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What do I need to know about acne treatment and result?
Dr. Shafa highly recommends beginning acne treatment as soon as possible to avoid frustration with acne scar treatments. Mild, moderate or even severe acne treatments are still less expensive and more rewarding than late acne scar treatments.
Most acne medications take six to twelve weeks to work. Give acne products enough time to do their job. The best results happen after taking medication for at least three months. |
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Sometimes, acne may seem to get worse within the first few weeks of treatment because hidden bumps rise to the skin surface. Your acne will get better if you keep using the acne medicine. Use the medications as directed. Using more medication than directed will not improve results. In fact, it can make acne worse by aggravating the skin.
When you start using a new acne medicine, you may have mild redness and swelling of your skin. Contact Dr. Shafa if the redness and swelling should continue or become worse.
We pick the appropriate vehicle for you. This leads to better results and limited side effects. Drier skin may benefit most from creams, whereas oily skin may do best with gels or solutions.
Dr. Shafa will create a treatment plan that will work specifically for you because not all individuals respond to the same treatment. Today's treatment options resolve virtually all types of acne, given the proper attention, expertise, and time.
Non-prescription mild adjunctive treatment options
Drying and peeling agents
This is the oldest technique for treating acne and it is found in some of the over-the-counter acne products. It induces a continuous and mild drying and peeling of the skin. This gentle treatment is a very acceptable option to start with and may provide fast and effective results even for swollen and infected lesions. |
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Alcohol and acetone |
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Benzoyl peroxide, |
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Salicylic acid |
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Resorcinol |
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Sulfur (unknown mechanism of action) |
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and more |
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Acne prescription options:
1) Hormone Treatment for acne
Acne can be the presenting sign of the overproduction of androgens, although serum androgen may or may not be elevated by blood tests. Options include: |
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Birth control pills (Stops ovarian androgen) |
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Spironolactone (Blocks androgen receptors) |
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Steroids (Stops adrenal gland androgens) |
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| 2) Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids) |
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Retin-A (Tretinoin) |
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Tazorac (Tazarotene) |
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Differin (Adapalene) |
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Isotretinoin (accutane) |
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These agents normalize the shedding of the hair follicle lining and also have direct anti-inflammatory effects, thereby preventing the blockage of pores and decreasing the formation of comedones, unplugging existing comedones, and allowing other topical medicines (such as antibiotics) to enter the follicles.
Azelex( Azelaic acid)
Azaleic acid occurs naturally in the skin, is well tolerated by most people, and can be safely used for years. Azelaic acid treats inflammatory/non-inflammatory acne and acne-related skin discoloration. It clears acne by reducing the population of P. acnes, decreasing the abnormal shedding of skin cells, and reducing inflammation. Side effects may include dryness or lightening of the skin where applied.
3) Antibiotics (topical or oral)
The major effect of the use of antibiotics is to control the infection caused mainly by a bacteria called P. acne. Your options include: |
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Tetracycline |
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Doxycycline |
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Minocycline |
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Clindamycin |
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Erythromycin |
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Azithromycin |
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Septera |
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Keflex |
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Sodium sulfacetamide |
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Procedures for acne
1) Interlesional Corticosteroid Injection
Some of the cystic acne may become severely large and inflamed. With this type of acne, you may benefit from immediate control of the surrounding swelling and inflammation with an anti-inflammatory agent such as diluted steroids, which can be injected into just the inflamed nodule. This lessens the inflammation, cause of pain and swelling, and promotes healing. Such an interlesional steroid injection works by "melting" the cyst over a period of 3 to 5 days.
2) Minor Acne Surgery and Scar Revision
Acne surgery is the manual removal of comedones and the drainage of pustules and cysts.
For more information please see acne cleaning and extraction.
3) Light and Laser Treatment for Acne
Although such a treatment option is available at our office, it is usually not considered an option as long as we can achieve the same result with less costly alternative treatments. |
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