EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ACNE TREATMENT

Jun, 14 2023

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions faced by individuals nowadays. However, owing to the advancements in medical technology, effective treatments are available to treat acne. Considering acne treatment, there are many questions one has in mind. In this blog, the expert skin doctor of Skination Clinic, who is known to provide the best acne treatment in South Delhi and Faridabad, has tried to cover some frequently asked questions. The doctor has answered some of the frequent questions that patients have about acne treatment. Continue reading to get crucial insights.

1. When Should I Start Treatment for Acne?

Sometimes patients feel that it is too early to start acne treatment. This is especially true for parents who think that kids have developed acne due to being teenagers and that it will subside as the child grows. Yes, acne might be transient in teenagers, due to hormonal changes. Then, it is also important to treat acne at the right time, as long-standing acne can result in marks and scars.

You might try an anti-acne facewash for a few pimples if they have just started, but for long-standing ones or those not improving with the basics, it’s always good to treat them properly by taking the expert advice of a dermatologist or an acne expert doctor.

When acne occurs in adults, that is, after the age of 25, it is called "adult acne." These cases of acne in women can point towards hormonal changes and must be investigated. Treatment is important because most cases of such acne are more severe, with higher chances of scarring and pigmentation and a lower tendency to heal on its own. Also, the psychological impact of acne is well known. So if it bothers you, it must be treated.

2. How Should I Treat My Acne ?

Acne treatment depends on what type of acne that you have.

Simply put acne are of 4 types-

  • Comedones (black/ white head),
  • Papules(red bump),
  • Pustule ( pus filled ),
  • Nodulocystic ( bigger and deep in skin/ fluid filled)

Now acne treatment depends on which type out of these are the ones that you have. Treatments also differ according to the number of acne, site of lesions, age of patient, etc.

3. Why Should You Treat Your Acne Under the Guidance of an Expert Dermatologist?

Acne can improve rapidly with the right combination of topical and if needed oral medication. The earlier the acne is treated the less are the chances of sequels. Therefore, experts' help and guidance is important.

4. What are the Commonly Available Topical Preparations for Acne?

  • For comedones as the majority lesions salicylic acid face washes are recommended along with comedolytic agents.
  • Till acne is few and not severe, only topicals can work well.
  • Most used ones are salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, Retinols and ada-pal-ene.

Though it looks simple, it should be under the guidance of a dermatologist. This helps you get the right preparations and also prevents side effects. These preparations come in different formulations; for example, salicylic acid comes in face washes, gels, and sprays; similarly, BPO is in face washes, creams, and gels. Also, the method of application, frequency, and combining it with other skin care essentials are to be done for the best outcome. When not used correctly, side effects like redness or stinging can occur.

5. Is Extraction of Comedones Helpful?

Comedones are white heads and black heads, in simple language. These are formed by accumulation of sebum inside the sebaceous gland.

Extractions are helpful as it clears off the sebum. Doing it at a dermatologist clinic ensures sterility and removes the comedones in the correct way so that no marks and scars are formed. Forceful extractions and doing it for closed lesions can result in scarring. Also doing it at salons can push the lesions deeper and worsening can happen.

6. What Are the Various Oral Medicines for Acne ?

Oral medicines are in the form of antibiotics, hormones and oral iso-treti-noin.

These are prescribed when pre-dominant lesions are papules/pustules/nodules and in cases of adult acne.

7. Can I take Antibiotics When I Have Acne ?

Do not pop in antibiotics as self medications as it can result in antibiotic resistance that means the medicine will no more be effective. Always take advice from a dermatologist to start oral antibiotics in acne, suggests the expert acne doctor. The dosing and choice of this depends on your age, type of acne, site of acne, treatment history, etc.

8. Is Oral Iso-treti-noin the Best Medicine for Acne?

​​​Oral iso-treti-noin works well on acne and is prescribed in cases of moderate and severe acne. Many difficult and resistant patients respond to this medicine. This should never be taken without advice from your dermatologist. This medicine is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. Also, if you are planning to extend your family, avoid starting this medicine. Your dermatologist will advise you about contraception methods if you are in the childbearing age group. If you plan to extend your family in the near future, let your dermatologist know so that he can discuss the time frame. He might not give you this medicine if you don’t want to follow the methods of contraception.

9. How Do I Know If My Acne is Hormonal and Needs Hormonal Therapy?

There are many signs that indicate towards acne being hormonal.

  • Acne after the age of 25 years
  • Acne predominantly on lower face- chin, neck, and jawline
  • Abnormal menstrual cycles
  • Male pattern hair growth of the female face which is called hirsutism.

In such cases, your dermatologist will advise some investigations and also ultrasound to rule out Polycystic ovarian disease or any other hormonal abnormality.

10. Do I Need to Treat PCOD to Make Acne Better?

Polycystic ovarian disease or PCOD can result in abnormal hormonal profile, this in turn can result in acne which is also known as PCOD acne. A patient of acne with PCOD needs to be investigated to know the extent of hormonal issues and ultrasound of the pelvis to know the total volume of ovarian cysts. This helps decide treatment for PCOD, which in turn helps improve acne.

11. Which Procedures are Done for Acne Treatment?

Chemical peels, Comedones Extraction, Q-switch Laser are my top favorite procedures for acne, says, the best skin specialist in Faridabad of Skination Clinic. These also work on post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (left over marks on site of acne) and post acne erythema (leftover redness after acne heals).

Fractional laser, Microneedling radio frequency, microneedling, Pla-te-let rich plasma therapy, subscision and fillers are some of my top recommendations for acne scars (pits/loss of skin texture at the sites where acne has healed) treatment.

12. Which Chemical Peels Should I get Done for Acne?

  • Salicylic acid peel is for oily acne prone skin. It works well on both comedones and papulopustular acne.
  • Glycolic acid peels also improve acne and pigmentation caused due to acne.
  • When the lesions are predominantly pustules (pus filled lesions), mandelic acid peels work well.
  • Jessner’s peel gives good results but requires expertise and right patient selection.
  • Cocktail peels that have the combination of these ingredients, are widely used nowadays to get a holistic outcome in acne and marks .

Your dermatologist is the right person to decide about the type of peel, the concentration of peels, duration of application, number of layers to be applied, gap between the session and number of sessions needed.

Our skin specialist customizes peels for the patients at Skination so as to give the best possible outcome. Also in every session depending on how the face has responded, some changes are made in the following sessions.

13. What Foods Should I Avoid to Improve My Acne?

  • High glycemic index food is known to cause acne. These are the food items that release energy in the body at a faster pace. Thus there is release of in-su-lin like growth factors responsible for causing acne.
  • Many processed food items have high glycemic index, therefore avoiding junk food is a general advice given to patients of acne.
  • In dairy, skimmed milk can increase the occurrence of acne and thus if a patient feels that milk intake is resulting in acne, it's good to avoid the intake.
  • Role of chocolate and gluten is still controversial.

14. Will Dietary Changes Treat My Acne?

Diet can influence acne, though only a change in diet seldom treats it. Any food that you think is aggravating your acne should be avoided.

There are many more pointers on acne treatment, to know more details or to get the best acne treatment in Faridabad and South Delhi please visit our clinic Skination Clinic, to get consulted by the best acne doctor.

For more details go through the Skination Clinic website www.skination.co.in or pay a visit to the best skin clinic in Faridabad. Avail the great benefits now!

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