Skin Care | Acne Treatment

Acne Treatment

Do you continue to break out despite having tried several acne treatments? Are you convinced that nothing’s going to work, but given time, the acne will clear on its own?

You don’t have to wait. With the right treatment and skin care, virtually everyone can see clearer skin. Treating acne effectively when you first get it can prevent years of breakouts and possible scarring.

How do dermatologists diagnose acne?

If you have acne, a dermatologist can diagnose you by looking at your breakouts. During your appointment, a dermatologist will also note what types of acne you have and where the breakouts appear on your skin. This helps your dermatologist create an effective treatment plan.

How do dermatologists treat acne?

The acne treatment plan that’s right for you depends on many considerations, including:

·        What type of acne (i.e., blackheads, pimples, etc.) you have

·        Where the acne appears on your skin

·        What treatments you’ve already tried

·        When the breakouts started

·        Your age

·        Whether the acne has left you with dark spots or scars

Whiteheads, blackheads, or both: If you have these breakouts, you’ll likely apply acne medication to your skin. Your treatment plan may include one of the following:

·        A retinoid

·        A retinoid + benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, or salicylic acid

·        Benzoyl peroxide + an antibiotic you apply to your skin

Pimples: Mild or moderate pimples can be treated with medication you apply to your skin. Treatment will often consist of applying one of the following:

·        Benzoyl peroxide

·        A Retinoid

·        Azelaic acid

·        Benzoyl peroxide + a retinoid or an antibiotic you apply to your skin

Sometimes acne needs extra help

To help you get the best possible results from treatment, your dermatologist may also recommend adding one of the following to your treatment plan.

Laser or light therapy: Studies show that laser and light devices can help to clear acne. This type of treatment works best when combined with other acne treatment. Learn more: Lasers and lights: How well do they treat acne?

A corticosteroid injection: If you have a large, extremely painful and deep acne breakout, a dermatologist can inject it with a corticosteroid. This can rapidly relieve the pain and the size of the breakout. While effective, this treatment is reserved for treating a few severe acne breakouts. Using it more than a few times can cause side effects.

A healthy diet: Some studies suggest that what you eat can also help to give you clearer skin. If you think that what you’re eating could be causing breakouts, be sure to find out what the research shows.

Acne friendly skin care helps you get the best results

Skin care is so important that without it you may not get the results you want. Even if you follow apply your acne treatment perfectly, new breakouts can appear if you’re too rough on your skin.

You need gentle skin care to clear acne. If you’re scrubbing your face clean or washing it several times a day, you’re irritating your skin. Any time you irritate acne-prone skin, it can lead to breakouts.