Reasons why some acne treatments don't work
Posted on Tue, Jul 26, 2011
A patient of mine once cancelled her appointment with me because her acne was so bad that she was embarrassed to be seen in public. Unfortunately, this woman is not alone. While acne may be most common in teenagers, it is a problem faced by men and women of all ages, and the psychological trauma it brings can be debilitating. Adults with severe acne worry that they will be turned down for jobs or promotions, and many teens are all but stifled socially by it.
Your goal is long-term improvement
Unfortunately, rather than seek the help of a medical professional or cosmetic surgeon, most people try to treat their acne with over-the-counter medications or products they buy online or from television commercials. Some of these acne treatments work for only a short time, forcing people to continuously look for the next product and the next product. This is a poor strategy because many of these medications do more harm than good, sometimes leading to additional acne scars. At the very least, they are seldom enough to provide long-term improvement.
What is acne anyway?
Acne may be common, but the way it develops in the body is actually very difficult for the average person to understand. In fact, it is even difficult for physicians to understand fully because no one knows the underlying cause of acne. What we do know is that acne is complex. It can be a result of bacterial, genetic, hormonal, environmental, and dietary issues. Does that sound like something easily treatable with an over-the-counter solution?
Essentially, acne is a skin condition of the face and body resulting from an inflammation of the sebaceous glands. Hormones are a key reason for why teenagers so often suffer from acne, and for this same reason, perimenopausal women often find that they are reliving their teenage years with acne outbreaks later in life. As hormone levels change, the sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more "sebum" or oil.
Acne is a complicated condition
To complicate matters further, the skin begins to produce more layers of cells, which accumulate and become impacted. These cells become a type of sludge that collect until they develop into what we know as a whitehead, an enlarged area that looks like a white millet seed just under the skin. When a whitehead opens enough to expose the cells to air, the color changes, turning it into a blackhead. It may then turn into a "papule" (a red pimple without pus) or a "pustule" (a pimple containing pus). If the condition worsens enough, it can become cystic acne, which is the most severe form.
If you suffer with acne, numerous treatment options are available to you, but you need a qualified professional to help you deal with the problem in a medically sound way.
Communication is the key to a successful treatment
It’s important to be aware that since acne can be a tenacious condition, during the course of your treatment we may need to make alterations in order to achieve results. Communication is key. We need you to communicate to us what you’re experiencing and feeling so that the appropriate adjustments can be made to your treatment. In turn, we will always communicate our treatment rationale to you. It’s important not to give up on your doctor if you don’t get immediate results. Working together for a long-term solution is the best choice.
Contact us for acne treatment today.
Summary:
- Over-the-counter medications often do more harm than good.
- Teenagers aren’t the only ones who suffer from acne.
- Women in perimenopause often experience acne outbreaks due to hormonal changes.
- Acne is the result of several factors, so your treatment needs to be tailored to you.
At Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii, we provide a host of treatments for acne issues depending on your acne grade. What’s that? Read more in our next blog! If you suffer from acne, don’t wait! Schedule a consultation appointment now.
