Acne

Manhattan Dermatology

General, Surgical, & Cosmetic Dermatology & Mohs Surgery located in Midtown East, New York, NY

Getting your first pimple is almost a rite of passage for pre-teens and teens, but acne can persist well into adulthood. Whether you’re in middle school, high school, or menopause, the expert general and cosmetic dermatologists at Manhattan Dermatology in New York City’s Murray Hill and Midtown East help you to control outbreaks and keep your skin healthy. The team offers cutting-edge laser, topical, and oral therapies that are custom-designed to your needs. If you live or work in Midtown Manhattan, contact Manhattan Dermatology today by phone or use the online form.

Acne Q & A

Why do I still have acne?

Whether you’ve been self-treating teenage acne or are still battling acne in your adult years, you’re probably frustrated with how little effect your efforts have. Acne is a skin disease that’s triggered by many factors, including the balance of hormones in your body.

What causes acne?

Acne tends to arise when your body produces more male hormones, such as testosterone. That’s why acne is common during years associated with hormonal changes, such as puberty and menopause.

Androgens stimulate the production of sebum, which is a waxy substance that protects your skin. When there’s too much sebum in your follicles, the follicles can’t shed dead skin cells. Instead, the excess sebum and dead cells form clumps that erupt into lesions called comedones (blackheads and whiteheads).

The bacteria that live on your skin — Propionibacterium acnes — can get trapped in the clogged follicles, too, where they begin to increase in number. These excess P acnes cause your skin to erupt into red, inflamed lesions such as pimples and cysts.

How can I treat acne?

The most important way you can treat your acne is by keeping your hands off your lesions. That means no squeezing, scrubbing, or washing your face more than twice a day. You can damage your skin if you handle it too roughly, and you won’t cure your acne, either.

Because acne has a number of causes, over-the-counter treatments aren’t usually enough to keep your skin clear. If you have a mild case of acne, look for ingredients that dry up excess oil or help your skin shed dead cells, such as: