Acne Treatment in Barboursville WV

Some facts about acne:

  • Acne is built into your genes – In women, acne frequently worsens at the time of menstruation.
  • Cosmetics worn should be labeled “oil-free” or “non-cosmogenic”.
  • Adult women often have trouble with acne through middle age. The reason is unknown although hormones may play a role.

Helpful tips:

  • Wash your face twice daily with a gentle skin cleanser to prevent oil build-up.
  • Do not scrub your face with a harsh washcloth or sponge.
  • Scrubbing may actually make it worse by irritating the skin.
  • Try gentle cleansing with your hands.
  • Topical astringents can be used to remove excess oil after cleansing.
  • Don’t squeeze, scratch, or pick the lesions. This can leave tiny, permanent scars on your face.

Acne Treatment

What Causes Acne? How Do We Effectively Treat It?
Acne is a condition in which the oil glands of the face, back, and chest are blocked from draining. This results in the follicles repturing, creating red bumps and white pustules. If the follicle does not rupture, a whitehead or blackhead will form. This condition appears in several forms and degrees, ranging from minor acne, which may cause just a few pimples periodically, to severe acne, with which an person may have large areas of pimples across their body.

What Causes It?
Acne usually begins at puberty and may continue for many years. Teenagers get acne as the body matures and produces hormones that stimulate the sebaceous (oil-producing) skin glands to make more sebum or oil. Sebum lubricates the skin. Sebaceous glands within the hair follicles or pores become plugged when oil secretion occurs faster than the oil and skin cells can exit the pores. Sometimes the plug causes the wall of the pore to rupture causing redness, swelling, and pus. Plugged oil glands may form blackheads and whiteheads. Blackheads are not caused by dirt; rather there is a bacteria that normally lives on the skin and thrives on the sebum produced by oil glands. Sometimes the bacteria multiply and cause inflammation and acne.

While acne is considered a normal physical happening, there are certain triggers that might increase or intensify acne. These include:

  • Hormone fluctuation (menses in women, or puberty in young adults)
  • Picking or prodding at acne lesions
  • Clothing and headgear, such as hats and sports equipment

Acne Treatments
There are multiple treatment options to be considered for those suffering from acne. Successful acne treatment can often be achieved by certain medications or combinations of them. These include benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and antibiotics. Regular facing cleansing and topical creams are also essential for effective treatment. Some women may benefit from hormone therapy if acne is related to other hormone irregularities.

Those suffering from persistent or severe acne may require other treatments or medications which can be administered by your dermatologist.

At Dr. Amy Vaughan Dermatology, we can offer a variety of acne treatments including topicals, oral medication, Isotretinoin Therapy (Accutane©), Isolaz© and blue light treatment.  We also offer Collagen P.I.N.© Microneedling acne scar removal in Barboursville WV.