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Is there anyone over the age of 10 that has not suffered from a pimple at some point in their life?
Though people understand what it is like to have an Acne blemish on their face, most people do not understand why these pimples appear.
Knowing more about what Acne is and where it comes from can help you understand how to control these unwelcome visitors.
Blemishes can appear anywhere on your body and treatment can include prescription products, light based therapies, oral antibiotics, and topical over the counter creams.
Dr. Anita personally suffered from severe cystic Acne as a young adult and is particularly sensitive to its potential emotional and social impact.
Dr. Anita will often see patients and prescribe a skincare regimen, as well as treatments such as chemical peels, IPL and laser treatments to alleviate Acne and prevent reoccurrence. On some occasions, Dr. Anita may prescribe medication although oral antibiotics are rarely prescribed in her practice.
Although the cause of acne is still unknown our present understanding is that it is associated with sebaceous glands working more than necessary, a bacterium called P. acne, and a blockage of the sebum. Overproduction of oil can clog your pores, trap and oxidize the material inside thereby forming what we call blackheads. Unfortunately, this dirt and oil mixture is also a great environment for bacteria to grow and the lesion to become inflamed, causing a cyst to appear. Inflammatory cystic acne requires medical treatment to prevent scarring. Hormones and carbohydrates have been associated with acne flairs as well but are not the actual causes of acne only contributing factors.
There are plenty of subtypes of Acne that can have specific triggers, but a dirty face does not cause acne. Also, we can control acne but there is no known cure. Another aggravating fact is acne is not just for teenagers but 20 percent of adults suffer with acne. My patients say, “Doc, I have a pimple in my wrinkle. Life is not fair.”
There is no shortage of products on the market that are designed to help acne. Such ingredients as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide (i.e. Proactiv) are designed to treat only mild acne.
In most cases a physician will start treatment with a stronger medication than is available over the counter. These will combine the active ingredients listed above with items like adapalene, tretinoin, or tazarotene which are made from vitamin A to encourage new, healthy skin cells to grow. A new area of research is nitrous oxide to decrease the inflammatory lesions. Since each acne sufferer responds to treatment differently, your doctor will inspect your skin to determine your skin type so they can recommend a unique treatment that are the most likely to control your Acne while minimizing side effects. You’ll need to talk to your doctor about how to use these products to avoid burning, stinging, peeling or redness that they can cause.
Isotretinoin or Accutane is a common oral medication that is prescribed for serious cases of Acne but it is important to be very careful if you will be using this medication because it can cause serious side effects. Isotretinoin has been strongly linked to birth defects when pregnant women use it. It also causes nosebleeds, dry eyes and lips, poor night vision and sensitivity to the sun. There is some speculation about whether this medication can increase cholesterol levels and depression when used for long periods of time. Regular appointments with your doctor during the course of this treatment are mandatory.
Acne treatment can include oral medications if topical medications do not seem to be controlling breakouts. These will usually be given in conjunction with topical medications.
Taking supplements that boost your overall skin and immune health may help reduce the frequency, intensity and duration of Acne breakout. As for diet, sugars or carbohydrates do seem to play a role in acne so having a healthy low inflammatory lower carb diet has seemed to help control acne flairs.
To learn more about Acne treatment options or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Anita click here!
205 East 68th Street, Suite 1C
New York, NY 10065
22 East Market Street, Suite 201
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
266 North Sea Road
Southampton, NY 11968
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments for Anita Dormer, MD, please call 212-535-5905 or fill out the short contact form below:
I recently visited Dr. Dormer at her beautiful office and was greeted by her warm friendly staff. I trust Dr. Dormer completely.
Deborah M.
I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Dormer. Everyone told me that it would require surgery. I could not be happier with the results. I love Dr. Anita!
Joshua B.
Dr. Dormer is excellent with spider veins. She’s very meticulous. It’s refreshing to not worry about unsightly spider veins on my legs.
Christina H.
If you want your skin to look it’s absolute best I highly recommend Dr. Dormer. She is extremely talented in providing fantastic results.
Matthew B.