Acne FAQs
What Is Acne?
If there's one thing you can count on as a young adult, it's acne. More than 85% of young adults suffer from this skin problem, which is marked by clogged pores (whiteheads, blackheads), painful pimples, and, sometimes, hard, deep lumps on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms.
What Causes Acne?
The pores in your skin contain oil glands. Excess hormones cause the oil glands to become overactive, enlarge, and produce too much oil, or sebum. When there is too much sebum, the pores or hair follicles become blocked with skin cells. The increase in oil also results in an overgrowth of bacteria.
If blocked pores become infected or inflamed, a pimple -- a raised red spot with a white center -- forms. If the pore clogs, closes, and then bulges, you have a whitehead. A blackhead occurs when the pore clogs, stays open, and the top has a blackish appearance due to oxidation or exposure to air.
When bacteria grow in the blocked pore, a pustule may appear, meaning the pimple becomes red and inflamed. Cysts form when the blockage and inflammation deep inside pores produce large, painful lumps beneath the skin's surface.
Hormonal changes related to birth control pills, menstrual periods, and pregnancy can trigger acne. Other external acne triggers include heavy face creams and cosmetics, hair dyes, and greasy hair ointment -- all of which can increase blockage of pores.
What Are the Symptoms of Acne?
While the symptoms vary in severity, you will notice these signs on areas of the body with the most oil glands. (the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms)
The least severe type of acne lesion is the whitehead or blackhead. This type is also the most easily treated.
Treatment FAQs
How Is Acne Treated?
The treatment usually depends on how serious the problem is. We use the following, often in combination for the best effect when our clients' Skin Type allows for them to fully benefit from the advantages that each method has to offer.
- Retinol
- Lactic acid
- Glycolic acid
- Salicylic acid
- Photorejuvenation using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
- Laser skin rejuvenation using Advanced Fluorescence Technology (AFT)
While Accutane is highly favored by dermatologists, we do not use it in our practice simply because we know there are other elegant solutions that you can use successfully that clients should try before using Accutane as a last resort. Oral antibiotics have been linked to depression. Pregnant women or women who might become pregnant cannot use this medication, as it is linked with birth defects. Accutane can give people very dry skin, eye dryness, and irritation, and requires blood tests to monitor for liver inflammation. It is also very expensive. Its use is best restricted to the severest cases, for which other treatments have not worked.
Can Acne Be Prevented?
Whether you have a few pimples, or more serious acne, talk to us about treatments. Treating acne early is the key to avoiding permanent scarring.
How do I know which treatments or products are suitable for me?
Great question! We show our clients how to save money and time by categorizing them into one of 16 possible Skin Types, with each Skin Type uniquely suitable for certain products and treatments that do not necessarily have to be the most expensive ones available.
Our facility is the only one to offer such a benefit and you also have the option of completing your treatment with Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup, the only makeup that heals skin while giving wonderful coverage. We have a full size testing counter that is always buzzing with clients trying out this alternative to the traditionally heavier liquid and cream based products.
Read our blog for the latest acne case studies and techniques that we employ to treat this issue.
Results Before And After
