Acne in young skin is often viewed through visible lesions: breakouts, redness, pores and post-acne marking. Yet acne-prone skin usually reflects a broader state of cutaneous imbalance, where excess sebum, persistent inflammatory activity, microbial disruption and barrier vulnerability interact over time.
When this pattern continues, the skin may remain reactive even between flares. Redness can become more established, marks can linger, and early textural changes may begin to affect overall skin quality.
In this case supervised by Dr Vania Hiratsuka Dalmedo, the objective was to calm ongoing reactivity, improve the skin environment and support recovery before visible changes became more entrenched. The strategy centred on reducing inflammatory activity, reinforcing the gut-skin connection and creating more favourable conditions for cutaneous repair and long-term balance.
Dr Vania Hiratsuka Dalmedo is a London-based aesthetic medicine practitioner and clinical academic. Queen Mary University of London lists her as Clinical Senior Lecturer and Lead for Training Activities and External Engagement within its Aesthetic Medicine postgraduate programme.
Clinical focus
This case involved a young patient, just over 18, presenting with inflammatory acne, persistent redness, visible pores and early post-acne textural change.
Photographs were taken at T0 baseline and T8, week 8. The protocol combined daily oral intake of The Skin Biotic nutraceutical, one sachet per day, with twice-daily use of The Gentle Cleanser and The Active Cream.
The clinical priorities were:
→ Control visible reactivity and residual breakout activity
→ Improve comfort, tolerance and recovery at the skin surface
→ Support repair pathways through a biomimetic inside-out and outside-in approach
→ Rebalance the skin ecosystem to limit recurrence
→ Review progress regularly to maintain improvement and reduce relapse risk
How AWvi supported the skin
The Skin Biotic supported acne-prone skin from within by helping regulate systemic inflammatory activity, support microbiome equilibrium and strengthen skin resilience through the gut-skin axis.
The Gentle Cleanser supported the topical phase by cleansing without aggravating already reactive skin. In acne-prone skin, cleansing must remove excess sebum and impurities while preserving barrier comfort and surface microbiome balance.
The Active Cream helped reinforce barrier function, reduce visible reactivity and support repair through biomimetic actives. This barrier-supportive step is important because acne-prone skin is often inflamed, fragile and slower to recover after lesions.
Together, the protocol reflected AWvi’s inside-out and outside-in method: supporting the internal systems that influence skin behaviour while protecting the skin surface from further disruption.
Expert insight
“This young patient presented with inflammatory acne, persistent redness and early textural change, but beyond the visible findings, the condition was clearly affecting his confidence. At just over 18, he had become very quiet and self-conscious.
My objective was to move beyond lesion control alone and help restore a healthier skin environment overall.
We introduced AWvi within that broader approach to support skin balance, reduce reactivity and create better conditions for recovery over time.
What is already notable is not only the visible improvement in skin calmness and uniformity, but the change in his demeanour. He appears more comfortable, more open and more confident, which in a case like this is a meaningful part of the outcome.”
Dr Vania Hiratsuka Dalmedo, MSc
Dentist and Aesthetic Medicine Practitioner
Visible evolution
After eight weeks, the skin appeared calmer, more even and less visibly reactive. Breakout activity appeared reduced, redness softened and the overall surface looked more balanced.
This case is relevant because the change was not limited to visible skin quality. Dr Vania also noted a shift in the patient’s demeanour, with greater comfort, openness and confidence. In young acne-prone skin, this is clinically meaningful: persistent breakouts can affect how a patient feels, behaves and relates to their own appearance.
For AWvi, this case illustrates a central principle: acne-prone skin should not be approached only through lesion control. When sebum activity, microbial imbalance, barrier fragility and inflammation interact, the skin needs support across the systems that regulate recurrence and recovery.
By combining The Skin Biotic, The Gentle Cleanser and The Active Cream, the protocol helped create a more stable biological environment for calmer, more uniform and more resilient skin.
Sources:
Dr Vania Hiratsuka Dalmedo, Queen Mary University of London profile
Meet our academic staff, Queen Mary University of London
In conversation with Ioannis Goutos and Vania Hiratsuka Dalmedo, The PMFA Journal
Dr Vania Hiratsuka Dalmedo, IMCAS profile
The primary role of sebum in the pathophysiology of acne vulgaris and its therapeutic relevance in acne management
Acne, Microbiome, and Probiotics: The Gut-Skin Axis
Post-acne erythema treatment: A systematic review of the literature
