Top 5 Reasons to See a Dermatologist for Your Acne
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.
