There are several different kinds of acne, and each kind may have a different cause. There is heredity, hormonal changes, hygiene and diet that may contribute to acne breakouts. Each kind of acne may have a different treatment or combination of treatments, and when you get professional advice from our dermatologist and team, you may learn how to look your best with the right acne treatment for you.
What are the Different Acne Treatments?
The least serious types of acne are blackheads and whiteheads. They form on the top layers of skin and rarely leave a scar. As with all levels of acne inflammation, they start with clogged hair follicles. The natural skin oil called sebum, dead skin cells and the bacteria that is naturally on your face join together to make inflammation under the skin.
Trying to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads by squeezing them may be the worst thing you can do. They will go away on their own, but if you squeeze them, you may push the inflammation deeper into the skin so it could develop into a papule or pimple that could leave scarring. We have tools that we can use to remove blackheads and whiteheads without squeezing the skin and pushing the inflammation deeper.
Topical medication is another acne treatment that may be used alone or along with oral treatments. Over-the-counter creams may not have enough of the active ingredient to do much good because they have to be suitable for every type of skin. When our dermatologist prescribes topical creams, you will get a strong enough medication for your skin type and severity of acne.
Oral medications may include antibiotics to be used along with a topical cream. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you need to tell our dermatologist because there are some antibiotics that are not prescribed to pregnant women. Also, antibiotics are a short-term solution because they should not be taken for too long.
Certain birth control pills may help eliminate acne breakouts for some women. Other therapies include laser therapy. These go deep into the skin and destroy the inflammation. They are also recommended as treatments for removing acne scars once the breakouts stop.
Learn More Information
If you want to look your best, you owe it to yourself to get all the facts about professional acne treatment. To get started, book an appointment at the office of Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD, located in Sun City and Redlands. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
