Anyone who has ever suffered from acne understands how a small blemish can cause a terrible problem because a breakout is never timed well. Whether you’re a teen looking forward to prom, getting ready for senior pictures or an adult planning a wedding, or trying to land that big job interview, even the smallest case of acne can feel overwhelming.
In my years as a dermatologist, I have seen acne leave deep physical and emotional scars on beautiful, active people.
There are four main factors that contribute to acne: excess oil production, bacteria on the skin, dead skin cell buildup, and clogged pores. There are specific situations that can compound the problem. Working out, makeup, and products that clog pores including sunscreen, regular touching of the face, hormones, and even a dirty cell phone can all trigger an acne flare-up.
Acne patients can be categorized into three distinct categories, mild, moderate, and severe. A mild case of acne consists of blackheads and visible pore congestion.
These patients need salicylic acid, an ingredient found in many of our products, to break down the buildup in clogged pores.
Regular microdermabrasion can be a huge help with smoothing out the skin and large pores. Moderate acne is classified as blackheads accompanied by inflamed whiteheads. Moderate acne cases benefit from salicylic acid as well as benzoyl peroxide, which is an ingredient that kills acne-causing bacteria on the skin. You can find spot treatments like our Doctor’s Approach Benzaderm Gel and Wash that contain benzoyl peroxide.
Moderate acne patients are sometimes prescribed topical and oral medications when over-the-counter options are not enough. Blue light treatments further help with the reduction of acne.
Finally, severe acne is possibly the most frustrating as it consists of black and whiteheads with visible scarring and cystic acne. If not treated properly, these patients can be felt with deep scars and hyperpigmentation.
Severe acne patients routinely need prescription medication and I recommend products containing mandelic acid, a mild hydroxy acid.
Some may require a round of Accutane which is a powerfully effective oral medication.
Severe acne patients may use the same options referred to in the mild and moderate categories but severe acne patients may require more items in their acne skincare routine.
Some may eventually need laser resurfacing and/or chemical peels to correct some of the damage left behind from the years of breakouts that may have left scarring.
The ACNE club is excited to announce the new acne membership that allows patients to join a monthly subscription and receive customized, complete care to correct their acne. Rotational therapy is the basis of their program and the theory behind it is that sometimes one treatment option is not enough. Sometimes they need to rotate through a variety of options to effectively combat acne.
With their acne membership, you can achieve this by recommending a different monthly product and severe possibilities and allowing patients to choose what they want to move forward with for a low, set, monthly price.
To anyone struggling with acne out there, I would say, hold your head up! No matter what level of acne you have, there are treatments available to help restore your confidence!