Clear Clinic Skin Care Blog

31Jul

How to Acne-Proof Your Diet

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Many in the medical field have long held the belief that diet and acne breakouts are completely unrelated. And for a while that made sense. After all, acne is caused from clogged pores and an abundance of sebum production. Who would think that certain foods may be responsible for causing that? Well, guess what? More and more studies are coming out disproving what the professionals have held as gospel–that diet may actually be a trigger for acne.

This is both good news and bad news. Good news because, now those who suffer from acne can take more control of their situation with specific food choices. Bad news because the majority of the population eats the foods that are now being attributed to acne breakouts on a regular basis. At Clear Clinic, we want to not only treat the acne you already have, but prevent future acne breakouts from ever occurring. This is why we want to get to the root cause of your skin issues. Just as stress can cause acne due to hormone surges, so can the wrong food choices.

So what are the foods that can cause acne? Studies are showing that diets with a high-glycemic index (white breads, cereals, candy) as well as dairy may be responsible for acne breakouts. What happens when you eat a high-carbohydrate, high-glycemic food is that it triggers the body to produce more of the insulin hormone. The condition of elevated levels of insulin in the body are referred to as “hyperinsulinemia.” This leads to increased levels of androgen in the body, the main hormone responsible for acne. Dairy may also be a contributing factor to acne breakouts, also having to do with elevating levels of hormones in the body.

31Jul

Fastest Acne Treatment

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By the time patients visit the Clear Clinic, they have often tried numerous acne treatments at home and sometimes they have even visited other dermatologists. When they see us, they want their acne gone quickly. The truth is that, even though prescription medications can be very effective for treating acne, they can take two to four weeks to even START working! That is a long time to wait when you want your acne gone yesterday.

Luckily, there is a faster option available for our patients at the Clear Clinic. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “We often recommend a combination of laser and light treatments, which are performed in the office, to be used together with prescription medications for the most comprehensive acne treatment regimen. Patients undergoing a series of laser and light treatments will often see improvement after their first or second treatment. The is the fastest acne treatment available.”

For most patients, Dr. Schweiger and the other practitioners at the Clear Clinic recommend a combination of Photodynamic Therapy, Red and Blue LED Light Therapy, and the Isolaz Laser. The most popular package of treatments is called the Moderate Acne Package. It is a series of five treatments, performed each week for five weeks. Some patients require a more specialized package, often including a medical facial, chemical peel, or IPL treatment. Clear Clinic prides itself on its large variety of laser and light treatments for acne. Each patient will receive an acne regimen specific to the needs of their skin.

Click here to read more about laser and light treatments for acne available at the Clear Clinic.

30Jul

Body Acne Treatments

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You expose your face to the world every day, but during the summer months your back and chest are also on display. These areas are often ignored during the winter months, so it is important to know how to whip them into shape when necessary. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “A combination of a simple prescription regimen, a quick series of in-office treatments, and regular use of an at-home device will help most patients keep their chest and back acne-free all summer long.”

Here is what you need to know about acne treatments for the body:

Prescription medications, such as oral antibiotics and topical combination medications, can help to clear acne on the chest and back. These medications can often be taken and applied once daily, so it is easy to stick to the prescription regimen. Your dermatologist will review the most effective acne medications for your body.
In-office treatments, such as the Isolaz acne treatment and chemical peels, can be very effective treatments for body acne. These in-office treatments often help to clear acne faster than prescription medications can work. Additionally, these in-office treatments will lighten marks left behind from old acne, as they work towards clearing active acne.
At-home devices, such as the Clarisonic cleansing brush and the Tria Blue LED light, can fight acne in between visits to the office. The Clarisonic brush helps to keep pores clean. The Tria Blue LED light is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory; it can boost the efficacy of in-office light treatments with only five minutes of daily use.

Click here to learn more about treatments available for acne on the chest and back.

27Jul

F.A.S.T. Scar Treatment

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As summer continues to fly by, and the school year is quickly approaching, it is time to get rid of those deep acne scars. Luckily, Dr. Schweiger has developed a technique called the F.A.S.T. Scar Treatment, for improvement of pitted acne scars. The F.A.S.T. treatment stands for Focal Acne Scar Treatment. This technique uses high laser energy levels to treat only the deep scars.

