Clear Clinic Skin Care Blog

20Sep

How Many Acne Products Should You be Using?

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When you have acne, chances are you’re so eager to get red of the pimples, that you’ll try anything and everything. Sometimes that means layering on gobs and gobs of acne products. We’ve heard stories of acne patients trying every acne remedy they can get their hands on. This is not a smart approach for multiple reasons. Using too many acne products with active ingredients like salicylic acid, sulfur and benzoyl peroxide will cause excessive dryness, redness and peeling on the skin. Plus you won’t know which product is or is not working.

So what should your acne regimen look like? There should be a combination of complimentary products that work together to simultaneously clear up and soothe your already inflamed skin. At Clear Clinic in New York, we suggest a gentle cleanser that removes makeup and other dirt and impurities with soothing ingredients. The next step should be a treatment product, such as prescription of Differin or Epiduo. For your morning routine, the final step is applying a combination moisturizer/sunscreen, ideally with green tea to fight free radicals as well as protect from UVA and UVB rays. At night, smooth on an oil-free, but hydrating moisturizer over your treatment product. If you feel a huge pimple growing under the surface, you will want to spot treat once during the day. And then that’s it. Anything more will be overdoing it.

19Sep

New Filler for Acne Scarring

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The dermal filler Artefill, which is now used to plump up areas of the face to smooth out wrinkles, might soon be approved for use as an acne scar corrector. The testing phase is still underway, but if it gets approve, Artefill will be the first and only dermal filler approved and on the market for the treatment of acne scars. This is great news for those who suffer from acne scarring, which is up to 40 percent of teens.

Acne scars occur when cystic acne is left untreated or when you pick or pop pimples on the skin. The best way to avoid getting an acne scar is by booking an appointment with a dermatologist, such as our board-certified dermatologists at Clear Clinic in New York City. If you already have acne scars, which can be embarrassing and hard to cover, Clear Clinic has many different treatment options, including:

Focal Acne Scar Treatment (F.A.S.T)

F.A.S.T. is a treatment pioneered by Dr. Schweiger at Clear Clinic in New York. It uses the Fractional CO2 Laser in such a way that higher energy is used to focus on only the acne scars on the face. In just one treatment, scars are successfully treated.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion will help treat the discoloration involved with acne scars. It will also help even out the skin, by sloughing off the top layer of dead skin cells.

Laser Genesis

Laser Genesis reduces redness and greatly improves the skin’s texture and tone. Laser Genesis works by collapsing the superficial blood vessels that present as redness on the skin, it also helps to stimulates the production of collagen. There’s no downtime with Laser Genesis.

19Sep

Best Face Wash for Acne

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Many of our patients ask us, “What is the best face wash for acne?” For mild acne, adding in a medicated face wash to your skin care routine is sometimes enough to fight off the development of acne. For those with moderate or more severe acne, a medicated face wash is often not enough to treat acne completely – though it can still be a valuable part of the skin care routine. Dr. Schweiger notes that, “The most effective facial cleansers for acne prone skin contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide is antibacterial, meaning that it helps to kill the p. acnes bacteria that can lead to the formation of acne. Salicylic acid helps to clean out clogged pores and reduce the formation of blackheads and whiteheads on the skin.”

Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid cleansers are available in many strengths. Dr. Schweiger formulated a benzoyl peroxide cleanser specifically for acne on the body (called AttackBack Wash.) This cleanser is strong enough to fight the p. acnes bacteria living on the chest and back, but is gentle enough to use on the face. Salicylic acid cleansers can be easily found in any drugstore. Most people can benefit most from using these medicated cleansers once a day, and using a cleansing brush once a day. A cleansing brush, such as the Clarisonic brush, can be used with a gentle cleanser to manually remove dirt and grime from the pores that regular cleansing cannot address. Most cleansing brushes are waterproof, meaning that they can be used in the shower to clean the back and chest if necessary.

Click here to read more about the best face washes for acne.

18Sep

Do At-Home Blue Lights Work?

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Blue Light has been a staple of acne treatment for many years. Blue (LED) Light not only kills the p. acnes bacteria that causes acne, but can reduce inflammation on the skin. At the Clear Clinic, we often combine blue light with a medication called aminolevulinic acid, which is activated by the blue light to decrease sebum production in addition to killing the p. acne bacteria. Most patients visit the Clear Clinic once a week for their blue light treatments, but they often inquire about what they can do at home. Between office visits and blue light treatments, nearly all of our patients use prescription medications, but not everyone knows how effective the at-home version of their favorite in-office treatment can be.

