How To Choose The Right Acne Treatment According NYC Dermatologist Dr. Michele Green

Photo Credit: Dr. Michele Green

Acne affects up to 50 million Americans annually, according to the American Association of Dermatology Association. (AAD) It does not discriminate between age or skin tone, and severity can range from mild to severe cystic painful acne that leaves obvious scarring. Aside from appearance and pain individuals who suffer from acne oftentimes deal with reduced self-confidence because of their appearance.

Haute Beauty Expert Dr. Michele Green, internationally renowned NYC dermatologist, has over two decades of treating acne and acne scars in patients of all ages and skin types. To help effectively fight acne, Dr. Green recommends a combination of the best at-home acne-fighting skincare products, in-office treatments, and lifestyle modifications, to help you achieve beautiful, clear skin. Read on to learn more about all of the options when it comes to treating acne and acne scars according to Dr. Green.

What is acne?

Acne is a blockage and inflammation of pilosebaceous units. Acne may be present on the face, chest, or back. Typically, acne forms in the areas of skin that have the highest amounts of sebaceous follicles. There are many different types of acne, these include:

• Papules: Small red bumps which form on the skin when oil glands get clogged with bacteria and sebum.
• Pustules/Pimples are acne lesions which are small, bulging bumps, which are red and inflamed with a white center. They are typically filled with pus and are formed as the blocked pore gets infected with bacteria.
•  Blackheads: This may appear black on the surface of the skin. Blackheads are also referred to as closed comedones, whereas whiteheads are known as open comedones.
• Cystic acne: Develops when deep acne cysts form under your skin. Initially, the pimple can form when a pore gets clogged with bacteria and dead skin cells. As the amount of bacteria increases and gets trapped, the area becomes more erythematous and swollen.

What Causes Acne?

• Genetics: There is a tendency for acne to run in families.
• Hormones and androgens: Androgens cause your oil glands to increase in size and produce more sebum. It is this excess oil production and excess androgen activity that clogs your pores and causes acne.
• Bacteria: is another cause of acne and the skin gets clogged by oil and dead skin cells. Bacteria, like Propionibacterium acnes, gets trapped inside the clogged pores, multiplies, and causes swelling, redness and acne.

Which areas of the body need acne treatment?

• face
• chest
• back
• chest
• buttocks

Many patients have acne breakouts not just on their face, but also suffer from acne on their chest, back, and other areas of the body. Many patients are embarrassed since acne breakouts can also be seen in the buttock areas. These other areas of the body are acne-prone as well due to the presence of sebaceous glands. It is important to consult with an expert in acne treatment and prevention, like Dr. Michele Green, since each area of the body requires unique methods of treatments from medications, to lasers, facials, and injections, to prevent acne scarring.

Dr. Green’s Acne Treatment Options

Photo Credit: Dr. Michele Green

At Home:

• Prescribed topical creams: over-the-counter treatments that Dr. green can prescribe. The best topical acne products work by speeding up skin cell turnover, decreasing sebum and oil production, reducing inflammation, and inhibiting bacterial growth.
• Cleansers: Mild acne may only need to be treated with the right choice of cleansers and topical acne treatments.
• Medication: Moderate to severe or cystic acne may need oral antibiotics, birth control pills, Spironolactone, or Accutane, to help control these acne pustules and cysts.

In-office:

• Acne surgery/extractions- Extracting blackheads removes trapped sebum and dead skin cells. Extracting these blackheads prevents acne scars and allows the skin to heal.
• Cortisone injections: Reduce inflammation in pustules and acne cysts. If the cystic acne is large, the lesions may need to be drained first before cortisone is injected into the lesions.
• V-Beam laser treatment is used to remove the redness and erythematous patches from acne and the resulting inflammation and acne scars. V-Beam also works on reducing the redness and telangiectasis from rosacea and broken blood vessels as well.
• Hydrafacial is a medical-grade “hydradermabrasion” device that carries out a patented three-part regimen – cleansing, exfoliating, and infusing skin with intensive serums. This gentle approach vacuums out the pores while simultaneously infusing potent active ingredients, which treats redness, brightens, and rejuvenating the skin.
• Blue light and red light therapy using LED-based blue and red light therapies help to kill bacteria which causes acne and shrinks the oil-producing glands. Dr. Green often utilizes this light therapy in conjunction with hydra facials.
• Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a procedure where Levulan is applied to your face and is activated with blue light to help kill the bacteria and the associated inflammation which causes acne. Strict sun avoidance is necessary after the Photodynamic Therapy procedure for 48 hours.
• Chemical peels, using Mesopeels, Cosmelan peels, glycolic acids or trichloroacetic acids, are used by Dr. Green to exfoliate the dead skin cells and help treat acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and rejuvenate your skin.
• Accutane is a medication which is monitored closely by an expert board-certified dermatologist, like Dr. Green to treat recalcitrant and cystic acne, and prevent further acne scarring.
• Laser treatments such as Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant, and eMatrix to further treat the remaining acne scars and discoloration
• Microneedling with PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) to help treat tone, texture, and pores size.

Dr. Michele Green is an expert in treating acne and acne scars for over 25 years in her boutique discreet NYC office. With her unique MGSKINLABs line of acne treatments and decades of curing acne in her Manhattan patients, Dr. Green can help you tailor a treatment program to help you. If you are suffering from acne it is important to schedule an appointment today to prevent any acne scarring.

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