Acne is a common skin issue affecting over 50 million Americans. Despite its prevalence, there’s no one-size-fits-all acne treatment. The right solution depends on your skin type, cause of acne, acne severity, health condition, lifestyle and other factors.
In this post, we discussed about different acne types, its causes, and the best acne treatment options you can find in North Hollywood. We also shared some acne prevention tips and why consulting with a professional can help you find the best solution to your recurring acne problem.
Acne Types and Causes
Types of Acne
Whitehead and Blackheads
Whiteheads and blackheads are the most common forms and mild cases of acne. Whiteheads often develop when your pores clog but stay closed, trapping oil and dead skin cells beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, blackheads occur when your clogged pore opens, exposing the trapped material to air, which oxidizes and turns dark. Both are non-inflammatory but can progress into more severe types if untreated.
Papules and Pustules
Papules are firm, small red bumps caused by inflammation in your hair follicles. Pustules look similar but contain pus, resulting in the classic “pimple” with a white or yellow center.
These acne types indicate active inflammation and can be tender or painful, not to mention that they often appear in clusters and may scar if picked or popped.
Nodules and Cysts
Common Causes of Acne
Hormonal fluctuations
Excess oil production
Bacterial overgrowth
Cutibacterium acnes is a type of bacteria that naturally lives on your skin but multiplies rapidly when trapped in clogged pores. The bacteria trigger immune responses, causing redness, swelling, and pus formation.
Comedogenic skin products can also trigger the overproduction of Cutibacterium acnes, including certain makeup items or cosmetic supplies.
Clogged pores due to dead skin cells
Diet and lifestyle factors
Debunking Common Myths About Acne and Food
Diet and Acne
Myth: “Eating certain food items causes acne.”
While research shows some link between high glycemic foods (like white bread, sweets) and acne severity, no single food directly causes acne.
For example, dairy can increase insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), possibly worsening acne in some individuals. Still, the potential of dairy items to cause acne is highly dependent on your habits, gender, and even ethnicity.
And take note! Cutting out certain foods indiscriminately with the unfounded belief that they cause acne may do more harm than good by limiting your nutrition.
Hygiene Misconceptions
Myth: “Acne is caused by dirty skin, so you should wash your face more often.”
Let’s make one thing clear: proper hygiene is extremely important in maintaining healthy and acne-free skin. However, you should also know that dirty skin isn’t the only cause of acne.
Your skin naturally produces oil and hosts bacteria, which means washing too aggressively strips protective oils and irritates skin barriers, triggering more breakouts. The rule of thumb is to stick to gentle cleansing twice a day with suitable products if you want to keep your skin fresh.
Sun Exposure
Myth: “Sun exposure is good for your skin because it dries up and clears acne.”
Don’t get us wrong, moderate sun exposure, especially during morning, is healthy for vitamin D production and mood improvement. However, too much of anything is a bad thing.
Always remember that prolonged exposure to UV rays harms skin cells, causes inflammation, premature aging, and increases pigmentation changes after your acne heals. This is why you should use sunscreen daily, even if you don’t have acne-prone skin.
Best Acne Treatment
The acne treatment industry offers a ton of options, but not all of them actually live up to the hype. Choosing the right treatment should be based on your specific skin type, acne severity, and individual factors for successful management of your condition.
Below, we shared some of the common acne treatments you can explore, together with professional options that could potentially yield better results.
Home Remedies for Acne
Cleansing the Skin
Use a mild cleanser designed for acne-prone skin twice daily to remove excess oil and impurities. This way, you can remove gunk without stripping moisture or irritating your skin.
Make sure that your choice of facial cleanser is non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog the pores. Always watch out for cleansers with coconut oil, lanolin, oleic acid, isopropyl myristate/palmitate, and algae extracts, as these are often comedogenic.
Instead, choose cleansers or facial washes with salicylic acid to unclog the pores or glycolic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells gently.
Natural Remedies like Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is known to be a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. It’s because tea tree oil contains terpinen-4-ol, an antimicrobial compound effective against acne-causing bacteria.
To avoid irritation, always dilute tea tree oil properly before applying to avoid irritation or allergic reactions. The rule of thumb is to use a 5% concentration in a carrier oil like jojoba or grapeseed oil. You can use a much lower tea tree oil concentration if you have very sensitive skin and increase the amount slowly as your skin adapts to the treatment.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
OTC treatments are widely available and can be effective for your mild to moderate acne. These products usually contain active ingredients that target the root causes of acne, such as excess oil, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation.
