If you’re struggling with acne, you’re not alone. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, and Americans deal with acne at all ages.
Though acne is nothing to be ashamed of, big lesions and uneven skin can feel embarrassing. You might be trying different at-home solutions, but acne is difficult to treat, and different types require different methods of treatment.
That’s why at Manhattan Dermatology, our cosmetic and general dermatologists are here to help you find relief from acne. We offer top-of-the-line treatments for acne at our Murray Hill and Midtown East, New York, offices, including topical, oral, and laser therapy.
Take a moment to find out more about how we can help you with your acne troubles.
The first step in helping treat your acne is understanding what acne is and what is causing your breakouts. Several different triggers can spur an acne outbreak, but all acne is the result of blocked pores.
Pimples and blemishes appear when you have a buildup of blocked oil (sebaceous) glands, sebum, and skin debris that clog your skin pores and follicles. Sebum is a natural lubricant your body produces to lubricate your skin, and skin debris might include dirt, dead skin, and bacteria.
The reason behind this buildup is different for every person. Some people experience acne when there’s a change in their body’s hormone production. Other triggers include:
Hormonal acne is most common in the teenage years and can occur during menopause and pregnancy, too.
You may not know that there are different types of acne as well as different triggers. We at Manhattan Dermatology help you understand which type of acne you have, because treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis.
There are two main types of acne: noninflammatory and inflammatory.
Noninflammatory acne blocks your pores and causes comedones, bumps with white tips on your skin. It presents as blackheads and whiteheads and is an easy-to-treat, mild form of acne.
Inflammatory acne is usually triggered by bacteria and results in epidermal swelling and inflammation. There’s more than one type of inflammatory acne, with some on the moderate end and others more severe, including:
Cystic acne and nodules are the most severe types of acne and are the most difficult to treat, while papules and pustules are more moderate.
Treating acne starts with diagnosing the type of acne you have. We carefully evaluate your skin to determine the type of acne you have, as well as the trigger behind it.
With this information, we develop a customized treatment plan for your acne goals. Mild acne may resolve with at-home treatment like over-the-counter topical creams and soaps with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and sulfur.
If your acne is moderate or severe, we prescribe different therapies best suited to treat it. Your plan may include one or a combination of:
Whatever type of acne you have or treatment method you follow, stop touching your face and acne lesions. This is the most important step in clearing acne, because touching acne perpetuates the cycle of clogged pores and follicles.
If you want to find out more about how we can help put an end to your acne, we’re just a call or click away. Schedule an appointment over the phone or use our online booking tool for a consultation at one of our two offices in Manhattan, New York City.
