Your Acne Treatment Options

Most people think of acne as a teen skin condition, but the reality is that it can happen to anyone from children to adults. It can make you very self-conscious and, especially for teens, can affect self-esteem. If you are in need of a dermatologist in Scotia, NY, Dr. Sheryl Miller, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, offers treatments to help you with your acne.

Before determining what options will work best for your particular acne, Dr. Miller will seek to determine what is causing your acne. Causation is important when deciding what type of treatment will work best. No matter what the cause or the treatment option, it is important to remember acne treatments, no matter which ones, take time to work. There is no magic bullet that will cure it overnight.

Minor Acne Outbreak

For a minor acne outbreak, home treatment with the addition of over-the-counter medication can help clear it up. The most common causes are stress, hormones, diet, and genetics. Keeping your skin clean and moisturized helps. You will want to use one that will not clog the pores.

Mild acne means the occasional outbreak of one of the three types of acne; blackheads, whiteheads, and small pimples. If your acne gets increasingly worse, it is time to make an appointment with our dermatologist in Scotia, NY.

Treatment Provided by Our Dermatologist

Retinoids

Retinoids have been around since the 1970s when the FDA first approved tretinoin. It helps pores from clogging and causing acne scars. Our dermatologist can prescribe topical retinoids or as an oral treatment for severe acne. Lower levels are available in many OTC treatments as well.

Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide treats the bacteria on the skin. It is available OTC, but it is also available as a prescription medication. It is a topical antibiotic but, unlike some oral antibiotics, it doesn't cause any resistance no matter how long it is used. Studies have shown that it works best in combination with retinoids and that, together, the two work better than either alone, according to the NIH.

Accutane

If you have a case of severe cystic acne, Accutane is an oral type of retinoid that can help to dry the sebum when other methods have proven unsuccessful.

Contact Dr. Miller when you are in need of a dermatologist in Scotia, NY. Give our office a call to set up an appointment for an evaluation at (518) 536-3151.