Acne
“At any age, acne that doesn’t go away feels like a devastating blow to your appearance. It impacts your self-confidence and covering it with makeup only makes it worse. At Petrin Dermatology in Redmond, Washington, Dr. James Petrin and the team of dermatology experts helps clear your skin of inflammatory breakouts that don’t respond to home care or time. Book your visit for acne treatment by calling the office or using the online booking tool today. ”
What is acne?
Acne is a highly common skin condition that causes you to break out in cysts, blackheads, whiteheads, and other oily or irritated skin bumps. These blemishes appear when the pores in your skin become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Soon, bacteria accumulate in the clogged pore and make it swollen and inflamed.
What causes acne?
You’ve likely noticed that acne is more common in teens than adults or young children. This is because a major cause of acne is hormones. When teenagers go through puberty, their hormones are active. Acne can also be caused by hormone fluctuations, like pregnancy or menstruation.
Other factors that lead to acne are:
A carbohydrate-rich diet
Medications
Birth control
Stress
Genetics
Oily makeup and skin products
Often, acne doesn’t have one simple cause. Thankfully, the right treatment can keep acne at bay.
How is acne treated?
The team at Petrin Dermatology helps you clear your acne if it doesn’t go away with good hygiene and other home care measures. There are a number of highly effective treatments for acne, including:
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is available in the form of topical washes and creams. It kills the bacteria that causes your acne to become inflamed, but it can bleach your clothes if you’re not careful.
Glycolic acid and salicylic acid
These acids help regulate your skin’s cycle of producing oil and shedding dead cells. They can also reduce the redness that acne leaves on your skin.
Antibiotics
Your dermatologist at Petrin Dermatology may prescribe a cycle of antibiotic pills or a topical antibiotic cream that kills the specific type of bacteria that builds up in your pores. If the bacteria become resistant to it, your dermatologist gives you a different antibiotic.
Retinoids
Retinoids dry your skin to make it less oily, which helps unclog your pores. It might take several months before you see the full results of acne treatment with retinoids.
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin is reserved for only severe cases of acne, and you can’t use it if you’re pregnant. It regulates your skin’s oil production and requires you to monitor your blood and liver function while you use it.
If you feel like you’ve tried everything to relieve your acne only for it to persist or worsen, request an appointment at Petrin Dermatology by phone or online today.