Acne & Rosacea

Acne

Acne is the most common skin disease in the US, affecting 90% of teens and young adults. Acne is a skin disorder that can begin at age 8 or 9 and usually improves by your mid 20’s. Acne mainly affects the face but may also appear on the shoulders, back and chest.

Causes of acne

Acne is not caused by dirt. The “black plug” extends 1/16th of an inch below the skin surface. Therefore scrubbing and excessive washing will not improve acne. In fact, rubbing the skin or use of harsh or abrasive soaps may cause further irritation. Pimples, pustules, nodules and cysts indicate a more severe and deeper form of acne. With early and consistent treatment, scarring can be prevented. Individuals with severe acne often have excessive oil gland secretion due to hormonal changes of puberty. Oil glands, obstructed by tiny plugs of dead skin cells, eventually rupture and discharge their contents deep into the skin causing inflammation.

Acne treatment

Acne treatment works in a variety of ways. Some medications reduce excess oil and unclog pores. Others work by fighting bacteria. Some work by reducing the effect of hormones. Acne treatments can be topical (applied to the skin) or oral (taken by mouth). OTC (over-the-counter) medications usually contain benzoyl peroxide which can be effective for mild acne. Prescription-strength medications using tretinoin cream and topical or oral antibiotics are necessary for moderate to severe acne. The Obagi CLENZIderm MD System is an acne treatment available only from a physician that uses a “solubilized” form of benzoyl peroxide that has been scientifically proven to penetrate deep into the follicle to treat acne where it starts. Because acne usually involves a variety of causes, we often use a combination of medications.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a very common skin disease. It causes redness, swelling and often pimples on the face. Rosacea frequently develops in fair skinned adults, especially women, between the ages of 30 and 50. It can affect men or women of any age and even children. Often referred to as "adult acne," rosacea may begin as a tendency to flush or blush easily. It may then cause persistent redness in the center of the face that may gradually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose. As the disease progresses, small blood vessels and tiny pimples begin to appear on and around the reddened area. However, unlike acne, there are no blackheads. Pimples of rosacea appear on the face as small red bumps, some of which may contain pus. When rosacea first develops, the symptoms may come and go on their own. When the skin doesn't return to its normal color and when other signs such as pimples and enlarged blood vessels become visible, it is time to consider treatment. The condition rarely reverses itself and may last for years.

Causes of Rosacea

Personal triggers for rosacea, termed tripwires, either precipitate or aggravate the condition. These triggers are common lifestyle events that are varied but distinct and clinically relevant for that particular individual. Common tripwires include alcohol, emotional stress, sunlight, temperature, medications, and certain foods.

Rosacea treatment

The treatment of rosacea involves avoidance of trigger factors as well as topical medication for milder cases and oral medication for more severe cases. The Obagi Rosaclear™ System is the first and only complete therapeutic system developed specifically for treating the signs and symptoms of rosacea. This all-in-one system is designed to effectively reduce redness and flushing, along with treating papules and pustules (acne-like pimples), to help rosacea patients achieve a clearer, calmer and more balanced-looking complexion.

In our office, we also treat dilated blood vessels caused by rosacea using electrocautery or with lasers.