or persistent breakouts that simply won't settle, we're here to help.
Healthy skin starts with understanding your skin.
Request your consultation today and let's create a personalised plan that's designed around you, not just your acne.
Client photographs supplied by Zoe and shared with consent. Individual results vary. These photographs are examples, not a guarantee of the outcome of treatment.
There isn't a simple yes or no answer. Diet doesn't directly cause acne in everyone, but for some people, dietary patterns may influence inflammation, blood sugar regulation or hormone activity, all of which can affect how the skin behaves. Rather than recommending restrictive diets or telling everyone to avoid the same foods, we prefer to look at each person individually.
Absolutely. Although acne is often associated with teenagers, adult acne is increasingly common and can affect both men and women well into their 30s, 40s and beyond. Hormonal changes, genetics, stress, lifestyle and skin barrier health can all influence adult acne.
Not necessarily. Functional testing is recommended only when it's appropriate and likely to provide useful information. During your consultation we'll discuss whether any testing may help us build a more complete picture of your skin.
Many of our clients come to us after trying prescription creams, antibiotics or multiple skincare products without achieving the results they hoped for. While we can't promise specific results, we can promise to take the time to understand your skin, review everything you've already tried and create a personalised plan based on your individual needs.
This is probably the question we're asked most often, and unfortunately there's no simple answer.
Some clients begin to notice positive changes within 8–12 weeks, while others may take six months, a year or even longer. Every person's skin is different, and the timeline depends on many factors, including the type and severity of your acne, how long you've had it, previous treatments, your skin's healing response and how consistently you're able to follow your personalised plan.
At Alchemy Clinic, we view improving your skin as a process rather than a quick fix. Our aim isn't simply to calm your current breakouts, but to understand what may be influencing your skin and create a plan that supports healthier skin over the long term.
Generally speaking, the more comprehensive the consultation, the more information we have to work with. A deeper understanding of your skin, lifestyle and any relevant contributing factors allows us to build a more personalised treatment plan and adjust it as your skin changes over time.
While we can never guarantee results or predict exactly how long your journey will take, we'll always be honest about what we think is realistic, support you throughout your journey and adapt your plan as your skin responds.
No. We don't prescribe medication. If we feel medical treatment or further investigation is appropriate, we'll encourage you to speak with your GP or dermatologist while continuing to support your skin with professional treatments, homecare and lifestyle recommendations where appropriate.
When used appropriately, professional treatments such as chemical peels, Laser Genesis and Dermalux LED are carefully selected because they're suitable for your skin at that stage of your journey. This is one of the reasons your consultation is so important. We'll only recommend treatments that are appropriate for your skin, your goals and the condition of your skin on the day.
Online Homecare Consultation
£50
In-Clinic Skin Consultation
£75
Deep Dive Consultation
£165
The Skin Reset (16-week programme)
£495
