Acne Management

This Friday, February 19th, from 12:00-1:00pm, I will be holding an informational seminar on acne. Below is an idea of some of the things I will be talking about. Please stop by if you have any questions!

Many people, young and old, male and female suffer from acne. Acne breakouts range from low inflammatory bumps and papules, to more severe inflammation with deep, red, protuberant cysts.

Commonly used over-the-counter products are frequently ineffective, and tend to dry out the skin, causing rebound oil production rather than cure the underlying source of the breakout . Medically directed skincare provides a proven advantage over these over-the –counter options. These products are purchased with a medical license and have a higher percentage of active ingredient to treat to area of concern.

For all skin types, Clarisonic has an at home ultrasonic cleansing brush which helps with deep pore cleansing. For dry or sensitive skin, cleanse with an mild cleanser, followed by a beta-hydroxy (salicylic acid) preparation in the form of a toner or lotion, and moisturize with a vitamin B hydration lotion. For very oily skin, the amount of acid in your wash can be increased. If your breakouts are isolated to just the forehead or shoulders, it may be a reaction to a hair product. It may also be pityrosporum, which responds to anti-fungal treatment.

If you have acne, it’s best to avoid wearing makeup if you can. But if you must, choose a makeup with a mineral base, such as zinc and magnesium, which have a calming effect on the skin. When you buy makeup, ask if it’s preservative-free, so that it soothes your skin and doesn’t clog pores.

If acne is not resolving with the above measures, silk peels and/or chemical peels are the next step. Both help prepare the skin by removing its surface and uncovering the follicles so that topical preparations can be absorbed. These two treatments can be done together for a quicker response, but the resulting dryness and peeling will be more noticeable.

Remember, when treating acne, it may get worse before it gets better. Two days after a chemical peel, the skin will flake and acne can flare for about two weeks. A skin cycle is 28 days, so you won’t see the full effect of any treatment for about a month.

If you have greater acne inflammation, or significant cyclical breakouts, you can try light-based therapies. These include a series of blue light treatments to absorb a by-product of the bacteria in the skin or Levulan with photodynamic therapy. Following Levulan, the skin will redden, peel and flake for about 3-7 days. Acne may flare after the first treatment, but a series of three treatments usually results in permanent changes to the skin. This treatment is also effective for cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions.

Prescription topical or oral antibiotics can be effective with used in conjunction with topical treatments. Commonly used antibiotics include clindamycin, erythromycin, and minocycline. Azaleic acid also has antibacterial activity and can improve hyperpigmentation that sometimes occurs with acne. Topical retinoids, such as Retin-A™ and Differen™ are also often prescribed. Oral contraceptives and Spironolactone can regulate hormone-related breakouts. Accutane™ is reserved only for the most severe cases of acne that haven’t responded to other therapies. This is a drug with potentially serious side effects, and all the facts should be considered before initiation of this regimen.

That clear skin you dream of can be reached. Be patient and remember that there is help for acne today!