Below are some examples of over-the-counter acne treatments:
Reminder: The effect of OTC treatments varies per person, and it’s still best to consult a professional if you have very acne-prone and sensitive skin.
- Salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that exfoliates and unclogs pores to prevent them from swelling. Aside from helping clear up your breakouts, salicylic acid is also effective in preventing new pimples by keeping pores clear.
- Benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes), reduces inflammation, and helps peel away dead skin cells. Just note that benzoyl peroxide is available in various strengths, so always start with a lower concentration and build your way up to avoid irritation.
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). Some examples of AHAs include glycolic acid and lactic acid, which exfoliate the skin’s surface. It helps fade acne marks and prevent new breakouts.
Prescription Medications for Acne
For severe acne where home remedies and OTC options just don’t work, prescription medications are another option. Prescription acne medications are stronger treatments that tackle bacteria and inflammation that causes acne.
Below are some of the common prescription medications used to manage moderate to severe acne:
- Topical or oral antibiotics. Antibiotics help reduce the bacteria-causing acne while calming inflammation. Topical forms are applied directly on the skin, while oral antibiotics are taken by mouth and work systemically. Take note that you should always follow the prescription duration to avoid antibiotic resistance.
- Topical retinoids. These are stronger versions of the retinoids you can purchase over the counter. They help speed up skin cell turnover to prevent pores from getting clogged. Examples of prescription retinoids are tretinoin and tazarotene. Just a heads-up, though: topical retinoids can cause dryness or irritation at first, so it’s normal to start slow.
- Oral Isotretinoin. Oral isotretinoin is a powerful medication reserved for severe cystic acne or cases that don’t respond to other treatments. It’s sold under the popular brand Accutane and can dramatically reduce oil production, pore clogging, and bacterial growth. Take note that oral isotretinoin can have serious side effects, so always seek your physician’s close supervision.
Professional Treatments
Chemical Peels
- Superficial peels. These use mild acids like glycolic acid or salicylic acid that work great if you have mild acne. Superficial or light peels are gentle and have minimal downtime, making them a good option for regular maintenance.
- Medium peels. Medium peels usually involve stronger agents like trichloroacetic acid (TCA). These work deeper into the skin and can help with moderate acne and more noticeable scarring. A good example of medium peels is the Perfect Derma Peel in North Hollywood. It helps control acne and improve acne scars in as fast as 7 days.
- Deep peels. Deep peels are the strongest and penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. They’re typically reserved for severe acne scarring or stubborn acne that hasn’t responded to other treatments. Take note that deep peels require a longer recovery time and should only be done under close medical supervision.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is another professional treatment you can turn to when dealing with acne or acne scarring.
Microdermabrasion uses mechanical exfoliation to remove the outermost layer of your skin gently. It uses a special diamond-tipped wand to buff off dead skin cells. This stimulates skin regeneration and improves mild acne scars or other blemishes.
Overall, microdermabrasion works best for mild to moderate acne and post-acne scarring. However, if you have an active breakout or severe acne with deep cysts, microdermabrasion isn’t the best treatment for you.
Microneedling
Microneedling involves the use of a device equipped with fine needles that create controlled, microscopic punctures in your skin. These micro-injuries stimulate your body’s natural healing processes without causing significant damage to your skin’s surface.
Microneedling can also be combined with other treatments, just like with our Exosomal Liquid Laser. This treatment combines acids, microneedling, and exosome serums to rejuvenate your skin. It’s available in three treatment options, but the ‘Skin Perfecting’ variant works best for active acne.
This process also makes microneedling an increasingly popular treatment for mild to moderate acne and acne scars. However, you should know that microneedling isn’t advisable when you have an active breakout since it can inflame and irritate your skin even more.
How Does Microneedling Help Acne Scars?
- Collagen production overdrive. Collagen is a vital protein that gives your skin its structure and elasticity. Acne scars often result from damaged or insufficient collagen, so encouraging the skin to produce more helps fill in and smooth out these scars.
- Scar tissue remodeling. By breaking up hardened scar fibers and promoting new, healthy skin growth, microneedling gradually softens and flattens raised or indented acne scars.
