Clear Clinic Skin Care Blog

31May

Best Acne Scar Treatments for Skin of Color

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Treating acne scars can be a tricky issue when your skin has darker pigment in it. One of the most effective ways to treat acne scarring is with laser treatments, which can sometimes cause hyperpigmentation in skin of color. So how best to safely and effectively treat those with acne scars and darker complexions? Dr. Schweiger recommends staying away from ablative lasers and sticking to non-ablative laser treatments, such as Fractional CO2 Laser. The way this laser works is by making tiny holes in the deep layer of the skin, which promotes healthy collagen growth and in turn smooths out acne scarring.

Another non-invasive way to safely treat acne scars is with Microdermabrasion. The best way to avoid acne scarring is to see a dermatologist right away once your acne breakouts begin to present an issue and compel you to want to start picking. The worst possible thing you can do to the complexion is pick at and pop your pimples.

30May

Can You Use a Self-Tanner if You Have Acne?

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Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer–a time when sun-kissed skin and glowing complexions are the order of the day. There’s no reason not to flaunt a faux glow even if you have acne. There are many self-tanners on the market that are completely fine to use on acne-prone skin and will not lead to more breakouts. Here’s what you need to know about self-tanning and acne:

Look for a gel formulation, they tend to be less oily and more lightweight. Try Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel.
Exfoliate the skin before using a self-tanner to get rid of any dead skin cells. This will create a more even surface for self tanner.
Make sure the self-tanner you use says “non-comedogenic” on the label.
Only use the self-tanner once a week.

30May

Why Do I Have Acne?

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

Our patients often ask us, “Why do I have acne?” The answer is not always clear. We don’t know exactly why, at this point in their lives, they are developing acne. However, we do know the causative factors that lead to the development of acne. The first step in the formation of acne is the development of the microcomedone as a result of abnormal skin cell regulation. After formation of a microcomedone in the hair follicle, dead skin cells and sebum (oil) cannot escape from the pore. When these materials are trapped in the pore, they provide the perfect environment for p. acnes bacteria. This combination of factors leads to the development of inflammatory acne papules, or “pimples.”

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Treatment of acne must address most of the causative factors of acne, in order for it to be an effective treatment. The most effective acne regimens utilize a combination of topical or oral medications to reduce p. acnes bacteria and regulate skin cell turnover. In-office treatments, such as PDT and the Isolaz, can address the causative factors of acne more quickly than most prescription medications.”

Click here to read more about the causes of acne.

29May

Best Acne Regimen for Combination Skin

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Not all people who suffer from acne have oily skin. In fact, many have combination skin–oily in some areas and dry in others–making it very challenging to fight acne, as many treatments are extremely drying to the skin. Here, Clear Clinic’s tips for treating acne when your skin is both oily and dry:

Use a benzoyl peroxide treatment with a lower percentage concentration. Benzoyl peroxide is a proven anti-acne treatment, best results are seen when it’s applied twice a day–in the morning and evening.
Make sure to use moisturizer, but check for ingredients that do not contain additional oils.
Use skin care products made for sensitive skin types, as they tend to be less drying.
Do not overuse your acne medications.
Do not overwash your face, which could lead to more dryness.

29May

What is Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation?

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Acne must be treated promptly, in order to avoid deep scars and hyperpigmentation that can form after even mild acne clear. Deep scars on the skin form due to imperfect healing of the skin’s surface after acne lesions resolve. But what are the dark spots that can be left behind even without a deep scar? These marks are called “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.” Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs when melanocytes, or pigmented producing cells, overproduce melanin in response to inflammation. Any patient can experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but it is most commonly seen in patients with skin of color.”

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be treated in a few different ways:

Sometimes topical medications, such as hydroquinone or retinoids, are sufficient to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation
A series of chemical peels can treat hyperpigmentation that does not respond to topical medications
The most effective treatment for hyperpigmentation is laser resurfacing, with a laser called the Fraxel re:Store. A series of Fraxel Laser treatments can reduce the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, while also smoothing out any deep scars left behind from old acne.

Click here to read more about post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and types of acne scars.

28May

Have an Acne-Free Wedding Season

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

June officially marks the start of wedding season. Summer time and early fall are indeed the busiest times to get married. Whether you’re the bride, bridesmaid or just a guest, dealing with acne breakouts at a wedding is certainly not ideal. So what’s the best pre-wedding regimen to ensure your skin is as clear as possible for the big day? Here, Clear Clinic’s top tips on making sure you don’t say “I do” to acne:

-Starting at least 60 days before the big event, start an acne treatment regimen guided by a Clear Clinic dermatologist.

