Acne

Also known as: Cystic acne, Teenage acne, Adult Acne, Acne Rosacea, Pimples, Cysts, Zits, Whiteheads, Red face, Blackheads, Nodules, Scars

Condition Overview:
Acne is a skin condition characterized by plugged pores, red pimples, nodules and cysts which can result in scarring.
There are many types of acne:

• Cystic acne is deep “pus-filled” lumps on the skin.
• Teenage acne is formed by testosterone, a hormone present in males and females, which stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil, and plug the pores causing whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.
• Adult Acne may be related to hormones, childbirth, or menopause.
• Acne Rosacea is acne associated with Rosacea.

Causes:

Acne is caused by different factors:

• Genetics
• Hormones
• Mechanical or frictional factors such as a football player’s helmet strap
• Occlusive oils that lead to plugged pores

Symptoms of Acne:
Red, painful pustules, pimples, or nodules and excessive whiteheads or black heads.

 

Treatments:

• Topical Medications- Creams, gels or lotions such as, Benzoyl Peroxide, Retinoids (Retin-A, Differin) Fineacea, Clindamycin, and accommodation products such as Duac gel or Benziclin gel
• Oral Antibiotics- Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Minocycline, Clindamycin, Sulfa, Zithromycin
• Oral Vitamin-A- Accutane
• Hormonal treatment- Birth control pills such as Yasmin or Yaz,  Orthotricycline or Orthotricycline Lo
• Oral Water Pill- Spironolactone
• Laser Treatment- Smoothbeam Laser, Starlux Fractional Laser to treat scarring
• Photodynamic Therapy- Levulan plus Laser light
• Acne Surgery a combination of a light glycolic peel and the extraction of blackheads and/or whiteheads from plugged pores