Quick Tips for Fighting Acne

By Brian Zelickson, M.D.

Whether you just hit puberty or went through it 30 years ago, those pesky little pimples don’t care. Acne is an inflammatory disease, which is focused in the oil, or sebaceous, glands of your skin. Acne surfaces when dead skin cells and bacteria accumulate at the surface of the gland and plug the opening. The clogging generates a build up of an oily substance, sebum, and overgrowth of bacteria in these follicles create an infection. This infection causes an inflammatory reaction to fight the infection, thus resulting in a pimple.

Acne is caused by several factors. Genetic history, diet, hormones, stress, lack of sleep, and other environmental factors are among the most common causes of acne. Acne is most commonly found on the face and back, and it may significantly impact a person’s life. Face acne, for example, can result in extreme self-consciousness, particularly in adolescents, a time when self-image is fragile.

Despite the persistence of this disease, there are many things people can do to prevent acne. It all begins with practicing general skin care by washing your face regularly. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and taking time to relax may help prevent acne. Over-the-counter medications also are effective. Before purchasing skin peels or antibacterial creams, make sure the product contains benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid; these two chemicals help kill the bacteria and unblock skin pores.

If acne continues despite using over-the-counter medication, see a dermatologist for further action. Dermatologists prescribe acne medication based on severity of the disease and each patient’s personal needs. Commonly, dermatologists use topical antibiotics, topical retinol, oral antibiotics, and hormonal therapy in women for the treatment of acne.

After weighing the pros and cons of these prescription-based medications, other treatments are offered such as light therapy or laser therapy. Light-based therapy works by using a blue light treatment that destroys acne-causing bacteria. This therapy has best results for mild inflammatory acne cases.

Laser therapies treat and prevent acne by targeting the sebaceous glands in the dermis (thick middle layer of skin), by killing acne-causing bacteria and causing some damage to the gland itself. This treatment is typically done in four or five sessions over a three-to four-week period, and treatments last 15 to 30 minutes. While light-based therapy and laser therapy are FDA-approved and proven to be effective, these treatments aren’t typically covered by health insurance.

There is no one cure for acne and each person’s breakout is different. The best way to fight acne is by understanding the causes, taking steps at home to actively prevent breakouts, and meeting with a dermatologist to discuss further treatment options personalized for each patient and his or her skin.

Brian Zelickson, M.D., is adjunct associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.