As the most common chronic skin condition, acne affects about 50 million Americans at any given time.
Whether it takes the form of frequent pimples, long-lasting blemishes, or painful inflammatory breakouts, persistent acne can leave you with damaged skin and emotional distress.
At Manhattan Dermatology, our board-certified experts can get to the root of the problem and provide a targeted treatment plan to end your breakouts for good, whether your trouble with acne began in adulthood or you’ve been battling blemishes since adolescence.
Widely regarded as a problem of youthful skin — 85% of adolescents and young adults aged 12-24 deal with acne at some point — blemish breakouts affect many young and middle-aged adults, too.
The term “adult acne” refers to acne breakout cycles that continue — or emerge for the first time — after the age of 25. Stress and hormonal changes make women particularly prone to acne breakouts in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.
Acne develops when pores become congested with natural skin oils (sebum) and dead epidermal cells. Whether you’re 15 or 35, all acne develops in four basic steps:
Basically, clogged pores trigger the breakout of pus-filled surface acne lesions, which may be mild and fast-clearing (pimples, blackheads, whiteheads) or severe, inflamed, long-lasting, and even scarring (papules, nodules, cysts).
Several contributing factors can set the stage for acne breakouts or worsen existing blemishes. These include:
In some cases, adult acne is a side effect of an underlying hormone (endocrine) disorder, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In such cases, treating the underlying problem is essential for resolving breakouts.
As persistent as acne may be, it’s also highly treatable. There’s a lot you can do to clear away lesions, minimize future breakouts, and prevent skin discoloration and scarring.
Your personal treatment protocol depends on the type and severity of your acne, but most people benefit from a combination of custom skin care recommendations, oral medication and/or prescription-strength topical treatments, and in-office skin renewal therapies.
Most acne responds well to prescription-strength gels and creams with various active ingredients. These products target acne in different ways:
Topical tretinoin, a retinoid that prevents clogged pores by promoting faster skin cell turnover, is another effective topical option for mild to moderate acne.
In conjunction with your topical acne care, we may prescribe a long-term course of oral antibiotics like tetracyclines for a few months to help kill the bacteria that perpetuates the acne breakout cycle.
Women with hormonally driven acne often see improved skin clearing with a combined hormonal contraceptive medication like the pill. Women with PCOS may benefit from hormone therapy to control excess androgen levels.
Severe, hard-to-treat acne may only improve with isotretinoin (Accutane®) an oral medication that reduces sebum production to promote prolonged acne clearance.
Managing acne and preventing breakouts also requires simple, nonirritating skin care products and a solid skin care routine. This means:
It also means keeping your hands away from your face — never pick at or pop pimples — and protecting your skin from the sun, as acne treatment can increase sun sensitivity.
When your skin needs extra support, we may recommend an in-office skin renewal treatment. A light chemical peel can treat existing acne and help fade post-inflammatory pigment changes that mar your complexion; laser resurfacing can improve skin tone and texture after complete acne clearance.
Whatever your acne treatment plan entails, we aim to help you eliminate breakouts, brighten your complexion, and improve the texture of your skin.
Are you ready for clear, acne-free skin? We can help. Contact the nearest Manhattan Dermatology office in the Murray Hill or Midtown East neighborhoods of Manhattan, New York City, today.
