Acne vulgaris is the most frequent skin condition in the United States. It is characterized by pimples that appear on the forehead, cheeks, chin, or nose. It can also appear on the back and chest. Every year, about 80% of adolescents have some form of acne and about 5% of adults experience acne.
Acne scarring is a condition where, in an effort to quickly heal acne, the body creates a raised bump or indentation that does not go away in a week or two.
What Is Acne?
Acne is made up of two types of blemishes:
- Whiteheads/Blackheads, also known as comedones, are non-inflammatory and appear more on the face and shoulders. As long as they remain uninfected, they are unlikely to lead to scarring.
- Red Pustules or Papules are inflamed pores that fill with pus. These can lead to scarring.
What Causes Are the Causes?
In normal skin, glands under the skin, known as sebaceous glands, produce an oily substance called sebum. The sebum moves from the bottom to the top of each hair follicle and then spills out onto the surface of the skin, taking with it sloughed-off skin cells. With pimples, the structure through which the sebum flows gets plugged up. This blockage traps sebum and sloughed-off cells below the skin, preventing them from being released onto the skin’s surface. If the pore’s opening is fully blocked, this produces a whitehead. If the pores opening is open, this produces blackheads. When either whiteheads or blackheads become inflamed they can become red pustules or papules.
It is important for patients not to pick or scratch at individual lesions because it can cause inflammation and lead to long-term scarring, where collagen rushes into the affected site and tries to heal the breakouts too quickly.
How to Get Rid of Acne
We will examine your skin carefully to determine the best acne treatment for your skin type and condition. Your treatment may include:
- Benzoyl Peroxide: Used in mild cases, benzoyl peroxide reduces the blockages in the hair follicles.
- Oral and Topical Antibiotics: Used to treat any infection in the pores.
- Hormonal Treatments: Can be used for adult women with hormonally induced cases.
- Tretinoin: A derivative of Vitamin A, tretinoin helps unplug the blocked-up material in whiteheads/blackheads. It has become a mainstay in the treatment of acne.
- Extraction: Reduction of whiteheads and blackheads using a small metal instrument that is centered on the comedone and pushed down, extruding the blocked pore.
Scarring Treatment Options
Acne scars are a little tougher to deal with, as these reflect permanent damage to the skin, but we do have some effective treatments. The following Glendale Dermatology treatments are available to reduce the appearance of scarring and give you a more even skin texture.
Treatment for Acne and Acne Scarring in Queens
For serious acne and acne scarring issues, you want the best dermatologist available to treat your skin. In Queens, that is without question Dr. Brezel. At Glendale Dermatology, we consider all of our patients like family and helping you enjoy clearer, more beautiful skin is our top priority. To set up your consultation, just fill out and submit the following contact form today.