- Enhanced skin texture. The increased collagen and healing process of microneedling lead to a smoother, more even complexion. It also helps reduce pore size and discoloration caused by past acne breakouts.
- Customized treatment for varied scars. Microneedling helps improve different types of acne scars, such as icepick, rolling, and boxcar scars.
Does Microneedling Hurt?
- Minimal discomfort, maximum gain. Microneedling isn’t completely pain-free, but most of our clients can tolerate the discomfort. Most clients describe the sensation as a mild prickling or tingling and not sharp pain.
- Topical anesthetics for comfort. For your comfort, we use topical anesthetics to minimize the microneedling sensation during your treatment.
- Sensitivity varies. Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, so some people might feel more sensitive than others. Factors like skin type, treatment depth, and individual thresholds all play a role. Don’t worry because we pay close attention to how you’re feeling and adjust the treatment accordingly to keep you comfortable.
- Post-treatment sensation. After microneedling, it’s normal for you to experience some redness and mild swelling similar to a sunburn. Your skin might also feel a bit tight or sensitive for the next 2 days as it starts healing. But overall, these side effects typically fade quickly, and you won’t need any additional treatments.
- Discussing comfort levels with professionals. Most importantly, don’t hesitate to discuss your comfort level with our specialist! If you’re nervous or concerned about pain, let us know upfront. We’ll customize the procedure to your needs, so you’ll be as comfy as possible throughout the procedure.
Laser Therapy
- Ablative lasers. Ablative lasers, like CO2 and Er: YAG, remove the top layers of your skin by vaporizing damaged cells. This helps reduce deep acne scars, but not ideal for active acne. However, you should expect about 1–2 weeks of recovery time with redness and peeling.
- Non-ablative lasers. Non-ablative lasers, like Pulsed Dye Laser and Nd: YAG, penetrate the deeper layers of your skin without damaging the surface. This reduces oil production, kills acne-causing bacteria, and lowers inflammation. You can usually return to your regular activities immediately after a non-ablative laser therapy session, plus it’s effective for active inflammatory acne.
- Fractional lasers. Fractional lasers, like Fraxel, deliver laser energy in tiny columns, treating small parts of your skin at a time. This stimulates collagen production and improves both active acne and scars with less downtime than ablative lasers.
Facials
Facials help you manage acne by deep-cleaning your skin, unclogging pores, and reducing inflammation. Still, choosing the right type is important because not all facials work effectively for acne.
If you want to skip the guesswork, here are some facials that work well for acne and are available here at Pure Skin Laser Center:
HydraFacial
This facial uses a specialized device that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration, and antioxidant infusion in one treatment.
HydraFacials are very gentle and can be done every 4 to 6 weeks as an acne prevention regimen. It’s also ideal if you’re dealing with mild to moderate breakouts or if you have acne-prone skin.
LED Light Therapy
LED Light Therapy facials use specific light wavelengths to target acne. For example, blue light penetrates your skin to kill Cutibacterium acnes bacteria, the main cause of acne, reducing breakouts. Meanwhile, red light reduces inflammation and swelling, helping your skin heal faster.
Treatments typically last 20 to 30 minutes and can be done alone or combined with other facials.
Deep cleansing facials
Deep facials focus on thorough cleansing and manual extraction of blackheads, whiteheads, and clogged pores. It typically involves steaming your skin to open pores, followed by gentle manual extraction using specialized tools to remove impurities. Lastly, your face will be soothed with masks and serums to lock in hydration and calm your skin.
However, deep facials are not suitable if you have inflammatory acne. In this case, you can consider the gentler HydraFacial instead.
Botox for Acne
Botox in North Hollywood helps reduce acne by targeting the sebaceous (oil) glands in your skin. When injected in areas like your forehead or cheeks, it temporarily reduces oil production. Less oil means fewer clogged pores and less bacterial growth, which lowers your chance of breakouts.
So, how is this possible? Botox blocks nerve signals that stimulate your oil glands. In turn, it decreases your sebum production without affecting other skin functions. The Botox effect typically lasts 3 to 4 months, but you can always get repeat treatments to maintain the results.
Important reminder: Botox is not a cure for acne, but you can use it as part of a combined treatment plan. Also, it’s mainly effective for controlling oil-related acne, not for cystic or hormonal acne.