-Look into purchasing a package of blue light therapy treatments, a proven therapy to treat and heal acne breakouts.

-We understand how busy in can be for brides-to-be, contact Clear Clinic for our at-home service where we bring in-office treatments to your house

-Talk to your wedding makeup artist about the best concealers for your acne breakouts.

25May

What’s Next After Acne Treatment?

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

After acne treatments, many patients choose to treat their acne scars. Lasers, such as the Fraxel and Fractional CO2 Laser stimulate collagen to fill in the pitted acne scars left behind after acne is treated. After treatment of acne and acne scars, our patients often seek out ways to make their skin appear brighter, healthier, and more radiant. Once the skin is clear, its time to decrease pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion and Botox are very popular after patients complete their acne treatment. These are fast treatments, performed in the office, with little to no downtime.”

Chemical Peels use a peeling agent to remove dead skin cells and unwanted pigmentation from the skin. Medium depth chemical peels are used to treat melasma, sun damage, and improve the texture of the skin. Superficial chemical peels can be used to improve the skin’s appearance before a big event.

Microdermabrasion uses crystals to manually remove dead skin cells and mild textural changes from the skin. Fine lines and clogged pores both benefit from microdermabrasion treatments.

Botox is used to prevent and treat wrinkles on the face caused by excessive muscle movement. Botox works by blocking the neurotransmitter that signals muscle contraction; this prevents the unnecessary muscle contraction that results in the formation of deep wrinkles between the eyebrows, on the forehead, and around the eyes.

Click here to read more about acne treatments offered at the Clear Clinic in NYC.

25May

Acne and Working Out

Posted in Acne At Home Treatments, Adult Acne, Teenage Acne by Clear Clinic. | Leave a Comment

If you are very active and athletic and suffer from acne breakouts, you have probably wondered if your physical activity is contributing to your breakouts. The answer depends on your hygiene and how tight or loose fitting your athletic clothes are. It’s a popular misconception that sweat alone can cause acne breakouts.On the other side of that, there are some people that believe sweat can help relieve acne and help to clean out the pores. That, too, is untrue. The only time that sweat can cause acne is when there is friction involved. Tight clothing + sweat + friction can lead to acne breakouts. This condition is called acne mechanica.

So how to avoid and prevent acne after workouts or athletics? Here, five things you should be doing:

When at the gym, wear soft, breathable fabrics and clothing that is not too tight.
Bring cleansing cloths or your facial cleanser to the gym to wash your face after your workout.
Do not wipe your face with an old or a pre-used towel at the gym.
Stay hydrated! Water will help flush out toxins.
Do not wear a headband or hat while working out. Sweat + friction + tight fitting fabrics can cause breakouts on the forehead.

24May

Acne Truth: Stress Causes Acne

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What your mother has been telling you for so many years is actually true; stress causes acne. While stress isn’t the true cause of acne, increased stress can contribute to the development of acne. Studies on teenagers have shown that those who were under increased stress were 23% more likely to have acne. Why is this? Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Stress causes the adrenal gland to produce excess levels of androgen. Increased levels of androgen can lead to the development of acne.”

It is important for acne to be treated promptly, even if it is a one time flare caused by increased stress. Prescription medications and in-office laser acne treatments can often get a “stress acne” flare under control quickly. Cortisone injections can also be used to treat acne lesions quickly; after a cortisone injection, inflammatory acne lesions typically resolve in 24-48 hours.

Click here to read more acne myths and acne truths.

24May

Clear Clinic’s Holistic Approach to Acne-Free Skin

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At Clear Clinic, we subscribe to a holistic approach to treating acne. What does that mean exactly? That means we look at acne from all angles, including at-home and in-office treatments; practicing an acne-free environment, monitoring your diet and looking at the psychological factors involved with acne. We feel that acne is best treated when the whole picture is taken into account. Since acne is caused by many factors, the best way to treat it is from many angles. Just as you would hire a tutor to help with math or biology, we think it’s very important to work with a dermatologist and other acne specialists to treat your breakouts.

When you make an appointment at Clear Clinic, you can expect to walk away with a serious plan of action that will help guide you in making proper decisions when it comes to skin care, in-office procedures, nutrition and makeup.

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