
Acne Vulgaris – pimples and “zits” – almost everyone has experienced this skin disease in one form or another. The exact cause of acne is complex and only partially understood. It’s important to understand we do not “cure” acne, we control it. It takes months to get your skin clear (not days or weeks). Expect to be on your medicine for at least two months, because it will take that long to see real results.
One could oversimplify and say that acne is caused by sticky skin cells in the opening of the hair follicles. The material produced by sebaceous glands is part of the reason that the cells are sticky. The cells form “plugs” in the opening of the hair follicle, and this is called a comedone (a “white-head” or “black-head”). Some of the comedones “explode” and turn into big red “papules” and “pustules”.
The acne treatments for acne can be divided into “home therapy” and “office treatments”.
This is the regimen that our doctor has prescribed for you. It may consist of acne creams, washes, pills or all three. There is no shortage of effective acne treatments. Treating acne requires patience (you must think in terms of months, not days or weeks). But with time, your skin will clear. For really stubborn acne we use Accutane. This drug also requires a little extra effort (monthly blood tests etc…), but the results are dramatic and consistent (it literally “wipes out” acne every time we use it).
Peels (dissolve the “plugs”). There are two types of facial peels for acne:
1) Chemical peels – such as salicylic acid peels
2) Physical peels – such as microdermabrasion
Both have the same goal – exfoliating skin: especially those sticky skin cells that block the hair follicles and cause your acne. The choice between salicylic acid and microdermabrasion depends on your skin type and in some people they can even be used together, for a greater effect.
Your medicines will prevent new comedones, but eventually, some of these plugs will need to be mechanically removed one by one. This can only be achieved by our estheticians. The “tune-up” includes steaming the skin, using acid peels and/or microdermabrasion to soften the plugs blocking your hair follicles, careful extractions to remove the plugs, and soothing masks to decrease redness.
There are several laser treatments for acne we offer in office, including the popular carbon laser peel AKA “the Hollywood peel”.
A cortisone injection is the only treatment that is going to make that big red “underground” zit go away in 24 hours instead of three weeks. If you have an “emergency zit”, and need an injection, please call the office and we will get you in that day for a quick visit.
Below are examples of real Minars patients who have seen visible improvement for their acne problems after completing treatment with our acne dermatologists. Your personal results may vary as we tailor our acne treatment regimes to your skin’s unique needs.
Minar’s Dermatology, established in 1975, boasts board-certified MD dermatologists working in a clean modern office. We are obsessed with customer service and running on time. We see children and adults for medical, surgical, cosmetic, and laser dermatology.
Our esthetician can add acne facials, peels, extractions and product advice to your acne regimen.
Our staff will get you in “same-day” if you need a quick cortisone injection for a big pimple.
We treat over 200 people each month for acne.
Our staff will register or activate you same-day as your appointment. They are “on it”.
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