ZARA offers two appointments for active breakouts: the Acne treatment at £145 and the Acne facial at £175, each lasting an hour. They are aimed at mild to moderate acne, blackheads and congestion, and the approach is agreed once we have looked at your skin and asked about your routine and any medicines.
Clinic treatment helps many people with milder acne, but it does not replace medical care. If your spots are deep, painful, cystic or leaving scars, the right first step is your GP or a dermatologist, who can prescribe treatments that work on the causes of acne. Prescription medicines are a doctor's decision, and we will tell you if we think you need one.
Every plan at 304 Edgware Road, London W2 starts with a free consultation.
What causes active breakouts?
Acne starts in the hair follicles. Extra oil and dead skin cells block the opening, and bacteria that live on the skin can then cause inflammation. The blockage may stay as a blackhead or whitehead, or become a red spot, a pustule or, in more severe acne, a deep nodule or cyst. Hormones play a large part, which is why acne is common in the teenage years and can flare around periods, pregnancy or conditions such as PMOS (previously called polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS).
Other things can make breakouts worse, including heavy or pore-blocking skincare and make-up, picking and squeezing, sweat trapped under helmets or straps, and some medicines. Acne is not caused by poor hygiene, and scrubbing harder usually irritates the skin further.
When should you see a GP or dermatologist about acne?
Please speak to your GP before booking a clinic treatment if:
- Your acne is moderate to severe, with many inflamed spots on the face, chest or back
- You have deep, painful lumps or cysts under the skin
- Spots are leaving scars, or dark marks are building up
- Pharmacy products have not helped after two to three months of regular use
- Acne is affecting your mood or confidence
- It started suddenly in adulthood, or alongside irregular periods or new hair growth
Prescription creams and tablets are decisions for a doctor, and for many people they should come first. If you are already using a prescription, tell us at consultation, as some acne medicines affect which clinic treatments are safe for you.
Acne treatment or acne facial: which suits you?
Both appointments last one hour and both are aimed at milder active acne, blackheads and congestion. The Acne treatment is £145 and the Acne facial is £175. Rather than asking you to pick from a menu, we look at the kind of spots you have, how oily or sensitive your skin is and what you already use at home, then recommend one. The exact approach is agreed with you at consultation.
Any redness after an acne facial is usually mild and gone within a few hours.
Can other treatments help oily, congested skin?
For skin that is more congested than inflamed, a few of our other treatments may come up at consultation:
- Carbon Peel (face), £130. A laser facial for oily skin, visible pores, blackheads and mild congestion without inflammation. It is not used over inflamed cystic acne.
- HydroFacial, £80. Cleanses the skin and lifts debris from congested pores. It can help with surface blackheads, though it will not treat acne itself.
- Microdermabrasion (face), £70. Exfoliation for rough, mildly congested skin, though not while spots are inflamed.
Dermaplaning and microneedling are not suitable while you have active breakouts, because the blade or needles can spread bacteria and irritation across the skin.
Who should not have clinic acne treatment?
We will ask you to wait, or point you towards your doctor, if you:
- Have severe, cystic or quickly scarring acne that needs medical care
- Have taken a prescription acne tablet containing vitamin A in the last six months, which rules out some treatments
- Have cold sores or another skin infection in the area
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding, when some treatments are avoided
- Have a history of keloid or raised scarring
Medium and darker skin tones are more prone to dark marks, both after spots and after treatment, so we choose settings and products with that in mind and ask you to wear SPF every day.
What happens once breakouts settle?
Getting active acne under control comes first, because every new spot can leave a new mark or scar. Once your skin has been calm for a few months, any marks and scars left behind can be looked at.
Flat brown or pink marks often fade with time and daily SPF, and our pigmentation treatment can help with stubborn ones. Dents and uneven texture belong to acne scar treatment, such as Scar lifting at £120 or a course of microneedling. In the meantime, try not to pick or squeeze, as it pushes inflammation deeper and makes scarring more likely.
Close to Paddington, Marylebone and Little Venice
The clinic is about 50 metres from Edgware Road's Bakerloo line station, one stop from both Paddington and Marylebone. From Warwick Avenue station it is around a 15 minute walk. With appointments until 8pm Monday to Saturday, it is easier to fit visits around school, college or work.
Book a free consultation through the booking form, on WhatsApp at 07479 973309 or by calling 020 4619 8781.
Acne treatment: your questions answered
How much is acne treatment at ZARA?
The Acne treatment is £145 and the Acne facial is £175, each for a one hour appointment. We confirm which we recommend, and the total for any course, at consultation.
Will a facial clear my acne?
A clinic facial can help milder acne, blackheads and congestion, but it is not a medical treatment and will not settle moderate or severe acne on its own. If your skin needs prescription care, we will say so.
Do I need a prescription for my acne?
Acne that is moderate or severe, forms cysts, hurts or leaves scars is likely to need prescription treatment, and that is a decision for your GP or a dermatologist. Milder acne often responds to pharmacy products, a simple routine and clinic treatment.
Can I treat acne scars at the same time?
It is usually better to wait. Needling or laser over live spots can push inflammation around, and fresh breakouts can create new scars while you are treating old ones. We generally treat the breakouts first and move on to scarring once the skin has been settled for a few months.
How many acne sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number. We suggest a plan once we have seen your skin, review it at each visit and give you the total cost of any course before you commit.
Will my skin look red afterwards?
Mild redness is common and usually fades within hours. Keep skincare gentle, wear SPF and avoid picking at spots while your skin calms down.