So, do at-home blue lights work? Dr. Schweiger explains that, “The answer is yes. We find that at-home blue light treatments can boost the efficacy of in-office light treatments when used between visits or provide an effective alternative for in-office light treatments for patients who can’t make it into the office regularly. Studies completed on the Tria Blue Light Device showed a 70% acne reduction in just two weeks.”

The Tria and the Tanda blue light devices are the most commonly used blue light devices. They have small differences (size, length of use, shape), but they both have excellent studies to prove the effectiveness of at-home blue light devices. Dr. Schweiger recommends that patients with acne use a blue light device daily. Both the Tria and Tanda blue light devices are available at the Clear Clinic in NYC.

Click here to learn more about at-home blue light devices.

18Sep

Talking to Your Teen About Your Acne in New York

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Most people will experience acne breakouts in their lifetime. In fact, nearly 100% of teens will have to deal with acne. In some cases it’s just the occasional–but no less embarrassing–pimple, while for others it’s severe, cystic acne. Dealing with bad skin can feel like a very alienating and lonely experience and when it’s your teenage child dealing with those feelings, it can be incredibly disturbing to parents. Bringing up the subject of acne with your teen can be very delicate. Here, Clear Clinic New York’s tips on how to approach the acne conversation with your teen:

Tread lightly: It’s most likely that your teen feels self-conscious about their skin if they’re suffering from acne. Start by asking your child how his skincare has been going and if they are looking for any help with it.

Make an appointment with a dermatologist at Clear Clinic: A recent study showed that most teens do not seek medical help for their acne. The only way to get your teen the help they need is by making the appointment for them.

Find an acne skin care regimen that works for them: Clear Clinic will help you and your teen find an acne regimen that is easy to follow and maintain. You will leave Clear Clinic with a detailed plan of action to get their skin its clearest.

14Sep

What Makes Acne Worse

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There are many factors that can lead to an acne breakout, but it can be hard memorizing exactly what all of those potential causes are and why you should avoid them. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases recently came out with examples of different factors that may make your acne worse. Here’s a look at some of their examples, plus Clear Clinic’s advice on how to remedy these acne aggravators:

Acne aggravator: Hormonal changes related to menstruation.

What to do about it: A 2004 study in the Archives of Dermatology showed 63% of acne-prone women experienced premenstrual acne flare-ups. Premenstrual breakouts are most likely caused by the surge of hormones in the body. When it’s nearing time for your next period, take special care that you are keeping on track of your prescribed acne skin care regimen. With Clear Clinic’s 360 degree approach to acne treatment, we have our female patients lessen their dairy intake when it comes time for their periods, as milk is naturally loaded with hormones. We also have our female acne sufferers come into Clear Clinic for Isolaz Acne Therapy or Blue Light Therapy treatment.

Acne aggravator: Exposure to oil in skincare products

What to do about it: If you have acne-prone skin, it’s important to make sure that all of your skincare products say either “non-comedogenic” or “non acnegenic.” There are certain oils, such as mineral oil, that can contribute to pore blockage and the formation of a pimple. You also want to make sure that your hair products do not get on your skin, as those contain oils that may clog the pores as well

Acne aggravator: Picking at your pimples

What to do about it: The obvious solution is not to pick at your pimples! But we know that’s easier said than done. If you feel a pimple forming, the best thing you can do for it is to apply a spot treatment. If you simply must get rid of that zit by this week, book an appointment for a cortisone shot.

14Sep

F.A.S.T. treatment is the fastest treatment for acne scars

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The F.A.S.T. treatment is an acne scar treatment, developed by Dr. Schweiger, that he has found to be the fastest treatment for acne scars. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “F.A.S.T. is an acronym for Focal Acne Scar Treatment, meaning that during the treatment, only focal areas of acne scarring are treated. Using the Fractional CO2 Laser, we target only the localized areas of acne scarring. Since we do not treat the entire surface of the face, we are able to use higher energy levels, for a more effective treatment with fewer side effects.”

The F.A.S.T. treatment is only performed at the Clear Clinic at Schweiger Dermatology. During your visit, we will apply a topical numbing agent to your skin for approximately one hour. The treatment itself takes fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on the surface area being treated. The numbing medication works very well, our patients do not feel pain during the treatment. Immediately after the treatment, we will review post-treatment instructions and provide you with all of the necessary supplies. Patients should plan for 3-4 days of redness, swelling and crusting over the treated areas, though this is a vast improvement over the 5-7 days of downtime necessary for a more traditional full face Fractional CO2 laser acne scar treatment.

