For some, acne can be a chronic skin condition that can increase the risk of scarring on the skin, while for others, acne can be an issue that fades during adulthood. Whatever type of acne you have, the chances are you will need to find an effective Skinmedica acne treatment to control your breakouts. Learn more about the treatment options you have at Shenandoah Women’s Healthcare in Harrisonburg, VA.
How Effective Is Skinmedica Acne Treatment?
Skinmedica Acne treatments are highly effective for controlling acne breakouts. Given enough time, most treatments can effectively prevent breakouts in the future and optimize your overall skin health.
For these treatments to be effective, however, you must be consistent with your skincare routine and you must find a treatment regimen that works for the specific type of acne you have. This is why you will need to work with your physician or dermatologist to examine your skin and identify the treatments that are best for you.
How Are Different Types of Acne Treated?
Not all acne is treated the same way. Although there may be several treatments that can be used for multiple types of acne, you will likely need to customize your treatment plan to the specific acne issues you are dealing with. For example, some people are mostly concerned with blackheads and whiteheads, while others may be challenged by painful cystic acne.
Blackheads and Whiteheads
Blackheads and whiteheads exist deep within the pores and can cause the appearance of enlarged force. Not only do whiteheads and blackheads eventually come to a head to create pimples, but the presence of blackheads and whiteheads also suggests oil overproduction in the skin.
To effectively treat blackheads and whiteheads, you will usually need a combination of exfoliating products that can break up the clogged oil and skin cells in the pores, and control oil production in the future. Products containing salicylic acid, AHAs, and BHAs are commonly used to combat this type of acne. Retinoids and extraction therapies may also be used for blackheads and whiteheads.
Pimples
Pimples are a type of acne that has come to a head to create inflammation and pustules on the surface of the skin. The common wisdom is to avoid popping pimples so that you do not spread bacteria, worsen inflammation, or increase your risk of scarring. However, some pimples need to be examined by a dermatologist and may need to be professionally lanced to remove the bacteria to prevent serious skin infections.
Overall, to treat pimples, the best treatment plan is to incorporate a topical retinoid into your skincare routine. Your dermatologist may also recommend chemical peels, LED therapy, and other aesthetic treatments that can reduce inflammation and acne-causing bacteria.
Cystic Acne
Cystic acne can be exceptionally painful and has a greater chance of causing deep scarring on the skin. Not only does cystic acne take longer for the skin to heal, but it can be tough to treat with only topical medications. To effectively treat cystic acne, you may need a combination of topical and oral medications to control oil production, reduce acne-causing bacteria, and turn over new skin cells more rapidly.
Hormonal Acne
Finally, you may have hormonal acne. Hormonal acne is most common in menstruating women. You may have hormonal acne if your skin is relatively clear throughout the month, but you break out around your period. To treat hormonal acne, you may need to use low-dose birth control and topical treatment, especially if your hormonal acne causes severe breakouts.
Why Is Retinol So Effective?
For most types of acne, dermatologists recommend using concentrated vitamin A or topical retinoid products. Retinols are so effective for acne because they can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin to turn over new skin cells, regulate oil production, and enhance the health of your skin.
For acne, a retinoid will initially cause all future acne to come to a head during the first two to four weeks of using the topical product. After this, with consistent use, retinoids should prevent future breakouts, restore the evening pigment of the skin, and address any shallow scarring from acne.
How Long Until Skinmedica Acne Treatment Work?
Skinmedica Acne treatment will not work overnight. Most of the time, you will need at least four to eight weeks of topical or oral medication to control acne breakouts. For aesthetic treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or LED light therapy, you will need a series of treatments to reduce inflammation and improve your skin condition. Treatments can work faster if paired with the right skincare products and skincare routine.
How Can You Maintain Your Results?
Although Skinmedica acne treatment are highly effective for controlling breakouts, the results of these treatments will not be permanent. For this reason, if you want to maintain your results, you must adopt better practices for your skincare to reduce your risk of having acne breakouts in the future. Some of the best methods to maintain your results include:
Acne-Fighting Skincare
Using acne-fighting skincare is essential for controlling acne breakouts. Not only should you use skincare products that contain acne-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, zinc, niacinamide, retinol, or glycolic acid, but you also need to choose skincare products that are suitable for your skin type. For example, if you have dry skin with acne, using a foaming cleanser is only going to dry your skin out more.
Additionally, you must educate yourself about the best way to maintain your skin health while you are using acne-fighting products. Most acne-fighting skincare ingredients can cause mild to moderate skin dryness, so it’s important to use ingredients that can soothe and hydrate the skin to protect your moisture barrier. This is because a strong moisture barrier will ultimately contribute to better skin health and prevent breakouts in the future.
Consistent Skincare
Your skincare must be consistent, whether you’re using over-the-counter skin care products or aesthetic treatments to control your breakouts. If you are inconsistent with your skincare, then your results will be inconsistent. For this reason, you should design an at-home skincare regimen so you can wash and treat your face twice a day, and also incorporate appropriate aesthetic treatments to enhance your results.
Sun Protection
Acne-prone skin may be especially sensitive or prone to irritation, which is why it’s important to protect your skin from the sun. Some acne-fighting skincare ingredients can cause light sensitivity or create a heightened risk of hyperpigmentation, so using a sunscreen every day will ultimately protect your skin.
Lifestyle and Diet
Your lifestyle and diet may also be a way you can maintain your desired results. For example, getting enough exercise, eating whole foods like fruits and vegetables, and drinking enough water each day can all contribute to having healthy skin.
Although for some people, diet may not be a huge contributing factor for breakouts, other people may need to revise their diets to reduce fat and sugar intake. Most people notice that by eating clean, their skin does not break out as often.
When Should You Have This Treatment?
You should consider treatments for acne when you first experience acne. While some people will first experience acne during puberty, others may have clear skin until adulthood. The reason you should consider professional treatments is that your acne situation can quickly compromise the health and quality of your skin. You may also want to consider treatments if you have low self-confidence, acne scarring, or stubborn acne.
Low Self-Confidence
For many people, acne is a cause of low self-confidence. Although acne is the most common skin condition in the world, there is a perspective that acne is unattractive or unhealthy. If you have low self-confidence from acne, consulting with a dermatologist to identify a treatment plan that will work for you can help you feel better about your skin.
Acne Scarring
Not all people will develop scarring from acne. However, between post-acne marks and post-acne scarring, many people may deal with irregularities in texture and pigmentation that can be difficult to cover with cosmetics. Furthermore, textual acne scarring can be permanent if left untreated.
Stubborn Acne
Finally, if you have stubborn acne that doesn’t respond to mild over-the-counter products, it may be time to ask a dermatologist for prescription-strength treatments. Sometimes, only prescription-strength medication is adequate to reduce stubborn breakouts.
Find the Acne Treatment That Works for You
The treatment that is appropriate for your acne will depend on your skin type and the type of acne you have. Fortunately, when you consult with a dermatologist, you can identify the treatments that will work best for you. Reach out to Shenandoah Women’s Healthcare in Harrisonburg, VA to schedule your consultation today