Acne is commonplace for young people as they are going through a period of hormonal changes. If left untreated or poorly treated it can cause permanent scarring on the face. If you’ve tried over-the-counter acne treatments without seeing much improvement, then you may benefit from a consultation with our skin specialist. Treatment may help control your acne to reduce its appearance and avoid scarring.
Many topical acne treatments work by fighting bacterial infection, reducing inflammation, which helps prevent scarring. With many treatments, the results may not be seen for some time, and it’s common for your skin to get worse before it gets better. It may take a few weeks or even months before you get the results you want.
The treatment our doctor recommends will depend on several factors: your age, severity and type of your acne, and what you can commit to for the treatment. For example, with some acne treatments, you may be required to wash and apply medications to the affected skin twice a day for several weeks.
A few of the most common topical prescription medications are:
• Retinoids and drugs that give the same results as retinoids. These are available as gels, lotions and creams. Retinoid drugs are derived from vitamin A and there are several different medications. Our specialist will choose the best one for your particular acne condition. Retinoids and other medications work by preventing the hair follicles from becoming clogged.
• Antibiotics work by reducing redness and killing the bacteria that is already on the skin. Both a retinoid and an antibiotic may be used at the same time. One in the morning and the other in the evening. To reduce the likelihood of developing antibiotic resistance antibiotics are often combined with benzoyl peroxide. It is not recommended to take topical antibiotics alone.
• Azelaic acid is a natural acid found in animal products and whole grain cereals. It has antibacterial qualities and has been found to be as effective as conventional acne treatments if used twice a day for at least one month and is even more effective when used in combination with erythromycin.
Salicylic acid works to keep hair follicles free of excess oil and dead skin cells and is available as both leave-on products and wash-off products.
• Dapsone is a 5 percent gel to be used twice daily and is recommended for inflammatory acne, especially for adult females with acne. Side effects can include dryness and redness.
Our specialist may recommend that you avoid direct sunlight as this could irritate your acne more especially if you are taking a drug that makes your skin sun-sensitive. Any kind of friction or pressure on your skin should be avoided such as helmets, phones, tight collars or backpacks and straps. As much as possible avoid picking or touching the problem areas as this can lead to scarring or infection. Popping pimples may force the infection deeper into the skin where it will do more damage with a higher risk of leaving a scar.
With so many possible acne treatments, it’s worth getting a diagnosis and treating the exact type of acne you have. Contact Le Reve Skincare & Laser Center today to schedule your consultation! We are conveniently located in Fort Worth, TX.
