In our Coral Springs dermatology practice, we treat many acne cases. And whether you’re a teen or adult, there’s nothing more frustrating than looking in the mirror and seeing pimples, zits, blackheads, and bumps on your face.
Even just one big pimple can be a distraction and make you self-conscious about your appearance.
All of the terms that I used above to describe facial outbreaks are what make up a disease called Acne. Of course, if you’re only experiencing is a pimple or two, you can probably purchase an over-the-counter acne solution that will clear up your skin.
But not all acne is mild, and sometimes it can appear on other areas of the body, such as the neck and back. When acne gets out of control, that’s when it’s time to visit a dermatologist for help.
In a moment, we’ll discuss the types of treatments that we offer to help fight acne. But first, you should gain an understanding of this disease and what causes it.
What is Acne?
Without a doubt, acne is the the most common skin disease in the United States. It affects more than 17 million pre-teens, teens, and adults. Of course, teens make up the majority of this total. The main factors thought to trigger acne include hormones, diet, and certain medications.
And while acne won’t result in death, it can cause permanent scarring and emotional distress if not addressed.
Acne is caused by blocked pores on your skin. You see, many of those pores are the home of hair follicles. And at the root of the follicles are glands called sebaceous glands. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum. The reason why your skin produces this substance is to keep it, as well your hair, lubricated and waterproofed.
However, when the hair follicles get blocked and the sebum can’t reach the surface of your skin, bad things begin to happen.
The trapped sebum will begin to produce a nasty bacteria under your skin. That bacteria will then mix with other chemicals and enzymes in your body that attract the attention of the disease fighters in your body. The fighters are your white blood cells.
When the white blood cells start to attack the bacteria, that area of your face will become inflamed. As the battle rages, pimples, blackheads, and other skin lesions will occur on the surface of your skin. This, my friend, is acne.
The more bacteria there is to fight, the more widespread the acne. Unfortunately, the disease can be very pronounced for some people and barely a zit for others. But certainly if you believe that your acne is severe, you should visit a dermatologist.
Acne Treatments
When you visit our Coral Springs dermatology office, we will diagnose whether you have a mild or severe case. This can lead to one or more of the following treatments:
Over-the-counter medications – There are certain over-the-counter treatments that are quite effective for handling very mild acne. Usually the active ingredients will have benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur as their active ingredient.
Prescription medication – More than likely you will have tried some of the over-the-counter medications, without much luck, before contacting the dermatologist. So the skin doctor will be able to prescribe a stronger solution such as lotions that contain tretinion, adapalene, tazarotene, and more.
Antibiotics – If we determine that your acne is severe, we may prescribe an antibiotic to help kill off the bacteria. We may then move you to a milder acne lotion to clear up any remaining problems.
Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion – If your skin has somewhat healed, but shows scarring and deep marks, we may use a special instrument that essentially sands away the top layer of your skin to allow a smoother layer to replace it.
These are just some of ways that a dermatologist can help to end your acne woes. There’s also laser therapy, oral contraceptives, chemical peels, soft tissue fillers, and more. If you’re currently dealing with acne — whether mild or severe — we invite you to schedule an appointment (954-906-9099) and stop by our Coral Springs office for a consultation.