Previous laser acne scar treatments utilized lower energy level to cover the entire face. Dr. Schweiger developed the F.A.S.T. Acne Scar Treatment for his patients with only focal areas of acne scarring. He notes that, “Our patients are seeing very quick improvement, sometimes up to 50% improvement when they return for their one week follow up visit. Older techniques of laser acne scar treatments yielded nice results, usually around 50% improvement total, but did not produce dramatic improvement until up to six months after the treatment. The F.A.S.T. technique allows us to treat aggressively, in order to produce a 50-70% improvement of acne scars very quickly.”

The Fractional CO2 laser, which is used to perform the F.A.S.T. acne scar procedure, uses tiny columns of energy to stimulate the skin’s production of its own collagen. Even though the new F.A.S.T. technique yields fast results for acne scars, the results continue to improve for up to six months, as more collagen is produced. The F.A.S.T. treatment for acne scars has one other advantage over traditional fractional resurfacing treatment; our patients experience much shorter downtime after their treatment. Traditional full-face Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing has ten days of downtime, while patients treated with the F.A.S.T. technique of acne scar resurfacing experience an average of five days of downtime.

Click here to read more about he F.A.S.T. scar treatment for pitted acne scars.

26Jul

Does Sunscreen Cause Acne?

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Acne develops as a result of many factors: increased sebum production results in the formation of a microcomedone, which attracts the p. acnes bacteria. Does sunscreen play any role in this sequence? Does sunscreen cause acne? The answer is that sunscreen does not cause acne, as long as you choose the correct sunscreen. That greasy sport sunscreen gel that you apply to your legs is probably not the best choice when it comes to choosing a sunscreen for the acne-prone skin on your face.

As with moisturizers and makeup, a sunscreen for the face should be labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. These phrases indicate that the product inside the packaging (in this case, the sunscreen itself) has been scientifically proven not to contribute to the formation of a microcomedone. If a microcomedone does not form, the p. acnes bacteria doesn’t congregate in the pores and lead to the development of acne.

Next time you walk outside, remember to apply a daily sunscreen prior to any sun exposure. Daily use of sun protection can decrease your risk of skin cancer and prevent the development of premature aging. Daily use of a proper sunscreen will not lead to the development of acne. In fact, many acne treatments and acne medications cause mild sun sensitivity. It is important to protect your skin from excessive sun damage while using these medications or undergoing these treatments. Dr. Schweiger notes that, “I recommend non-comedogenic sunscreens that are specially developed for acne-prone skin. Elta MD UV Clear and our own sunscreens, CompleteME AM and TintME, provide sun protection while not contributing to the formation of a microcomedone.”

25Jul

Skin Care Tips for Travel

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Keeping up your regular skin care routine can be tricky enough, but skin care routines while traveling can be nearly impossible. There are a few skin care tips to keep in mind while you are traveling, that will have you looking your best for those vacation photos.

1. Travel size medicated acne wash: When traveling internationally, you will often be on the plane for an entire day. It is important to care for your skin during this time. Patients with acne prone skin should pick up a travel size medicated acne wash (salicylic acid is a good ingredient to look for) at the drugstore before they go. After cleansing in the airplane restroom, a non-comedogenic moisturizer should be applied, to avoid the excessive dryness that can develop after a long plane ride.

2. Makeup removing pads: After a late dinner on the beach, it is sometimes hard to force yourself to go through your normal cleansing routine. If, at the very least, you use a makeup removal pad (Neutrogena makes a great one), you are taking an important step towards preventing the development of acne.

3. Non-comedogenic sunscreen: It is important for patients with acne-prone skin to use a sunscreen developed for acne prone skin on the face. These sunscreens are labeled “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic.” Examples of great facial sunscreens for patients with acne-prone skin are Elta MD UV Clear and Neutrogena Healthy Defense.

4. Check with your dermatologist regarding your medications: Some acne medications and treatments can make your skin more sensitive to the sun and more likely to burn. These medications can often be left behind while traveling. Other medications, such as Acanya and Aczone, do not increase sun sensitivity and can be taken on vacation with you. Conveniently, these medications (Acanya and Aczone) make spot treatments; don’t be afraid to apply them twice daily to any unwanted acne flare.

24Jul

Acne During Pregnancy – What You Need to Know

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Some women notice that their acne worsens when they are trying to conceive, or once they become pregnant. Sometimes acne flares after stopping acne medications or oral contraceptive pills that were previously keeping the acne at bay. Other times, acne flares after conception. Thankfully, not all women experience this pregnancy flare (and for some women acne improves during pregnancy!), but it is important to know which acne treatments are safe and appropriate during this crucial time.

