I'm Embarrassed About My Acne

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 50 million Americans suffer from acne — the most common skin condition in the United States. While most of us think of the physical symptoms that acne causes — papules, pustules, whiteheads, and blackheads — acne also causes significant emotional issues.  

That’s because acne affects the most visible part of the body — the skin. What’s more, it usually affects your face, the most visible area of your skin. Many people with acne feel embarrassment, anxiety, and even depression due to their disease. 

At Southwest Michigan Dermatology, our team offers the most advanced acne treatments to help patients manage their acne and the symptoms it can cause. If you have acne, we’d like to help you.  

How acne happens 

Acne is an inflammatory disease when oils mix with dead skin cells inside the follicles, forming a plug that blocks your hair follicle opening. Normally, oils produced in the follicles are released to the skin's surface, providing natural lubrication and protection.  

The warmth inside the follicle can sometimes form an ideal environment for bacteria to grow, triggering inflammation and the red bumps associated with acne. 

Acne is most common during the teen years, probably due to hormonal fluctuations. But it can also happen during adulthood. If you have a family history of acne, you may have a higher chance of developing it yourself. 

Acne treatment: The key to clearer skin 

Over the past couple of decades, researchers have learned a lot about acne and the underlying processes that cause or contribute to it. As a result, today, many effective treatment options allow your doctor to customize an acne treatment plan just for you. 

 Many people benefit from topical or oral medications (or a combination of both) to help break the cycle that causes acne. If these more traditional treatments don't work for you, don't worry! For stubborn acne, Accutane® and Aviclear® can be especially effective.  

 Accutane is an oral medicine that decreases the production of skin oils, "short-circuiting" the process that causes acne. Aviclear is the first and only laser treatment approved by the FDA expressly for treating acne that doesn't respond to oral and topical medicines. 

 In addition to medical therapies, our team helps each patient develop healthy skincare and lifestyle routines that help nourish skin, reducing breakouts and redness so that you can enjoy a healthier, clearer complexion. 

Regular treatment is essential 

While there are many effective acne treatments, your results also depend on you. Your skin changes a lot over time, which means your treatment plan must also change. Once we design a treatment plan for you, we must schedule regular office visits to keep that plan on track. 

Don't let acne make you feel self-conscious or embarrassed about the way you look. To learn how we can help you enjoy clearer skin, call 269-321-7546 or book an appointment online at Southwest Michigan Dermatology today.