Acne is the most common skin disease, with about 17 million people suffering its uncomfortable and sometimes lasting effects. While a good skin care regimen will help many people, many others need medical care to prevent scarring and get their acne under control and gone.
How Do Dermatologists Treat Acne?
If diligent at-home skin care isn’t solving your acne problem, you may need some help from a dermatologist. We offer several types of treatment for acne on the face, chest, back, and other parts of the body to help your skin heal without scars and keep it clear in the future.
Prescription Meds – Prescription medications can help your body fight off inflammation and infection that can result from acne. We’ll work with you to find the right combination of medications for your particular condition. Often this will include applying retinoic acid (Retin-A) to the acne-prone areas of your skin and antibiotics, either topical or oral. Additional options are available for people who have more severe acne or more persistent issues, despite other forms of treatment.
Acne Extraction – Extracting acne lesions helps the skin to heal faster and cuts the chances of scarring significantly. This is referred to in the medical community as acne surgery, but that makes it sound much more frightening than it actually is. We’ll remove your blackheads, whiteheads, and other acne lesions in a clean environment, using techniques that cause minimal damage to the surrounding tissues. You get healthier, more comfortable skin quickly.
Acid Peel – Salicylic acid is used by dermatologists as a peeling agent to exfoliate skin and unclog pores. This helps the acne you have today and prevents future breakouts. Your skin will be less inflamed and red as a result, and you’ll also have a youthful glow once the dead skin cells are removed.
Laser Therapy – Photodynamic Laser Therapy (PDT) combines a special solution applied to the skin with blue laser light to target oil glands and stop overproduction of oil. This is an effective alternative to antibiotics or isotretinoin for patients who have more severe acne, and it also improves discoloration, scarring, and skin texture.