Clear Clinic Skin Care Blog

14Oct

Why Do I Have Adult Acne?

Posted in Adult Acne by Clear Clinic. | Leave a Comment

Most people assume that, by the time they reach their twenties, their acne days are behind them. The truth is that adult acne, which can present anytime and flare into your sixties, is a common phenomenon. Adult acne requires unique treatments that address the changing concerns of an adult patient – for example, the adult acne patient is concerned with anti-aging and getting rid of acne fast! The teenage patient want the acne gone, but often isn’t too stressed about it in the meantime.

The big question is, ‘Why do I have adult acne in the first place?’ Dr. Schweiger explains that, “As you become an adult and continue to age, the normal hormones in your body shift. For some people this results in greater sebum production, particularly for women, which can clog the pores and lead to the formation of a microcomedone. The microcomedone is the precursor to a true acne lesion.”

Although men often experience adult acne, the condition is more commonly seen in women. Patients with adult acne often benefit from a combination of prescription treatments and in-office laser and light-based treatments. Prescription medications, such as topical retinoids, not only treat acne, but also stimulate collagen production. For this reason, retinoids provide an anti-aging benefit as they fight acne. In-office laser and light-based acne treatments are popular treatments for adult acne, because they yield faster and more impressive results sooner than prescription medications. Treatments such as the Isolaz acne treatment and Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) can produce improve in active acne in as short as one week for some patients!

Click here to read more about adult acne.

14Oct

FAQ About Acne

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Do hormones play a part of the development of acne?

Yes, sex related hormones called “androgens” can contribute to the development of acne. In particular, androgens can effect the “sebum” (a.k.a. skin oil) production. Each hair follicle on your body has an associated “sebaceous gland’ (a.k.a. oil gland). These oil glands were put on our body to help us. They make sebum, which naturally protects and hydrates the skin. These oil-producing glands are also sensitive and responsive to androgens and when the body has an excess of androgens it’s like giving the oil glands a green light to produce more sebum. It’s when the skin sebum levels go up that you run into problems. Sebum is like a candy for the P. acnes bacteria; they eat it and grow off it. As sebum production increases, so does the proliferation of P. acnes bacteria and in turn acne breakouts. This is why one of the ways we treat acne is trying to decrease skin sebum levels.

Does acne run in families (is it genetic)?

A gene causing acne has not yet been found, but evidence shows us that acne likely has some genetic predilection. We find patients with a family history of severe acne are more likely to have severe acne themselves. But just because your mom or dad had acne, does not mean that you have to just accept fate. There are many actions to take to treat and manage acne breakouts regardless of family history.

Questions submitted by Clear Clinic patients for the upcoming ‘Clear Answers’ book.

14Oct

Top 5 Reasons to See a Dermatologist for Your Acne

Posted in Acne Scars, Acne Tips, Clear Clinic by . | Leave a Comment

Top 5 Reasons to See a Dermatologist for Your Acne:

There is no doubt about it, treating acne early can prevent the formation of permanent scarring. Even patients with very mild acne visit the Clear Clinic to begin using a simple anti-acne regimen, in order to prevent their acne from worsening and prevent the formation of acne scars. Many acne treatments, such as the topical retinoid Differin, are great for treating mild acne and can make your skin appear healthier and smoother at the same time.
Its not always acne! A condition called pityrosporum folliculitis can often mimic the appearance of acne, and even some acne specialists confuse the two conditions. Pityrosporum folliculitis is actually caused by yeast overgrowing in the hair follicles, which leads to the production of tiny bumps resembling comedonal acne. This condition must be treated differently than acne.
There are different types of acne. Its important to see an acne expert in order to determine what type of acne you have, though there is often significant overlap of inflammatory acne (pimples) and non-inflammatory acne (or comedones – often referred to as blackheads and whiteheads.) By seeing a dermatologist to treat your acne, they can prescribe you the best medications, and suggest the best in-office procedures when appropriate, to treat the specific type of acne you are experiencing.
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are not always sufficient. Although these two common OTC acne treatments have been proven to treat acne, the best acne regimens use a combination approach. For example, upon visiting the Clear Clinic, we may recommend that you continue using benzoyl peroxide, but suggest that you combine it with an oral medication and topical retinoid in the evening.
Prescription medication and in-office laser and light-based treatments work faster than other OTC acne regimens.

Click here to learn more about the treatment of acne at the Clear Clinic.

14Oct

How Fraxel Can Improve Your Acne Scars

Posted in Acne Scars, Fraxel Laser by .

The Fraxel laser treatment is an excellent treatment for improving your acne scars. Not only does the Fraxel laser improve the texture of pitted acne scars, but the Fraxel laser also addresses discoloration (in the form of brown and red marks from old acne) that lingers on the skin around pitted acne scars. So, how does the Fraxel laser work? Dr. Schweiger explains that, “The Fraxel laser treatment for acne scars works by sending a specific laser energy into a specific layer of the skin, where the production of healthy collagen is stimulated to fill in the pitted acne scars. Additionally, areas of redness and excess pigmentation are also addressed and replaced with healthy skin cells.”