The most important step, for all women trying to conceive, is to check with your obstetrician regarding the medications that you are taking or applying. Even some topical medications can interfere with the development of your baby. The FDA has published pregnancy categories, which are assigned to all medications. These categories can help to sort out what is appropriate for use during pregnancy, and what is not, based on potential fetal risk. Medications are assigned a grade of A through D, with X also used to denote medications that are known to cause harm. However, following the guidance of the FDA categories does not replace a consultation with your OB/GYN.

There are several prescription medications available for the treatment of acne during pregnancy. We will review these with you further during your consultation. There are also in-office treatments, such as the Isolaz acne treatment and Blue and Red LED Light Therapy, there are safe and effective while trying to conceive and once you are pregnant. Additionally, we have a licensed esthetician we performs medical facials that are appropriate during pregnancy. At-home treatments, such as the Clarisonic cleansing brush and the Tria blue light, can provide much-needed relaxation while they improve the health of your skin. Acne during pregnancy and while trying to conceive can be frustrating, but there are thankfully many treatment options that remain safe to try during this time.

Click here to read more about acne and acne treatments during pregnancy.

23Jul

Are Botox Treatments OK if You Have Acne?

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With the rise of acne in adults, it’s become increasingly common for patients to want to treat both acne and wrinkles at the same time. Patients in their 30s and 40s often ask if they can get Botox injections to treat their wrinkles while following an anti-acne regimen and the answer is yes, Botox is safe for those who suffer from acne.

Botox is one of the best treatments around for relaxing wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Regular Botox injections will help diminish existing wrinkles while preventing further wrinkles from occurring. When your muscles are not able to contract, the mechanic movement that causes wrinkles does not occur.

Botox targets the muscles, not the pores or follicles, which are involved in the creation of acne. Further, Botox will not interfere with those using prescription medications for acne, including Accutane.

Chemical peels are another great way to treat wrinkles if you have acne. A proven wrinkle-fighter/acne-fighter combo topical treatment is retinol. If you have adult acne, you should definitely add a product with retinol into your skincare regimen.

20Jul

How to Treat Acne When You Have Eczema

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Finding the right treatment to successfully rid of acne when you have combination skin is hard enough, but try adding eczema into the mix and acne treatment can become especially difficult. Eczema is a very common skin condition for which there is no clear cut cause. Eczema presents as red, itchy and scaly patches of skin, especially on the areas that have very thin skin, such as eyelids, armpits and inner elbows. Though the exact cause of eczema is unknown, it usually occurs as a response to an allergen that your skin has come in contact with. Eczema can also be triggered by stress, extreme heat, fragrance or cold.

Here’s the tricky thing about treating acne when you have eczema. Acne occurs when there is an over-production of sebum, while people who suffer from eczema often do not produce enough sebum. So keeping the skin at a perfect balance of oil is key when treating both skin afflictions. The best way to do this is by using a non-drying, gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil and a light hydrating moisturizer, such as CeraVe that will not make you breakout.

Just as with acne, anyone suffering from eczema can benefit from seeing a dermatologist. While some over-the-counter treatments might give a temporary fix to acne and eczema, having a dermatologist guide you with a proper regimen and prescription medications is very important. To avoid further irritation or more breakouts, it’s imperative to use your eczema medication only on the areas with eczema and the acne medications on the areas only with acne.

20Jul

The Best Spot-Treating Tips

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When you’re faced with a burgeoning acne lesion, there’s actually a lot you can do rather than just touch it, stare at it and admit defeat. At Clear Clinic, we think even a little spot treating goes a long way. But it’s very important to know the dos and don’ts of spot-treating pimples. If you over-treat you take the chance of being left with a red, irritated spot that might actually be worse than the original pimple. When you spot-treat the correct way, you will be lessening the severity and duration of the zit. Here, our top tips for spot treating your acne pimples:

As soon as you start to feel an acne bump underneath your skin is when it’s time to take action. You should already be following an acne-fighting regimen that includes a cleanser that contains salicylic acid and a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer. Once you feel the pimple starting to grow under the skin, apply a tiny dot of benzoyl peroxide or sulfur-based spot treatment. You should only be applying the spot treatment maximum three times a day. Any more will dry out the skin and irritate it.
Under no circumstances should you pick or pop your pimple. Trust us when we say it will heal a whole lot better if you spot treat without any of the picking or pulling at it. In fact, just touching it alone might make matter worse by spreading the bacteria and oil on your fingers to other parts of your face.
If you’re in a time crunch and need your zit to disappear in 48 hours or if you don’t trust yourself not to pick, then pop into the office for a quick cortisone shot. An injection of cortisone will flatten out the pimple in 24-48 hours.

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