Acne Treatment in Houston, TX

If your oil glands are producing excessive amounts of sebum, your pores can become riddled with excess oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. This creates the perfect environment for bacteria to spread, create acne blemishes with pain, skin irritations, swelling, and redness in the process. If you have unsuccessfully tried to clear your skin with over-the-counter medications and treatments, it may be time to contact Advanced Dermatology for a skin consultation. Our board-certified dermatologists and physician assistants will outline an acne skin care regimen designed specifically for you by taking into account your skin type, acne type, the breakout location, history of side effects with certain medications, allergies, and more. Acne may be one of the most common skin conditions, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. We invite you to set up an appointment for an analysis of your acne at our Katy, Pearland, Sugar Land, or League City, TX offices.

During the time of COVID-19 when masks have become necessary to slow the spread of the disease, mask acne has become a common skin issue. Typically, mask acne occurs around the mouth, nose, and lower cheek areas. Mask acne is developed due to the moist environment and friction created with frequent mask wearing. If you are dealing with mask acne or have to wear a mask for long periods of time, our team at Advanced Dermatology can curate a treatment plan for you in order to help prevent skin issues from developing. 

As we investigate the cause of your acne, you can expect questions about your lifestyle, diet, medications, stress level, and if you have hormonal fluctuations — such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause — that stimulate oil production in your skin. Hormonal acne can last from adolescence to midlife (40+). Although acne is thought of as a bane of adolescence, adults commonly present with this frustrating condition as well. It’s best to avoid “popping” pimples because if not done properly, the pimple can actually pop inside the skin and cause more redness, pain, scarring, and/or spreading of the bacteria.

There are two types of acne we treat at Advanced Dermatology: noninflammatory (comedonal acne/whiteheads/blackheads) and inflammatory lesions (pus-filled bumps, cysts, pustules, papules, nodules, and painful acne knots). Acne symptoms vary in conjunction with the type of acne you have and its severity. Each blemish ranges from mild to severe and will need to be treated accordingly. Studies have shown that acne can also create emotional symptoms, including low self-esteem and depression. Other symptoms associated with acne are dark spots on the skin and scars.

Scarring or discoloration of the skin due to acne is a common occurrence, and many people are not even aware there are treatments available to prevent them. The exact strategy we use will depend on the type of acne scarring. These types can often include:

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: Dark brown or pink-colored marks that appear on the skin due to acne or other traumas.
• Boxcar scar: Oval, round, or wide depressions on the skin that have steep vertical sides.
• Rolling scars: Wave-like patterns on the skin.
• Ice-pick scars: A narrow scar that resembles a hole in the patient's skin.
• Hypertrophic or raised scars: A hard mass of skin that is raised and can usually grow bigger than the lesion.

Why do some adults have acne?

Although acne is typically considered a teenage problem, many adults still may experience the hormone fluctuations that trigger acne. Other factors that can contribute to adult acne are certain medications (anticonvulsants, steroid drugs) and genetics. For women, the hormone fluctuations caused during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can also cause acne flareups.

Does what I eat cause acne?

There is some limited data in unsupported studies suggesting that dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) and fatty foods (chips) may contribute to acne; however, the main cause of acne is still hormone fluctuations – not what you eat.

Do I have to stop wearing makeup if I have acne?

Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, some makeup products may trigger or exacerbate acne. If you feel this to be the case, you can try products that are "non-comedogenic," which means they are specifically formulated not to clog the pores of your skin.

What can I do to help prevent acne?

Your dermatologist will help you find the best course of treatment for your acne, but here are a few quick tips that may help you:

• Regularly wash your face with a mild cleanser
• Drink at least eight 8-oz glasses of water a day
• Don't touch your face
• Limit your use of makeup
• Avoid too much sun exposure
• Refrain from popping pimples
• Clean your face with tea tree oil
• Reduce stress with meditation, yoga, massage, or light exercise

Advanced Dermatology offers numerous treatment options to control and manage acne and clear its symptoms. Our certified dermatologists are capable of helping reduce or get rid of your acne through various treatments that are tailor-made for your needs. The main treatment regimen that we recommend to all of our patients is a daily cleansing of the area twice a day followed by medications. Antibiotics may be prescribed, depending on the severity of the acne. For milder cases of acne, prescription medications, such as topical solutions and creams that contain sulfur, retinoids, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide, can help. There are also oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline, minocycline, or tetracycline, that are effective to use.

Proper skin care for acne-prone skin begins with the selection of the right types of skin care products that are applied directly to the skin. The use of gentle cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, and cosmetics that do not clog pores is essential. They can prevent plugging of the pores, kill the bacteria that promote acne, block the effect of hormones on oil glands, reduce inflammation, and shrink oil glands. At Advanced Dermatology, we also provide professional extractions, chemical peels, and photodynamic therapy in an effort to fight the effects of acne.

Scar treatment for acne at Advanced Dermatology may involve:

• Chemical peel: Renders a chemical exfoliation to the skin and improves cell turnover.
• Dermal fillers: Fills in volume loss that is caused by deep acne scarring.
• Fraxel Laser: Provides a microscopic laser column to treat a part of the skin at a time without causing damage to other tissues.
• Localized injection: Raises or hypertrophic acne scars.
• Microneedling: Stimulates the skin to make more collagen.
• Surgical revision: Excises a scar with surgery.
• Topical treatments: Lightens the hyperpigmentation or dark marks caused by acne.
• VBeam Laser: Treats your skin with a gentle burst of heat energy to selected areas.

If you are tired of covering your acne with makeup or enduring the physical pain, embarrassment, and emotional affliction that can develop from this condition, we encourage you to call Advanced Dermatology to schedule an appointment today at one of our four Advanced Dermatology locations in Katy, Pearland, Sugar Land, and League City, TX. We will analyze your skin in order to create a tailored treatment plan that is designed to clear up your complexion as quickly as possible.