Here is what you need to know about how the Fraxel works to improve your acne scars:

The Fraxel laser is non-ablative, meaning that its energy passes through the skin’s surface without breaking the skin’s surface. This translates to shorter downtime and fewer side effects than ablative skin resurfacing procedures.
A short series of treatment, at approximately one month intervals, is sufficient to see 60-80% improvement of acne scars.
Redness, dark spots, and pitted acne scars can all be addressed during the same series of Fraxel laser treatments.
No need to stay home for days after each treatment; your skin will look sunburned and swollen, so you may want to hold off on major work or social engagements for a few days, but you can certainly run errands and meet close friends. Many of our patients schedule their treatments on Friday and return to work Monday morning.

Click here to learn more about how Fraxel can improve your acne scars.

14Oct

Why You Need a Facial Cleansing Brush If You Have Acne

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Facial cleansing brushes, such as the Clarisonic brush, have increased in popularity substantially over the past few years. It’s hard not to notice all of the advertising trying to convince you to jump on the cleansing brush bandwagon. What many of the ads don’t specify, and your dermatologist can easily answer for you, is why you need a facial cleansing brush if you have acne. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Facial cleansing brushes work by a mechanism of sonic oscillation of more than 300 movements each second. This action allows cleansing brushes to clean out your pores more thoroughly than traditional cleanser and washcloth face washing.”

Acne forms by a variety of factors that work together to produce the undesirable result. A key part of acne formation is the formation of a microcomedone in the follicle when the follicle is clogged by excess sebum and debris. As a result, the acne-causing bacteria is attracted to the follicle and acne lesions may develop. The Clarisonic, and other cleansing brushes, block this portion of the acne formation cascade by cleaning out the skin’s follicles better than traditional cleansing. In studies completed by Clarisonic, six times more makeup was removed with the Clarisonic brush than by traditional cleansing. Additionally, the Clarisonic is exfoliating, meaning that anti-acne products may be better absorbed to the skin after its use, and your skin will appear brighter and healthier with regular use.

At the Clear Clinic, we feel that all of our acne patients can benefit from the use of a Clarisonic brush, in addition to their regular acne regimen.

Click here to learn more about facial cleansing brushes.

11Oct

How to Care for Dry Skin That’s Acne Prone

Posted in Acne At Home Treatments, Acne Tips by . | Leave a Comment

Caring for acne prone skin is tricky enough, but when your skin is also dry, it makes using traditional acne treatments more difficult. Many acne medications, particularly over the counter formulations and topical retinoids, can be drying to the skin. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “There are many options available for the treatment of acne in patients with dry skin. For these patients, we often utilize in-office treatments, such as LED Light or the Isolaz acne treatment, which do not cause dryness, and recommend topical medications and skin care products that will not cause excessive dryness. Additionally, we can often offer tips for skin care and use of new products that helps to prevent and treat dry skin in the first place.”

Here are a few tips for caring for dry skin that’s acne prone:

Don’t be afraid of laser treatments – Treatments, such as the Isolaz, can be extremely beneficial in clearing up your acne and preventing future acne flares without causing any dryness.
Moisturize in the morning and evening – Choose a moisturizer labeled “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic” and use it even when your skin is not feeling dry.
When applying topical acne medications, use only the size of a pea to treat the entire face. Applying moisturizer before and after applying the acne medication will help to prevent excessive dryness.
Use a cleansing brush – A cleansing brush, like the Clarisonic Pro, will exfoliate dry skin gently and clean out your pores, without causing irritation to dry, sensitive skin, like harsher exfoliating cleansers can do.

Click here to make an appointment at the Clear Clinic for treatment of your dry skin that’s acne prone.

11Oct

A Closer Look at Laser Genesis

Posted in Acne Scars, Uncategorized by . | Leave a Comment

Laser Genesis is an excellent treatment option for both acne scars and the redness left behind after old acne clear (called post-inflammatory erythema.) Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Laser Genesis is a 1064nm short-pulsed laser that is non-ablative, meaning it does not break the barrier of the skin. We use the Laser Genesis to treat rosacea, decrease the size of enlarged pores, improve the appearance of fine lines on the skin, and of course to treat acne scarring and the marks left from acne.”

The Laser Genesis works in two ways to improve acne scarring. The first mechanism collapses tiny, superficial blood vessels on the skin that produce the appearance of redness on the area of old acne lesions. The second mechanism promotes the production of healthy collagen to improve the texture of pitted acne scars. One of the great things about the Laser Genesis treatment is that it does not require any downtime and the treatment itself does not involve any discomfort.

