What is acne?
Acne is a skin disorder that presents as pimples, cysts, and comedones. There are four different grades of acne, ranging from very mild to severe. Acne is most common in teens and young adults, but it can also be present in people over 30 years. Increased sebum production and inflammation are often found in acne-prone skin. A common misconception about acne is that we need to dry out the skin when treating it. But in all truth, oily or acne-prone skin needs moisture. Patients often mistake overusing products that excessively dry out and strip the skin barrier. When we strip our barrier or cause the skin to dry out, our skin produces more sebum to counteract, continuing the acne cycle.
What are the different types of acne?
As far as acne types go, it presents themselves in many different ways:
Hormonal acne is common in teenagers and often comes hand in hand with excess sebum production.
Asphyxiated acne or dry acne where the skin is holding in sebum and bacteria due to a reduced skin cell turnover.
Cystic acne is one of the most painful and presents as prominent nodules underneath the skin's surface.
With all grades of acne, there are specific protocols to follow for each individual. An in-office consultation to help determine your type and severity of acne to create a treatment plan tailored to your skin's needs is always the best route.
What causes acne?
Many factors contribute to acne:
Not taking care of your skin correctly and/or using the wrong skincare products
Increased sebum production
Increased keratinization within the follicle
The proliferation of Propionibacterium acne bacteria
Inflammation due to medical conditions, gut dysbiosis, poor diet, and stress
When we treat acne at home, we want to avoid dairy, sugar, and other personal food sensitivities or allergens and be sure to stay well hydrated. Frequently, stress plays a part in acne, so it is crucial to managing your stress the best you can. Meditation practices such as Heart Math, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and yoga are excellent practices that help to reduce high-stress levels. Additionally, Dr. Staid recommends the oral supplement L-Theanine, which is derived from green tea and helps to naturally reduce anxiety. Hormonal changes can also cause acne, which often occurs around the chin and jawline. Most women sometime in their life have experienced acne breakouts before or during their menstrual cycle.
What can we do to control or clear acne?
Oral supplements such as our Zinc A.G., Omega-3 Spectrum, and Vitamin A can help prevent and treat acne. Zinc tends to be very effective in treating more severe or cystic acne. What is excellent about Zinc is it helps the body inside and out helps reduce inflammation which is fantastic for acne and acne scarring. Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation within the skin, helping people that suffer from painful acne. Vitamin A, when taken orally, can also help reduce inflammation, and being an antioxidant can also help ward off the free radicals that cause cell damage. Beta-Glucan is also another healer for acne. Beta-Glucan works by stimulating the dendrites in Langerhans cells. When the cells are stimulated, they promote the natural healing process. Beta-Glucan is not naturally found in the body but can be found in foods that we eat, such as oats, barley, seaweed, and yeast cell walls.
The importance of correct at-home care cannot be stressed enough. A terrific at-home topical treatment plan will also be imperative. Our Benzoyl Peroxide Wash, Acne Gel, Smoothing Toner, and Clearskin Moisturizer could all help reduce, heal acne and keep acne at bay. In our office, we could treat your skin once a month, and at home, you treat your skin up to 60 times a month, morning and night. Some other essential things to remember at home are making sure you stay hydrated, eat and drink a clean diet by avoiding sugar, gluten, and dairy, and keeping your sheets clean! Sleeping on a dirty pillowcase is one of the most common things people forget. Dirt, oil, and dead skin cells build up over time on the pillowcase and transfer back to the skin, clog pores, and induce acne breakouts. So remember to change your pillowcase at least three times a week!
Many different in-office treatments can treat every stage and degree of acne.
Custom facial to purge unwanted bacteria, promote skill cell turnover, and induce the natural healing process is one of our methods to treat your acne.
Dermaplane is also an excellent treatment for acne-prone skin. Dermaplaning removes the vellus hair and dead skin cells from the skin's surface. With fewer dead skin cells laying on the skin's surface, you will have fewer breakouts.
Laser therapy has also been helpful in treating acne. The 1065 wavelength absorbs into blood so it may address any vascularity to the acne lesion. Blood feeds the acne lesions, keeping it alive and if you constrict blood you cut off the supply and skin will heal.
Chemical peel induces skin cell turnover and helps with any acne scarring.
Once your acne is under control and at bay, you may be left with acne scars.
Microneedling is an effective treatment to help reduce acne scarring, among many other key benefits.
All in all, acne does have its complexity, but it can be managed and treated, and we would love to help!