During the one week follow-up appointment, most patients are already noticing improvement in the depth of their acne scars. Most patients experience a 50-70% improvement in acne scarring, and the improvement continues to get better for up to six months following the single treatment.

Click here to read more about the F.A.S.T. treatment for acne scars.

13Sep

Where Can I Get a Cortisone Injection Near Union Square?

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The Clear Clinic has recently opened its doors just north of Union Square. Dermatologists and board-certified dermatology PA’s are available at the Clear Clinic on 19th St in Manhattan. If you need a cortisone injection in downtown NYC, you’re in luck! These dermatologists and dermatology PA’s specialize in acne and can take care of your unwanted pimple in just a few minutes.

So, now you know the answer to “where can I get a cortisone injection near Union Square,” and the next question is, “what is a cortisone injection anyhow?” Dr. Schweiger, founder of the Clear Clinic, explains, “Cortisone injections are a quick in-office procedure to flatten out unwanted inflammatory acne. A small diluted amount of a steroid medication is injected directly into the pimple. Over the next 24-48 hours, the medication has its anti-inflammatory effect on the pimple, which causes it to flatten out completely.”

Cortisone injections can be performed on the same day that you request an appointment. It is important to use a proper regimen to prevent acne. We often recommend a combination of laser and light therapy (such as PDT or Isolaz acne treatment) and prescription medications. However, even patients who are using acne medications may find that they have a breakthrough pimple once in a while, and that’s when they can benefit greatly from a cortisone injection.

There is now a dedicated acne center to visit for your skin care needs and acne treatment, in addition to cortisone injections for acne in downtown NYC.

Click here to read more about the services available at the Clear Clinic.

12Sep

Can Whey Protein Cause Acne?

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An article published in the September 2012 Cutis Journal described a case study of five teenage boys who took whey protein supplements for weight gain and muscle building. Shortly after initiation of whey protein supplementation, these boys experienced an onset on acne that they did not previously experience. These five teenage boys were treated with traditional acne treatments, including retinoids, oral antibiotics, and benzoyl peroxide, but did not see improvement on any of these treatment regimens. After stopping whey protein supplementation, the acne quickly resolved in four of the boys. Upon restarting whey protein supplementation, acne returned in one of the boys.

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “These case studies are exciting because they exhibit a possible link between acne and dairy consumption. We have seen in other studies that dairy may have a possible link to the formation of acne, but did not know exactly which component of dairy products was to blame. Although more studies are necessary to determine not only the link between dairy and acne, but the link between whey protein and acne, this case study helps us to see one of the possible causes of acne in teenage boys.”

It is important to begin treatment for acne promptly, before permanent scarring occurs. Treatments for acne include retinoids (such as Retin-A Micro, Tazorac, Differin, Atralin), benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin combinations medications (including Benzaclin, Duac, Acanya), oral antibiotics (including Doryx, Solodyn, minocycline, doxycycline, azithromycin), isotretinoin (Accutane), and in-office laser and light therapy (which works more quickly than prescription medications. In-office treatments include Photodynamic Therapy, Blue Light Therapy, Red Light Therapy, Isolaz Acne Treatment, medical extractions and IPL.)

Click here to read more about diet and acne.

Click here to read the abstract from the whey protein case studies.

12Sep

Is Dairy Good or Bad For Acne?

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It used to be that any correlation between acne and diet was pooh-poohed by medical professionals. But new research showing that there just may be more truth to the acne and diet theory, has doctors and patients reexamining their data. Observational studies and clinical trials performed in the last few years have shown that those people with a diet higher in sugar and carbohydrates had more acne. Dairy is also a huge culprit in acne, as it boosts the male sex hormones (testosterone and androgens) and increases insulin levels, which leads to acne breakouts.

The benefits of dairy consumption has been up for debate for many years by those working in the field of nutrition. Milk is good for babies and young children, as it aids in growth. But do healthy adults really need to drink milk? You see, milk is naturally full of hormones, so even if you’re buying organic or raw milk, you’re still getting the naturally occurring hormones found in milk. Do we really need to be adding more hormones to our bodies? Probably not.

There was a well known Nurse’s Health Study that looked at the health habits of 47,000 nurses, it found that the women who drank more milk as teenagers had much higher rates of severe acne than those who had little or no milk as teenagers. Other studies conducted of 10,000 boys and girls from ages 9 to 15 years old found a direct link between the amount of milk consumed and the severity of acne. So what action can you take? Try swapping your regular milk for almond milk and cut your overall dairy intake in half.

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