You may continue your prescription and at-home acne treatments while undergoing the series of Laser Genesis treatments. Laser Genesis does not make your skin more sun sensitive or interact with any other treatments. After a series of Laser Genesis treatments, dramatic improvement is seen in both the texture and tone of your skin. Laser Genesis is an exciting treatment, because it addresses many factors that lead to the appearance of marks and scarring on the skin. There is no need for separate treatments to address redness and shallow scars; both issues can be treated simultaneously with the treatment.

Click here to learn more about the Laser Genesis.

9Oct

Safe Acne Treatments During Pregnancy

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During pregnancy, you have enough on your mind without worrying about how to stop your acne from flaring! Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Some medications and acne treatments are actually clinically proven to be safe during pregnancy. We are cautious when treating our pregnant patients, often waiting to begin treatment with prescriptions until after the 1st trimester of pregnancy is completed. However, there are great options for acne treatment during pregnancy that all women should be aware of.”

Safe Acne Treatments During Pregnancy:

Finacea: Finacea (made of azeleic acid, which is derived from wheat) is a pregnancy category B medication. Pregnancy category B means that no studies in animals or humans have shown a risk to a developing fetus.
Isolaz laser: The Isolaz laser is an in-office treatment that is safe during pregnancy. The Isolaz acne treatment uses a broad-spectrum light to kill the p. acnes bacteria that causes acne and uses a gentle vacuum to clean out acne-causing debris from the pores.
Medical extractions: Medical extractions, when performed by a licensed aesthetician, are safe during pregnancy. An aesthetician will steam your skin and gentle clean out the clogged pores, blackheads, and whiteheads that have developed.
Red & Blue LED light: LED light is anti-inflammatory and helped to reduce the redness from acne lesions.
Clarisonic brush: The Clarisonic cleansing brush can be used at home to keep the pores clean. Apply a bit of gentle cleanser to the brush and use it to clean the skin on your face once daily.

Click here to learn more about safe acne treatments during pregnancy.

9Oct

Treating Acne in Your 20s

Posted in Adult Acne by capacitr. | Leave a Comment

When acne shows up during your 20’s, it can be confusing. Most people thought they were in the clear if they never developed teenage acne, or that they had already battled acne during their teenage years and had moved forward. Acne in your 20’s is much more common than many people realize – at least 25% of the patients who visit the Clear Clinic are in their 20’s! Dr. Schweiger notes that, “Treating acne in your 20’s is similar in many ways to treating acne at other times in your life. However, there are also some unique factors that must be addressed when treating acne in 20-30 year old patients. They are often working full-time and cannot afford to wait for results; additionally, female patients may need to address the hormonal influences that cause acne in their 20’s.”

Here is what to know about treating acne in your 20s:

In-office laser and light-based treatments (such as Photodynamic Therapy and the Isolaz acne laser) can clear up acne faster than prescription treatments alone. For patients who want to get rid of acne quickly, these treatments are the best first step.
Hormonal changes for women often result in an adult acne flare. Medications like oral contraceptive pills (birth control) can be helpful, as well as a pill called Spironolactone. Spironolactone is used off-label to block the androgen receptor (the spot where the male hormone binds), in order to block the hormonal influence leading to acne.
Retinoids are often helpful for treating acne in your 20’s, as they not only clean out the pores, but they prevent the development of fine lines on the skin.

Click here to learn more about treating adult acne.

9Oct

Why Acne Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

Posted in Adult Acne, Teenage Acne by . | Leave a Comment

A common complaint of many patients beginning an acne regimen is that their acne gets worse before it gets better. This is not always the case, but can be frustrating for those patients who do experience the initial acne flare. According to Dr. Schweiger, “When we begin treating acne, there are already acne lesions developing in the skin. Although prescription acne medications stop the development of new acne, the treatments can not always halt the emergence of preexisting acne on the skin.” Medications like topical retinoids (examples include Retin-A, Tazorac, and Differin) get a particularly bad rap for causing an initial acne flare. The reason for this is that retinoids stimulate skin cell turnover, removing all of the skin cells that are clogging the follicles and attracting acne-causing bacteria. As the skin cells turnover, sometimes this brings out inflammation in the skin and causes acne to flare at that time.

Many of our patients avoid the initial acne flare by undergoing in-office laser and light-based treatments, which aggressively treat acne in order to get faster improvement than with prescription acne medications alone. Treatments such as Photodynamic Therapy and the Isolaz acne treatment treat both active acne and prevent future acne flares. These treatments often work faster than prescription treatments, so many of our patients choose to undergo a short series of these treatments soon after their first visit to the Clear Clinic. It is safe and encouraged to use prescription medications simultaneously while undergoing in-office laser acne treatments.

Click here to learn more about in-office laser and light-based treatments for acne.

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