Acne Treatments and Services

An Overview of Acne

Acne is the most frequent skin condition in the United States. It is characterized by pimples on the face, back, and chest. Every year, about 80% of adolescents have some form of acne, and about 5% of adults experience acne. Acne is made up of two types of blemishes:

Whiteheads/Blackheads:

Also known as comedones, they 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:

Inflamed pores that fill with pus. These can lead to scarring.

Call Fairlawn Dermatology today and schedule your appointment for effective treatment of acne.

Causes of Acne

In normal skin, oil 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 skin's surface, taking with it sloughed-off skin cells.

With acne, 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 surface. If the pore's opening is entirely blocked, this produces a whitehead. If the pore's opening is unobstructed, this makes blackheads. When either a whitehead or blackhead becomes inflamed, they can become red pustules or papules.

It is important for patients not to pick or scratch at individual lesions because it can inflame them and lead to long-term scarring.

Treatments for Acne

Treating acne is a relatively slow process; there is no overnight remedy. Some treatments include:

Benzoyl Peroxide:

Benzoyl peroxide is typically used in mild cases of acne and reduces the blockages in the hair follicles.

Oral and Topical Antibiotics:

Used to treat any infection in the pores.

Hormonal Treatments:

This treatment can be used for adult women with hormonally induced acne.

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:

Removal of whiteheads and blackheads using a small metal instrument centered on the comedone and pushed down, extruding the blocked pore.