Benefits of Using Botox for Acne Control
- Non-invasive solution. Botox gives you a non-invasive option to control acne. Instead of taking pills or going through aggressive procedures, you get small injections that target your oil glands directly.
- Dual benefits. With Botox, you reduce oil production to help clear your acne while also relaxing facial muscles. This means you can improve both your acne and fine lines or wrinkles at the same time. If you want clearer skin and a more youthful look, you can get Botox to hit two birds with one stone!
- Quick results. You’ll usually notice less oiliness and fewer breakouts within a few days to two weeks after your Botox injections. The effects last about 3 to 4 months, so scheduling regular treatments can help keep your acne under control.
What areas can be treated with Botox for acne on facial muscles?
- Forehead. Botox injections on your forehead can reduce oil production by relaxing the sebaceous glands, which helps control acne breakouts in this common oily area.
- T-zone. Your T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin, typically produces the most oil. Treating this area with Botox targets multiple key zones where acne often develops due to excess sebum and clogged pores.
- Cheeks. In cases of excessive sebum production, you can also get Botox injections on your cheeks. It’s less common, but it can greatly help people with certain skin types prone to acne.
Lifestyle Regimen and Acne Prevention
Daily skincare routine
A simple and consistent skincare routine can do wonders in keeping your acne under control. Take note that you don’t need a ton of products or endless skincare steps just to achieve calm and clear skin. You can start with these three basic steps:
Gentle cleansing
Non-comedogenic moisturizers
“But my skin is already very oily!”. Even if your skin is oily, you still need to moisturize. In fact, dry skin triggers more sebum production as it tries to compensate for the lack of hydration, leading to breakouts.
For this, choose moisturizers labeled “non-comedogenic,” which means they won’t clog your pores. If you have sensitive skin, opt for lightweight and water-based formulas to avoid irritations.
Regular exfoliation
You can also exfoliate 1 to 2 times a week to remove dead skin cells that could block your pores. For this, you can use gentle chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or glycolic acid rather than harsh physical scrubs to avoid irritation.
Aside from reducing breakouts, regular exfoliation can also improve the appearance of your acne scars.
Diet and Hydration
As they say, you are what you eat (and drink!). A proper diet and hydration are crucial in maintaining balance in your skin health to avoid acne breakouts.
You don’t really need to revamp your entire diet. Simply focus on eating whole, nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. These foods provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support healthy skin and help reduce inflammation.
Also, start drinking water like you mean it. Water keeps your skin plump and hydrated, minimizing the risk of sebum overproduction. Aside from that, drinking lots of water helps flush out toxins in your body that contribute to skin problems like acne.
Stress Management
Stress can affect your skin by triggering hormonal changes that increase oil production and inflammation, which may contribute to acne flare-ups.
To reduce stress, consider incorporating activities like regular exercise, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or hobbies you enjoy. Most importantly, you should get enough sleep each night, as poor sleep can worsen stress and trigger acne.
Benefits of Professional Consultation
- Avoid misdiagnosis. Without expert evaluation, you may misidentify your acne type or underlying causes. This leads to using the wrong products or treatments that waste time and money. But with licensed aestheticians, you’ll get accurate diagnoses and suitable treatments.
- Avoid worsening acne. Many over-the-counter products can irritate your sensitive skin or cause dryness and redness if not suited to your skin type. You can avoid this risk by asking a professional first.
- Prevent deep scarring. Untreated or improperly treated acne often leads to scarring. Skin professionals know how to avoid this while targeting the root cause of your acne.
- Get actual results. Professionals will provide you with the right treatment and guidance in solving your acne problem. This saves you from the frustration of ineffective procedures that only cost money.
Conclusion
Acne varies in severity and cause, and so does the treatment it needs! Knowing your acne type and what caused it are the first steps in finding the best acne treatment that works for you. But if all else fails, consulting a professional like Pure Skin Laser Center is always the best solution.
Here at Pure Skin Laser Center, we have 10+ years of experience in managing various skin problems, including acne breakouts. We have licensed aestheticians who will provide personalized treatments using our state-of-the-art beauty technologies.
Don’t let acne ruin your confidence – contact our medical spa today and let’s help you achieve clear and healthy skin!
